Quote of the Day on the Name of Jesus, Preached by Bernard of Clairvaux

Does someone fall into sin? Does his despair even urge him to suicide? Let him but invoke this life-giving name (Jesus)and his will to live will be at once renewed. The hardness of heart that is our common experience, the apathy bred of indolence, bitterness of mind, repugnance for the things of the spirit—have they ever failed to yield in presence of that saving name? The tears he barrier of our pride—how have they not burst sweeter abundance at the thought of Jesus’ name?

And where is the man, who, terrified and trembling before impend­ing peril, has not been suddenly filled with courage and rid of fear by calling on the strength of that name? Where is the man who, tossed on the rolling seas of doubt, did not quickly find certitude by recourse to the clarity of Jesus’ name? Was ever a man so dis­couraged, so beaten down by afflictions, to whom the sound of this name did not bring new resolve? In short, for all the ills and dis­orders to which flesh is heir, this name is medicine. For proof we have no less than his own promise: “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”(Psalm 49: 15)  Nothing so curbs the onset of anger, so allays the upsurge of pride. It cures the wound of envy, controls unbridled extravagance and quenches the flame of lust; it cools the thirst of covetousness and banishes the itch of unclean desire. For when I name Jesus I set before me a man who is meek and humble of heart,(Matthew 11: 29)  kind, prudent, chaste, merciful, (Titus 1: 8) flawlessly upright and holy in the eyes of all; and this same man is the all-powerful God whose way of life heals me, whose support is my strength. All these re-echo for me at the hearing of Jesus’ name. Because he is man I strive to imitate him; because of his divine power I lean upon him. The examples of his human life I gather like medicinal herbs; with the aid of his power I blend them, and the result is a compound like no pharmacist can produce.

(From Sermon 15 on the Song of Songs, Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1113)

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The Circumcision and Name of Jesus, 1 January, anno Domini 2,014

His infant body now
Begins the cross to feel:
Those precious drops of blood that flow
For death the Victim seal. 

(Hymn #898, stanza 3, Lutheran Service Book)

Readings:  Numbers 6: 22-27;  Psalm 8;  Galatians 3: 23-29;  St. Luke 2: 21 (also read, Philippians 2: 1-11)

Reflection:  Eight days after a male Israelite’s birth, he is circumcised according to the Lord’s covenant with Abraham and Abraham’s descendants.  January 1st is 8 days after the birth of Jesus, December 25th.  This feast day stands in sharp contrast with the secular holiday of New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day. This feast day seems so stark, even a little bit on the squeemish side, as you look at the photo above:  an old man coming at an infant with a knife to cut off his foreskin! “What God proposes does not please the world, and what the world undertakes does not please God!” (Luther, sermon on Luke 2: 21)  But what is actually the odd holiday?  Remembering that our word “holiday”, is actually “holy day”.  No one intends to be holy on New Year’s Eve, just the direct opposite: drunkenness and hooking-up are the entrees on the New Year’s Eve menu, not covenant and Christ, yet this was the reason He was born, 

In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4: 3-5)

Jesus, under the Law, Who needed no Law, yet loved the Word of the Law, went under the knife to begin shedding His blood, and one day His whole body would be under the  knife, upon the Cross…He is risen.  Circumcision is a bloody business, so is sin, so is our salvation and our Savior, who in His blood, has given us the “gift of eternal life”. 

As He was given the Name above all names (Philippians 2:9), so that we are no longer children, but His Sons and Daughters through “adoption”, that is, Baptism, born from above, in the Name of the Lord (Matthew 28:19; John 3:5).

He was circumcised on the 8th day.  “The eighth day follows the Sabbath and a new week begins.  So also a new and different circumcision began when the infant Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day” (Luther’s Sermon on Luke 2: 21), that is:

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2: 10-12)

The new year is basically not new but the wearied cycle of sin causing resolution.  Only Christ Jesus makes, not a new year, but a new people, through Him,

“…who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titus 2: 14)

It is about repentance, not resolution.The new people can have daily and joyful repentance, looking to Him daily in Word and Sacrament, prayer, praise and thanksgiving,

“… looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12: 2)

Lord God, You made Your beloved Son, our Savior, subject to the Law and caused Him to shed His blood on our behalf.  Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit that our hearts maybe be made pure from all sins, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

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Sermon, 6th Sunday of Easter, Rogate (asking or praying) Sunday: Text: St. John 16: 24

Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (St. John 16: 24)

The disciples’ joy is the joy of the Lord that He has made them His own. As He said, they did not choose Him, but He chose them.  They needed choosing, forgiving, redeeming.  Ask and you receive that your joy may not simply be but be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  The joy of the Lord is that one sinner repent, found and forgiven like one lost sheep of 99 found again.  The joy of the Lord is His grace, hidden from the wise and learned, is revealed to children and they understand. The joy of the Lord is He wants us to pray. Next to preaching the Word of God, the greatest service is praying which all Christians can do as they are baptized and believe.  He overcame the world which does not pray to the Lord but preys upon each other.

