Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church

It doesn't matter how old you are, whether you're a one-year old or ninety years old. Everyone gets hangry. You're not yourself. That's how important food is to us. Which God knew. And hangry is what the people of Israel became in the wilderness. They got irritable and bad-tempered. They grumbled and complained. But God didn't snap back at them. He game them meat to eat, and sent bread from heaven. Did you ever consider, we can also get hangry spiritually. Just as we need nourishment in the body, so we need nourishment in the soul as well.

People often wonder what heaven will be like. The Bible tells us a little about that, but not much. I suspect because we wouldn't understand anyhow. There is a whole, big, glorious eternity waiting for us, when we, like Nancy receive our birthdays into heaven. Which is why even in the midst of tears and sadness today, there is joy.

So that day, right after feeding the 5,000, the disciples get into the boat to go to the other side. Business as usual. Jesus goes off by Himself to pray. Business as usual. the storm is calmed by Jesus. Business as usual. The crowds follow Jesus and He heals them. Business as usual. And even Jesus walking on the water, business as usual... for Jesus. In the midst of this world and it's business as usual of things falling apart and things going worse and chaos, is Jesus and His business as usual of calming, rescuing, and saving.

Who was in the crowd that day? Well, they are undoubtedly just like the group that has come here today. People struggling with issues in their lives. And when Jesus went ashore and saw them, that great crowd of people like that, He had compassion on them. Because when He looked out at that crowd, when He looks at you now, He doesn't see strugglers, He doesn't see failures, He doesn't see people who were a disappointment to Him. That's how you and I feel and think at times. But that's not what Jesus saw. He saw people who were like sheep without a shepherd.

If John wanted to save his head, all he had to do was shut his mouth. Easy, but not good. To love your neighbor as yourself meant that John had to speak. But a glorious inheritance was waiting for John, as we heard in the reading from Ephesians today. What he did not receive on earth, he was given now in heaven. John knew this, was sure of it, that this earthly life is not all there is, and so did what he did.

It was supposed to be a day, it should have been a day, that left everyone feeling good. The whole town coming out, to see Jesus and listen to Him preach. But Jesus didn't say what they expected Him to say. So what did Jesus say? What did He say that was so offensive? We're not told here, in the reading we heard today, but Mark tells us earlier what Jesus' message was as He went about preaching. Repent, because they are sinners. The kingdom of God is at hand for the King is at hand. Repent of yourselves and believe in Me, Jesus said.

There are three questions asked in the Holy Gospel we heard today. Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? And, who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him? The disciples were still learning. They had seen Jesus do wonderful, marvelous things, but nothing like this. This was nature. Uncontrollable nature. You can't stop nature. But that kind of power is terrifying. Because the one with that power can either use it for you or against you.

The kingdom of God is unpredictable. From our perspective, anyway. Because that means I'm not in control. That's what Jesus is teaching in the parables we heard today. Sometimes you are surprised. Sometimes what you get is unexpected, and so unpredictable. The alternative, then, is to live by faith, not sight. But to live by faith is to admit and acknowledge that I am not in control. Faith in the words and promises of God.

We do not lose heart. That's what Paul said today in the Epistle. Ever know someone like that? Someone who, no matter what's happening around them, no matter what's happening to them, they somehow remain confident, they don't give up, they don't give in to despair, they stay optimistic. And Paul knows. He knows the weight. But then that weight was lifted from Paul. Jesus forgave him, and even more, was going to use him to help others.

There are four words you never want to hear. Four words that cause a lot of heartache -- you're not good enough. That thought is all over the readings we heard today. Now, we confess that every week. But when we confess our sins at the beginning of the service each week, it isn't just this sin or that sin that you are confessing -- that you just messed up a little this week. No, you are really confessing I am not good enough. And yet, God wants you here with Him.

