Obedient . . . For Us

Several years ago, a movie starring Macaulay Culkin came out in which a family accidentally left their son behind at home for Christmas. They were in a hurry to get out the door to get to the airport on time and had forgotten him in the upstairs bedroom. It was only later that they realized he wasn’t with them. His parents became frantic and immediately began looking for ways to get back home to find him. Meanwhile, back home, the boy dealt with burglars, cooked for himself, and even cleaned up the house by the time they got back.

Obedient . . . for Us

About the Father’s Business

Text:

Sermon Theme: All about the Father’s business has been done.

Text:

Other Lessons: ; ;

Other Lessons: ; ;

Sermon Theme: Christ’s perfect obedience fulfills the Law for us and leaves us an example of humble obedience.

Goal: That hearers would be about the Father’s business since Christ took care of it all.

Hymns:

Rev. Victor F. Halboth, pastor, Grace Lutheran Church, Redford, Michigan

Within the Father’s House LSB 410

Of the Father’s Love Begotten LSB 384

As we begin a new year, we resolve to be “about the Father’s business.” In today’s Old Testament Reading, Solomon, a young man, takes on an enormous task, continuing the business of his father, the powerful King David. Like the boy Jesus, he grew in wisdom for the task. The Epistle reminds us that “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus” makes known to us his loving will “in all wisdom and insight” (, ). In the Gospel, it is the twelve- year-old Jesus who is truly “about my Father’s business.”

Textual Notes

Oh, Blest the House LSB 862

V 42: kata to ethos tēs heortēs, “according to custom [of the feast].” This could refer to the general custom of celebrating the feast annually, but more likely indicates that it was customary for children to begin attending the Passover themselves at age 12.

Let All Together Praise Our God LSB 389

Vv 46–47: akouonta . . . eperōtōnta . . . apokrisesin, “listening . . . asking . . . answers.” Jesus was not teaching, but learning. Jesus used his omniscience only when it served his salvific mission, never to take an easy way. Ordinarily, he learned just as we do, by studying the Scriptures—though his answers made evident the exceptional student he was: existanto (all were amazed!).

Rev. Paul L. Beisel, STM, pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Iowa Falls, Iowa

Liturgical Setting

V 49: The first recorded words of Jesus. en tois tou patros mou. Just what of “my Father’s” is indeterminate. Most literally it indicates simply “in the things of my Father.” Modern translations supply “my Father’s house,” based on the search to find the boy’s location. But the KJV’s oft-quoted “my Father’s business” (that is, his “affairs’’) is very reasonable.

The Christmas season is a time when the Church proclaims the good news that the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (, Introit). We rejoice that God’s Son “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (). During this sacred time, we pray that God, who has “poured into our hearts the true Light of [his] incarnate Word,” would also “grant that this Light may shine forth in our lives” (Collect). To this end, Luke’s account of Jesus’ obedience to his earthly parents in our Gospel reminds us both that he came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it for us () and that we who have been adopted “to himself as sons through Jesus Christ” (, Epistle) in Holy Baptism also have a duty to love and honor our God-given parents and other authorities (Small Catechism, Fourth Commandment). To strengthen us in “faith toward [God] and in fervent love toward one another” (Post-Communion Collect), Christ, the Word made flesh, blesses us with the meal of his holy body and blood and continues to dwell among us in mercy.

V 52: proekopten [en tēi] sophiai, “increased in wisdom.” An imperfect tense, continued action. Yes, Jesus did actually learn—rather than simply using his omniscience.

Relevant Context

Sermon Outline

In , Luke writes that the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. According to , Jewish families were forbidden to offer the Passover sacrifice in their own towns, but rather they were required to offer the Passover sacrifice at the place where God makes his name dwell (that is, the temple in Jerusalem). That is why the family of Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover. Additionally, all Jewish males were required to journey to Jerusalem for the Passover (; ). Since pilgrims were required to remain in Jerusalem only two days (out of the seven days that the Passover Festival lasted), it is possible that Mary and Joseph had completed those two days and were returning back to their home country (Arthur Just, [St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1996], 129). Just makes the following observations about the Passover celebration:

All about the Father’s Business Has Been Done.