There are three legs of  prayer upon which prayer solidly rests are: God’s command, God’s promise and God’s Word. 

God’s command is the second commandment:Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.  

Dr. Luther teaches it clearly:

What does this mean?—Answer:   We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.

From the beginning it is about the Name of the Lord, your God.  His Law is clear don’t use the Name for vain, that is, empty and arrogant ways. It is not making the sign of the Cross as one stands to bat in baseball to get a hit.  Yes, when we ask the Lord in  His Name, the Name of Jesus, it will be granted but it’s not magic, but faith. Faith is trust as an infant trusts that his parents will feed and protect him. The Lord commands us to pray for that is His gracious will for us all.    As a child calls upon her Father, she knows he will answer.  Prayer rests not upon the ups and downs of the human heart, but  is founded in the Name of the Lord.  Many talk about praying and then following the “leading of your heart”.  Don’t follow your heart. The Lord is clear from Genesis, it is corrupt.  Jesus said, Follow Me.  Ask.

Prayer is not a tit for tat thing: I pray, O God, now You pay.  It’s not pray and pay. That’s faithless and unloving and much what goes for prayer is just that:  see televangelists.  No child would do so, however wicked. It is using His name in vain; or to use His name in prayer to draw attention to one’s own piety and supposed goodness, seen by others, then one has their reward. But when you pray, go to your room shut the door and your Father who is in secret will reward you…He will reward you with Himself.

A particularly egregious example of the desire to be seen by others as a pious pray-er, from several years ago, a televangelist boasted that he prayed away a hurricane from Virginia Beach.  This prompted an article in the newspaper with several clergy, Christian and Jewish weighing in on  the question does God hear prayer and how does He answer.  One pastor wrote we really do not know what prayers the Lord will answer.  Yes, we do, beloved in the Lord!  His will to answer prayer is summed up in the prayer He taught His disciples, the Our Father or Lord’s Prayer. In fact, the Lord’s Prayer sums up His will. . Now we are at the second leg of prayer, His Promises all finding their yes in Jesus Christ who is the form of our prayer as He taught  and in all the Psalms:

1. His Name be hallowed, made holy for us as we call upon in prayer, praise, thanksgiving and any kind of trouble. He invites us to use His Name, just not misuse or abuse His Name.
2. His kingdom His reign be extended ever more to others and amongst us through the preaching and teaching of the Word and reception of the Sacraments.
3. His will be done, which is Lord’s will that wants all to be saved and come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
4. Our daily bread, what we need day by day, food, clothing, shelter, friendship, family, good government, schools.
5. Forgive us our trespasses, or debts, as our trespasses are forgiven in His Name.  His Name written in His blood upon the cross and so we forgive those indebted to us, who have trespassed against us as many as 7 times a day, no, said Jesus seventy times 7, always as we are asked, has He not had mercy on you?  He has!
6. Lead us not into temptation, into trial, into the struggle to fall into the world, the flesh and the devil. As we are all tempted the Lord provides the way out, prayer,as He was tempted, He is not only our Lord but our brother who was tempted in every way we are but was without sin that we approach Him in free access through the Holy Spirit.
7. Deliver us from evil and the Evil One who would prevent us from praying:  “Oh, I don’t have the time” “I am not as good as my born-again friend to pray” “I am not that spiritual” “I’ve tried and I don’t get a spiritual high like Sally does” “I have a hard time believing”.  The devil will throw that all at us.  And yet we sound so pious and spiritual by saying we are not pious and spiritual!  Does the devil really want you to pray to His Enemy above?   “But Christ wants you to pray.  You have His command and His promise.” (Luther)  Notice that all those concerns are devilish because they cast us down upon ourselves, our spirituality, works, merits but the Lord invites us in prayer, Lift up your hearts. hearts lifted to the Lord.                         I lift up my eyes to the hills.
   From where does my help come?
   ² My help comes from the LORD,
   who made heaven and earth.                                                                               Repentance is always turning to the Lord Who lifted your sin upon the cross and lifts you up to be His own. Don’t wait ever to pray because  evil lies in wait, the devil like roaring lion seeking someone to devour,  and the Lord waits and has waited on you in the service of His life, death and resurrection.