The untrained eye misses a lot of things. This is true for ears, too. Now, look around. In the world. Even in this congregation. What do you see? What do you hear? What does God see? What does God hear? A valley of dry, dead bones. People who were full of life, but who sin has dried up and robbed of life. Which is really the true miracle of Pentecost. The Word and Spirit of God continue to raise up dry, dead bones to life.

Today we get to listen to Jesus pray. And when you pray, sometimes you pray a prepared prayer, like the Lord's Prayer. But sometimes you just pray what's on your heart. And then sometimes, we get to listen to someone else praying. And those times can be precious. So to get to hear Jesus pray... we shouldn't underestimate that.

The Ascension of Our Lord is both one of the most important -- and most forgotten -- days in the life of the church. It is the completion of the resurrection. Jesus ascends into heaven not for Himself, but for us, that we, too, ascend. To give you hope. The hope that we need. No life, no situation, is beyond hope or help. Because Jesus is on the throne. Whatever you are going through now, it is in reality stubbed toes on your way to the life and glory Jesus has prepared for you.

Jesus wants you to bear fruit. This is not a new teaching of Jesus. He did not leave it up to us to figure out what a good work is and what it is not. He told us, in Ten Commandments. Ten Commandments which tells us not only what not to do, but also tells us those good works we are to do. So how's your fruit? God's original vine, Old Testament Israel, did not produce the fruit God desired. But God promised the vine would grow again. And when Jesus was born, it did. That's what makes these words we heard from Jesus today words for this Easter season.

Do we even need a Good Shepherd anymore? Don't put me in your box... or your pasture. I'm free. Time to put the Good Shepherd out to pasture. But do sheep make good shepherds? Or are we being duped? Because that happens a lot these days, doesn't it? Maybe I could use some help. but not too much! I still want to be free! To do what I want. So, who then? Who should be my shepherd? So the Good Shepherd comes and is thrown out? He lays down His life for the sheep. Which would be foolish is that's all He did. But, of course, He did more. He didn't stay dead.

A lot can change in two months. In the reading from Luke it was Easter evening, the disciples were afraid and hiding, and their hearts were troubled and doubting. But in the reading from Acts, approximately two months later, how different the disciples are! But what changed? The pure spiritual milk that caused them to grow up was the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms. That is, the Scriptures.

Jesus knew exactly what they needed. Those disciples who were consumed by guilt, confused, and afraid. They should have done more. What did the future now hold for them? Would they be stoned or crucified? But Jesus knew exactly what they needed. First is forgiveness for their guilt and shame. But still more they needed, Jesus knew. They needed instruction, purpose. They needed to know that what had just happened, all the events of that past week, was not a monumental catastrophe that messed up and derailed everything and now necessitated Plan B!

The women went to the tomb. They expected death. Of course they did. So when they get to the tomb and the stone is rolled away and dead is not there, they are confused, they are alarmed, they are scared. What happened to death? They hope, they want to hope, that the message of the angel might be true. That there might be life... Death is what we see. Death is what we know. Death surrounds us. Until today! So we have hope. Of life. An eternal life.

You have heard, O child of God, the story of your God this night. But these are not just the story of your God. These are your stories. Which is why we remember and celebrate Baptism this night. For Baptism is what makes these stories your stories. And baptized into Christ, you are baptized into HIs story, His history. But not only that -- this too. When one of us dies, we all die. And when one of us rises from the dead, we all rise. And that's what Jesus has done for us these sacred days. He died and rose for us, and we die and rise in Him.

I don't know if you ever paid much attention to the first part of the first sentence of the Old Testament reading we heard tonight. We hear it every year, but like me, you maybe just skipped over it. Because what comes after it is so vivid, so striking. All that Jesus did. All that happened to Him. Oppressed, judged, and taken away. But it all starts with this verse, this phrase -- Behold, that is, look! My servant shall act wisely... Wisely. That's a strange thing to say. Not the word many might have selected for that verse. But, of course, that's exactly why Jesus did what He did.