The celebration involved the liturgical slaying of the lamb at the temple and then a family meal of that lamb after sundown on the fifteenth day of Nisan. The feast celebrated the greatest redemptive event in the history of Israel, when God delivered the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. The angel of death killed all the firstborn of the Egyptians, but “passed over” the firstborn of the Israelites because of the blood of a lamb on the lintel and posts of the door. (129)

This account of the boy Jesus in the temple is unique to Luke’s Gospel. It is the only such story of Jesus’ youth among the four Gospels. The Gospels are focused primarily on the accounts of Jesus’ birth and then the time of his public ministry leading up to the events of his suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension.

Textual Notes

Sermon

V 40: Little is said about the childhood of Jesus in the Gospels. This summary statement along with the account of the boy Jesus in the temple when he was twelve years old leave us to conclude that Jesus matured as a normal child. An allusion to may have been intended here: “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding” (G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament [Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007], 274).

A little boy was lost in a large shopping mall. He sobbed, “I want my mommy.” The mall security people took him under their wing. They treated him to a hotdog, a chocolate milkshake, and a teddy bear to hug. He watched cartoons on the Disney Channel. Eventually, a woman security guard got off the intercom and said to the little boy, “One of the guards has found your mother.” The little boy didn’t miss a beat: “Don’t tell her where I am. I like it here.”

Vv 41–42: Just observes, “poreuomai, ‘journey’ (2:41) is part of Luke’s language for pilgrims journeying to the holy city, a motif that sums up the entire Christian life” (128). Additionally, Luke says that they “went up” (anabainontōn) to Jerusalem, indicating not only a physical ascent but also a spiritual one, since Zion is “the holy mountain where God will come for redemption” (Just, 126).

Okay, we appreciate the sentiment. But even more, we appreciate the mall security staff taking care of business. Somebody’s got to do it. Otherwise we might go merrily on our way thinking everything is just fine when in reality something is seriously out of order. We may think “business as usual”—“the new normal”—is quite adequate, when really it would leave us lost forever.

Vv 43–45: It would not have been unusual for a twelve-year-old boy to be traveling among his relatives and separated from his parents. This is not a case of neglectful parenting on the part of Mary and Joseph. When they do not find him among their relatives, however, they begin to realize that he may be back in Jerusalem. They did not understand where Jesus was and why he was there (v 50).

Vv 46–47: The temple is a central feature in Luke’s Gospel. The child Jesus is brought to the temple and blessed by Simeon; and at the close of the Gospel, we are told that the disciples were continually “in the temple” blessing God after Jesus had ascended. The three days as well as the seeking of one who was lost (vv 44–45) anticipate the resurrection narrative (see Just, 130), even as the theme of being lost and found shows up later in the parable of the prodigal son (15:32). While it was normal for a Jewish rabbi to teach student apprentices (James Edwards, The Gospel according to Luke [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2015], 94), here it is Jesus who is sitting in the midst (en mesō) of the teachers, amazing them by his wisdom and understanding (v 40). Luke commonly uses the Greek word existēmi to describe the response of the people to the miracles of God and the proclamation of the Gospel (Edwards, 94).

In today’s Gospel, the twelve-year-old Jesus was lost—but Jesus wasn’t really the lost one. He was in the right place, in the temple. He was “about the Father’s business.” In fact, he was taking care of business, the Father’s business, for us. He was doing for us what we intend to do, maybe what we think we’re doing . . . when, truth be told, we might actually be sitting back sipping a milkshake and watching cartoons, quite content being about our own business. Thank the Lord, therefore, that, as our text this morning shows us,

All about the Father’s Business Has Been Done,

V 48: Luke uses the Greek word ekplēssō, “astonished,” a word that carries with it a sense of exasperation (Edwards, 94), to describe the response of Jesus’ parents to finding him among the teachers in the temple. Whereas the ESV and NIV translate teknon as “son” (v 48), it is more literally rendered as “child.” Mary’s statement, “your father and I” will “stand in sharp contrast to Jesus’ reply about his need to be about the things of his Father” (Just, 127). That Mary took Jesus’ actions personally is shown by her words “why have you treated us so?”

done for us, by Christ.