All of this is God’s promise and His promise is crystallized in His Word, clearly written, clearly spoken, clearly trustworthy and clearly Incarnate, the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ.  God’s Word is the third leg of prayer.  His promises prayed in the Lord’s prayer and indeed in the 150 Psalms of the Psalter, Psalms, the longest book in the bible is prayer.  In fact, Psalms and Isaiah are the two most quoted OT books in the New Testament and Psalms from the get go of the Church became her prayer book:  still is. From whence comes our help, our help is in the Name of the Lord who made heaven and earth, as the psalmist prayed.  And the foundational word of God is His holy Name.

His Blood is the seal of His Name.  The Name of Jesus literally means:  “God saves”.  On the day of His circumcision Joseph and Mary publically announced the Name the messenger of God gave to Mary. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” Luke 1:30-32

In Romeo and Juliet asks, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

Now that is good romantic stuff but I would rather name a daughter “Rose” than “Skunk” even though she would smell as sweet!  Names matter. They identify who one is.  I would dare say you would probably not buy designer clothes with the name, Ralph Lifschitz on it!  But when Mr. Lischitz changed his surname to “Lauren”, as in, Ralph Lauren, it sounded a whole lot better!    Names also matter to the Lord in His Scriptures.  His Name we can count on.  “He restores my soul.He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3   Many times the Lord tells us why He does what He does, not for my name’s sake or yours, but His.  His Name is faithfulness.  He stands behind it.  A name you can trust.  AS we pray, calling upon the Name of the Lord, this is the trustworthiness of His Name is crucial  when all other names, of government, business, stardom etc. fail.  In the Harry Potter books and movies, it becomes clear that evil is lying in wait, the dark lord who is called in the movies, “He Who Must Not Be Named”.  But evil must be named and even more: There is the Name that Must Be Named, Jesus Christ.  In His Name we pray and hope and wait.  Behind His Name is His Body and Blood.  He has made you His own by naming you in your baptism. and this is His joy for us all in His Name as we pray, confessing our sins, confessing His praise, confessing His Name.

There are three legs of  prayer upon which prayer solidly rests are:

God’s command, God’s promise and God’s Word, His Name.

The Lord gives us the Name which all in heaven and earth will bow down: Jesus.  Jesus tells His frightened apostolic flock in the night He was betrayed call upon my Name to the Father.  I will stand behind my Name as I go the Cross and when you see Me again.  My Name is your salvation.  My Name means I have overcome the world. I will go to the Cross not to wreak vengeance on sinners, as the world wills, but in the vindication of God’s grace for sinners to save you, for My Name’s sake, My Father wills.  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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The Commemoration of Joshua, Son of Nun, 2 September, anno Domini 2,1012

Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld’s (1794-1872) depiction of the Israelites cross the Jordan River on dry ground as priests hold the Ark of the Covenant in the center of the river. From the Pitt Theological Library, Digital Archives, Emory University. Scripture Reference: Joshua 3

Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. Joshua 3: 11

About Joshua:  Today we remember and thank God for His faithful servant, Joshua. Joshua, the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, is first mentioned in Exodus 17 when he was chosen by Moses to fight the Amalakites, whom he defeated in a brilliant military victory. He was placed in charge of the Tent of Meeting (Ex. 33:11) and was a member of the tribal representatives sent to survey the land of Canaan (Num 13:8). Later, he was appointed by God to succeed Moses as Israel’s commander-in-chief. He eventually led the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land and directed the Israelites’ capture of Jericho. He is remembered especially for his final address to the Israelites, in which he challenged them to serve God faithfully (Josh 24:1–27), concluding with the memorable words, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”(24:15). (From The Treasury of Daily Prayer, Concordia Publishing House)

Reflection:  Some may know he was “Israel’s commander-in-chief”. Some may know that the 6th book of the Bible is named after him.  Most people might know that “Joshua fought the battle of Jericho.”  The Battle of Jericho is recorded in chapter 6 and then follow 18 chapters of the Conquest of the Land.   Joshua and the Israelites fought against the seven nations:

the Canaanites, Amorites, Jebusites, Hittites, Hivites, Girgashites and the Perizzites.