Vv 49–50: Jesus’ question to Mary and Joseph, “Why were you looking (ezēteite) for me?” anticipates the question of the two men to the women at the tomb of Jesus, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (24:5). These words also prepare the reader for his next statement, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Even Mary and Joseph do not understand why Jesus is where he is. dei denotes “the necessity of God’s plan of salvation to be accomplished in Jerusalem” (Just, 127). Jesus calls God his Father, echoing Old Testament Father/Son language () and Jewish traditions (, ) (Beale and Carson, 274). That he “must” be about his Father’s business implies that the Son has come to do the Father’s will (cf ). Jesus’ parents’ failure to understand the “saying (hrēma) that he spoke to them” sets the stage for what Jesus would experience on a grander scale throughout his ministry.

Vv 51–52: The narrative concludes with Jesus going down (katebē) with his parents and submitting to them. This shows Jesus’ active obedience, prompting Just to comment, “He let himself be placed in the proper divine ordering of the family” (128). Luke once again emphasizes Jesus’ growth in “wisdom and in stature” and in favor not only with God (as in v 40), but now also with men (v 52). One is reminded of Samuel, who also enjoyed divine and human favor () (Beale and Carson, 275).

We intend to be about the Father’s business.

Sermon Outline

No doubt we really do intend to be about our heavenly Father’s business. Certainly that was true of Joseph and Mary in our text: “Now [Jesus’] parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom” (vv 41–42). Mary and Joseph had some important business God had given them to attend. To begin with, of course, they had the business God had given to every Israelite: they were to go to Jerusalem on a regular basis to worship at the chief festivals, especially Passover. What’s more, though, this particular faithful Jewish couple had the duty of raising God’s own Son in the faith, seeing to it that he was trained in all of God’s Law. This they did. Every year, they went up to the feast. Now this year, with their Son reaching the age Jewish custom called spiritual young adulthood, they took Jesus along. Very admirable, faithful.

We, God’s people here, intend to be about our Father’s business too. This time of year, lots of people resolve, fully intend, to improve this or that—New Year’s resolutions to go on a diet, exercise, stop smoking, limit ourselves to one martini. Maybe we’ve made resolutions about spiritual business as well: to follow the example of Mary and Joseph by being more faithful in our Sunday morning worship, to gather here every week around Word and Sacrament. Maybe we’ve resolved to begin regular family devotions, to pray with our spouses and children. Maybe we’ve made a resolution to put to better use our talents in the teaching ministry, the music ministry, the men’s ministry, the women’s ministry of our church—even perhaps the ministry of our mission money, a more faithful thank offering to God. As believers in Christ, we really do intend to do these things. That’s being faithful, being about the Father’s business.

Several years ago, a movie starring Macaulay Culkin came out in which a family accidentally left their son behind at home for Christmas. They were in a hurry to get out the door to get to the airport on time and had forgotten him in the upstairs bedroom. It was only later that they realized he wasn’t with them. His parents became frantic and immediately began looking for ways to get back home to find him. Meanwhile, back home, the boy dealt with burglars, cooked for himself, and even cleaned up the house by the time they got back.

In the Gospel reading today, the parents of Jesus realize that they have left Jesus back in Jerusalem. Only, he wasn’t lost; he had remained behind for a purpose. He was in his “Father’s house” listening to the temple teachers and asking them questions. And even though it was necessary for him to be there, he still submits to his earthly parents and returns home with them.

We suppose we’re about the Father’s business.

So how are we doing? Maybe we think, assume, suppose we’re staying pretty well on task, being about our Father’s business—at least so far, just four days into the new year. Let’s look in again on Mary and Joseph: “And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. . . . And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress’ ” (vv 43–46, 48).

Today we consider what Jesus’ obedience means for us. We’ll see how Christ’s Perfect Obedience Fulfills the Law for Us and Leaves Us an Example of Humble Obedience.

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Remember, Mary and Joseph had a tough job to do! God had given them the vocation of raising the Savior, and woe to them if they should misplace him somewhere along the way! So surely they felt they were being about the Father’s business when they looked here and there, as Mary herself said, under “great distress.”

Christ’s Perfect Obedience Fulfills the Law for Us and Leaves Us an Example of Humble Obedience.

We All are Among the Disobedient Sons of Adam.

We’ve all been lost sometime. It’s scary. At a busy airport, looking for the right concourse for your gate. Driving on the freeway in a strange city late at night and taking a wrong turn. First day at a new school and you can’t find your homeroom. Worse, did you ever lose a small child? The little one let go of your hand for a few seconds, and he was gone as the crowds streamed out of the stadium after a game. You’re in a panic. You know your business—Jobs 1, 2, and 3, your only business!—is to find your child!

Perhaps we suppose we’re also being about the Father’s business when we’re stressing over things we know are critical. Emotional hurts. Sickness. Cancer and chemotherapy. Divorce. Death. Terrorism and turmoil. Crime and corruption in high places and low places. Drive-by shootings. Our relationship with God: Does he really love us? Will our sins cut us off from him forever? What if I don’t keep all those good resolutions? What if I let the heavenly Father down, fail at his business?

All of humanity share in Adam’s disobedience to the Word of God.

1. Instead of listening to the voice of their Creator, Adam and Eve listened instead to the voice of the deceiver, who tempted them to eat of the forbidden fruit.

Jesus has a gentle rebuke for Mary’s stressing: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (v 49)—or as the King James Version puts it, “that I must be about my Father’s business?”

Instead of listening to the voice of their Creator, Adam and Eve instead instead to the voice of the deceiver, who tempted them to eat of the forbidden fruit.

2. They disregard God’s command and eat from the tree of which God had clearly warned, “in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” ().

They disregard God’s word and command and ate from the tree of which God had clearly warned, “in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” ().

Christ was not only all about the Father’s business, but he also took care of all the business for us.

This scene is repeated over and over in the lives of Adam’s children as they disregard the commands that God has given to them. Our sinful nature that we inherited from Adam manifests itself in our daily lives and callings:

3. This scene is repeated over and over in the lives of Adam’s children as they disregard the commands that God has given to them. Our sinful nature that we inherited from Adam manifests itself in our daily lives and callings:

This scene is repeated over and over in the lives of Adam’s children as they disregard the Word and commands that God has given to them. Our sinful nature that we inherited from Adam manifests itself in our daily lives and callings. For example:

Jesus’ rebuke to Mary is a loving one, just as it is to us, because his meaning is to free us from every stress. “There’s no need for you to be anxious,” he’s saying, “because I am about my Father’s business. In fact, I’m taking care of all that business for you.” At Christmas, Jesus came from heaven to rescue us from the hurricanes of trial and trouble. He came to save sin-tossed souls.

Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening carefully and asking questions that we can only assume were brilliantly insightful. “And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers” (v 47). That was the Father’s business. God’s Son had been given the vocation of being the Father’s Anointed One, the Christ, the Savior of the world. Already at age 12, Jesus was tending to business, learning everything the Scriptures revealed about his mission.

a. Instead of using God’s name to pray and give thanks, people are more inclined to use his name to curse and lie.

Instead of using God’s name to pray and give thanks, people are more inclined to use his name to curse and lie; even the baptized as God’s name has been placed upon them.

Instead of hearing the Word of God and learning it with gladness, we grumble and complain if the sermon is too long, or if the preacher tells us something we don’t want to hear.

b. Instead of hearing the Word of God and learning it with gladness, we grumble and complain if the sermon is too long, or if the preacher tells us something we don’t want to hear.

And, of course, this was only the beginning. Jesus would perfectly understand everything the inspired prophets had written about him—that he would do battle with Satan, perfectly keeping the Law his brother and sister humanity had failed to keep; that he would work miracles of love, healing and freeing those struck down by the effects of sin; that he would gather a following, but that soon enough he would be abandoned by them, rejected by his own people, condemned, and have the whole weight of mankind’s damnation pressed on him; that he would be forsaken even by his Father and killed. That was the Father’s business for him. Jesus knew all that about himself in those Scriptures he discussed in the temple. And Jesus would take care of all that business, every detail. For us.

Instead of honoring our parents and others whom God has placed in authority over us — Police, Firefighters, our Teachers, Pastors, etc — we grumble against their authority, thereby breaking the Fourth Commandment, along with the First Commandment.