Joshua and the Israelites fought many a bloody battle. Modern/post-modern ‘sensibilities’ do not like the Book of Joshua because it is so ‘militaristic’ and violent.  The Promised Land was given by the LORD but the people fought for it.  We think enemies can be won over to be  ‘nice’ like us. Give me a break.  The seven nations had “detestable practices” , such as “child sacrifices, the practice of divination or sorcery, and occult activity.  In addition, Leviticus 18 and 20 detail the rampant sexual depravity among the Canaanites.” (“The Peoples of Canaan, The Lutheran Study Bible, page 345). 

What follows after the entrance into the Land, the Crossing of the Jordan, the first circumcisions and Passover therein, and then the Battle of Jericho, in the next 18 chapters is quite a slog.  They,  and only the Israelites, then were engaged in both physical and spiritual warfare, physically killing the enemies.  Spiritually we must kill enemies, 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, againstthe spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6: 12, from the Epistle Reading for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B (9/2/2012)

Yet they are enemies, the cosmic powers, the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places, even in the Church, giving their consent to sexual immorality   and covetousness.  This blind world does not see it but we can see the breaking of every commandment every day on our favorite television programs.  By God’s grace alone in Jesus Christ, we see the Canaanite, Jebusite etc. occupation of our own souls.  The name “Joshua”, literally means “God Saves”.  Joshua in Hebrew is pronounces, Yeshua and transliterated into Greek it became Iesus, the very Name in the New Testament, then transliterated into Jesus.  Joshua of old led the Israelites through the waters of the Jordan into the promised land for the conquest.  Jesus Christ leads us through the waters of Holy Baptism into the promised land of eternal life and leads, “the pioneer and perfector of our faith” (Hebrews 12: 2) for our struggles, the crucified and risen Lord before us, beside us, within us, around us.  Yes, it is a slog when we see politicians approving abortion and the abortions of their conscience.  It is a slog when we see church bodies emasculate even the mention of  spiritual warfare as “too militaristic” so that a man and a woman does not stand in the battle.  It is a slog when in our lives we see so many fighting and fears within and without.  But Joshua took a stand with his house:  we will serve the Lord.  Jesus Christ took His stand and served the Lord to us all, the LORD God of Sabaoth for our battles and struggles to defeat the Hittites, the Canaanites etc. He made us His own, forgiven and drafted.  He is the true Ark of the New Covenant of the Lord of all the earth.

Lord Jesus Christ, Your servant Joshua led the children of Israel through the waters of the Jordan River into a land flowing with milk and honey. As our Joshua, lead us, we pray, through the waters of our Baptism into the promised land of our eternal home, where You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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Christ Jesus/Jesus Christ

In a Bible study recently my wife asked the question:  what is the difference between “Christ Jesus” and “Jesus Christ” as both are used in the New Testament? I had to admit that I did not have a ready answer. It’s a good question and here is an answer or a partial one!