It’s all been done. Our stresses, our sins, the hurts, the sicknesses, the worries of our world, our fears about how God sees us—Jesus has taken care of them all. He has seen to it, by finishing every task the Father gave him, that God will be with us through all of these—every day as we go about our business and for an eternity free of every stress.

c. Instead of honoring our parents and other authorities, we grumble against their authority and often only grudgingly do what they ask.

A couple of years ago, endurance swimmer Diana Nyad became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without the aid of a shark cage. It was a feat over three decades in the making. Nyad battled through jellyfish stings, sunburn, and dehydration before staggering ashore in Florida, mission accomplished . . . at age 64! This had been her dream, the business to which she devoted her life. For us, Jesus devoted his life—from infancy to boyhood to cross to empty tomb—to being about the Father’s business. All done. For us.

You see, all of humanity therefore, share in Adam’s condemnation and judgment.

B. All the sons of Adam, therefore, share in Adam’s condemnation and judgment.

1. Death is the result and consequence of our disobedience, as we learn from the apostle Paul: in Adam all die because all sinned (; ).

Death is the result and consequence of our disobedience, as Scripture clearly tells us:

Romans 5:12 NASB95

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

1 Corinthians 15:22 NASB95

22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

We must daily repent of all sins, and begging God to be merciful to us.

2. Whoever does not repent of his disobedience will not only die physically but will also experience eternal suffering and torments in hell.

3. We should daily repent of this and all sins, confessing that we are “by nature sinful and unclean” (LSB, pp. 151, 167, 184, 213, Confession of Sins) and begging God to be merciful to us.

We should daily repent of this and all sins, and begging God to be merciful to us.

But Jesus is the Perfectly Obedient Son of God.

God has shown us mercy in giving us his Son, who “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” ().

This, of course, is the point of Christmas: “The Word became flesh,” our own flesh, “and dwelt among us” () so that He could keep the Law of God in the place of sinful humanity.

1. This, of course, is the point of Christmas: “The Word became flesh,” our own flesh, “and dwelt among us” () so that he could keep the Law of God in the place of sinful humanity.

2. Where we had failed to obey our heavenly Father, we needed him to provide someone to do that for us.

Where we had failed to obey our heavenly Father, we needed Him to provide someone to do that for us.

B. The Son of God obeyed his Father’s will.

The Son of God obeyed his Father’s will.

The Son of God obeyed his Father’s will.

1. Twelve-year-old Jesus has remained behind in Jerusalem (vv 41–43). Soon enough, Mary and Joseph become frantic until they find him in the temple (vv 44–48).

Twelve-year-old Jesus has remained behind in Jerusalem (vv 41–43). Soon enough, Mary and Joseph become frantic until they find him in the temple (vv 44–48).

Twelve-year-old Jesus has remained behind in Jerusalem (vv 41–43). Soon enough, Mary and Joseph become frantic until they find him in the temple (vv 44–48).

Twelve-year-old Jesus has remained behind in Jerusalem (vv 41–43). Soon enough, Mary and Joseph become frantic until they found him in the temple (vv 44–48).

a. Despite Mary thinking Jesus has treated his parents badly, this was no disobedience at all. Jesus was in his Father’s house according to divine necessity: “must” (v 49).

Despite Mary thinking Jesus has treated his parents badly, this was no disobedience at all. Jesus was in his Father’s house according to divine necessity: “must” ().

Luke 2:49 NASB95

49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”

Then, although he was God himself, he submitted to the authority of his earthly parents as the Fourth Commandment requires.

b. Then, although he was God himself, he submitted to the authority of his earthly parents as the Fourth Commandment requires (vv 51–52).

Luke 2:51–52 NASB95

51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

2. Later, Jesus, the obedient Son of God, submitted to a Baptism of repentance for us, identifying fully and completely with sinners.

Later, Jesus, the obedient Son of God, submitted to a Baptism of repentance for us, identifying fully and completely with sinners.

Finally, Jesus, still and always the obedient Son, suffered an agonizing death, drinking the cup of his Father’s wrath for us.

3. Finally, Jesus, still and always the obedient Son, suffered an agonizing death, drinking the cup of his Father’s wrath for us.

All this, the Son’s perfect keeping of the Law, he did for us. Therefore,

C. All this, the Son’s perfect keeping of the Law, he did for us.

All this, the Son’s perfect keeping of the Law, he did for us.