1. About the names:  Christ literally means anointed or the anointed one.  It is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word for anointed mashiach, which being transliterated became in English, Messiah.  So Christ=Messiah.  Jesus, the name Gabriel announced and gave to Mary, means literally The Lord Saves or the Lord is salvation.  Jesus is a transliterated from the Hebrew name, Joshua, as in Moses’ most important friend (A whole book of the Bible is appropriately named Joshua which centers on the conquest of the land under Joshua; Joshua was a warrior). So Jesus=Joshua=God saves.
2. Christ is less a name and more a title or an office, the Office of the Christ, the Anointed One.  Just as if you would meet, say,the mayor, you would called him Mayor which would indicate simultaneously his title because of his office.
3. Christ Jesus is used some 80 times. Jesus Christ is used some 140 times.
4. Jesus Christ is used by the Gospel writers, and the Apostle Paul and in fact it used by most of the New Testament writers.  Jesus and Christ are also used separately:  Christ, over 500 times and Jesus, some 1,000 times.  So either name, Jesus Christ or Christ Jesus, indicates a more full indication of  identity of the Holy One of Israel.  Both Names are more formal.
5. Christ Jesus is used almost exclusively by the Apostle Paul, and hardly by the Gospel writers.  Remember:  Paul was originally a devout Jew and Pharisee (see  Philippians 3:4-6 )  My conjecture is that the Apostle was emphasizing Jesus’ thorough-going Jewishness as the Son of David and Son of God.  This One is the Messiah Jesus, Anointed One Jesus, foretold by the prophets of Israel.  So the formal nature of the Apostle’s use of Christ Jesus is suggested by the fact he uses this quite often in his opening greetings in his epistles (letters) to churches and congregations.
6. Jesus Christ has almost become for a lot people the Lord’s first name, Jesus,  and His last or family  name, Christ.  Obviously,  it is not!   His parents were not Mary and Joseph Christ! In the The Two Towers, the second movie of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Gandalf and company go to Rohan to see the king of the same, Theodan.  Gandalf needs  Rohan in the war against Mordor. Theodan is literally possessed by Lord Saruman who is in cahoots with the dark lord, Sauron.  Theodan’s mind has been “overthrown”.  Gandalf goes to do one thing:  literally wrest and  exorcise Saruman’s control over Theodan .  Gandalf does so and Theodan returns to the fullness of his life and his office as king.  Theodan goes outside of the Great Hall of Rohan and someone cries out, “Hail!  Theodan, King!”  And the people respond, “Hail, Theodan, King!”  The title of his office comes after his name.  The emphasis is on King.   I think this might be the same as “Jesus, CHRIST!”  It is a proclamation and witness  and could be originally, “Jesus is CHRIST” and so shortened.  As Theodan was restored, the man Theodan could once again thoroughly occupy his office as king.  Jesus, the One who restores all things, thoroughly occupies and lives and reigns in His divine office of Christ:  God saves, God has anointed, we are saved.  He thoroughly inhabited His office through His death and resurrection for sinners and the life of the world. In the Liturgy, the prayer, “Lord, have mercy” is regularly prayed.In fact, “Lord, have mercy”, (in Greek “Kyrie eleison”) is only used three times in the New Testament, and yet it became a regular refrain in the Liturgy. Kyrie eleison would have been used upon the joyous occasion in the Roman Empire when a lord, prince or king would visit and this what the crowds would cry out, Kyrie eleison!  I think it has the same sense as Jesus, Christ!, a proclamation, an exultation of joy: Lord, have mercy and He has:   the Lord has saved His people. Hail, Jesus, Christ!

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January 1st: Circumcision and Naming of Jesus

 JESU

Jesu is in my heart, his sacred name
Is deeply carved there: but th’other week
A great affliction broke the little frame,
Ev’n all to pieces: which I went to seek:
And first I found the corner, where was J,
After, where ES, and next where U was graved,
When I had got these parcels, instantly
I sat me down to spell them, and perceived
That to my broken heart he was I ease you,
                                And to the whole is J E S U

(Poem (1633)  by Fr. George Herbert

   Readings:  Numbers 6: 22-27;  Psalm 8;  Galatians 3: 23-29;  St. Luke 2: 21 (also read, Philippians 2: 1-11)

       Eight days ago was Christ Mass, December 25th.  This is the covenant the Lord established with Abraham and his descendants according to the flesh: “He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations…” Genesis 17:12  Jesus was born thoroughly “…under the Law”:  “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law…”  Galatians 4:3-5  This is when the Lord’s Blood was first spilled. 

His infant body now
Begins the cross to feel:
Those precious drops of blood that flow
For death the Victim seal.

His Blood is the seal of His Name.  The Name of Jesus literally means:  “God saves”.  On this day of His circumcision Joseph and Mary publically announced the Name the messenger of God gave to Mary. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” Luke 1:30-32

Juliet:
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
(William Shakespeare)

Now that is good romantic stuff but I would rather name a daughter “Rose” than “Skunk” even though she would smell as sweet!  Names matter. They identify who one is.  I would dare say you would probably not buy designer clothes with the name, Ralph Lifschitz on it!  But when Mr. Lischitz changed his surname to “Lauren”, as in, Ralph Lauren, it sounded a whole lot better!   wikipedia: Ralph Lauren  Names also matter to the Lord in His Scriptures.  His Name we can count on.  “He restores my soul.He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3   Many times the Lord tells us why He does what He does, not for my name’s sake or yours, but His.  His Name is faithfulness.  He stands behind it.  A name you can trust.  This is a most fitting way to begin the calendar New Year when all other names, of government, business, stardom etc. fail.  Behind His Name is His Body and Blood.  He has made you His own by naming you in your baptism. 

Lord God, You made Your beloved Son, our Savior, subject to the Law and caused Him to shed His blood on our behalf.  Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit that our hearts maybe be made pure from all sins, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

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