In Christ Jesus, We Are Enabled to Live as Obedient Sons.

Through the active obedience of Christ, our disobedience is forgiven.

1. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” ().

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” ().

2. Through Baptism we are adopted as sons of God in Jesus Christ, “according to the pur­pose of his will” ().

Through Baptism we are adopted as sons of God in Jesus Christ, “according to the pur­pose of his will” ().

3. In Christ, we stand before God our Father as righteous and obedient sons, covered by the blanket of Christ’s perfect righteousness and obedience.

In Christ, therefore, we stand before God our Father as righteous and obedient sons, covered by the blanket of Christ’s perfect righteousness and obedience.

As reborn sons of God, adopted through Jesus Christ in Holy Baptism, we have put off the old man, the old sinful self, with his disobedience and have put on Christ.

B. As reborn sons of God, adopted through Jesus Christ in Holy Baptism, we have put off the old man, the old sinful self, with his disobedience and have put on Christ.

1. With God’s help, we follow Christ’s example of humility before God and men, beginning to keep his Word and obey his commands.

With God’s help, we follow Christ’s example of humility before God and men, beginning to keep his Word and obey his commands.

Instead of fearing, loving, and trusting in other things, we begin in faith to fear, love, and trust in God above all things. We also learn to trust in him as our only hope and refuge.

a. Instead of fearing, loving, and trusting in other things, we begin in faith to fear, love, and trust in God above all things. We also learn to trust in him as our only hope and refuge.

b. We resist the temptation to use God’s holy name to curse, swear, lie, and deceive, and instead use it to call upon him in every trouble, “pray, praise, and give thanks” (Small Catechism, Second Commandment).

We resist the temptation to use God’s holy name to curse, swear, lie, and deceive, and instead use it to call upon him in every trouble, “pray, praise, and give thanks” (Small Catechism, Second Commandment).

c. We fight and struggle against our natural inclination to despise preaching and God’s Word and instead, with the help of God’s Spirit, begin to “hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it” (Small Catechism, Third Commandment).

We fight and struggle against our fleshly inclination to despise preaching and God’s Word and instead, with the help of God’s Spirit, begin to “hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it” (Small Catechism, Third Commandment).

We resist the sinful urge to argue with our parents and others whom God has place in authority over us, and instead strive to listen to them in all earnestness, honoring them, serving and obeying them, not grudgingly or simply out of fear of punishment, but joyfully. (Fourth Commandment)

d. We resist the sinful urge to argue with our parents and other authorities and instead strive to listen to them in all earnestness, honoring them, serving and obeying them, not grudgingly or simply out of fear of punishment, but joyfully.

We do all this out of love for God, not out of fear of punishment or condemnation, but joyfully and gladly because Christ’s perfect obedience has been credited to us.

2. We do all this out of love for God, not out of fear of punishment or condemnation, but joyfully and gladly because Christ’s perfect obedience has been credited to us.

Because of our disobedience, which we inherited from Adam, we were under God’s condemnation and judgment. But through Christ’s active obedience for us and his carrying out faithfully the will of his Father for us, we are counted as righteous and obedient before God through faith in him. We give thanks to God for sending his beloved Son to fulfill the Law for us, and, as reborn sons of God, we strive to follow his example of humble obedience before God and men.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Second Sunday after Christmas

5 January 2020

Let us pray to the Lord on behalf of His Church, our nation, the causes of peace and justice, the needs of the sick, and all people according to their needs.

Brief silence

O Lord, to Solomon You granted wisdom and a discerning mind. Give to Your people such wisdom from Your Word and a mind to discern truth from error, that we may know Jesus Christ and not depart from Him amid the winds of change and doubt that challenge our faith. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, You have blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places and cleansed us, that we might be holy and blameless in Christ. Give us conviction and courage, that we may live out faithfully this baptismal grace and be led by Your Holy Spirit to love You above all and to serve You with all that we are and all that we have. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, You have made known to us the mystery of Your saving will and purpose in Christ, our Savior. Grant to us faithful pastors who will preach faithfully this Gospel and administer to us in His name the Holy Sacraments. Give to us willing ears to hear and hearts to heed the teaching of Your Word, and through it raise up those who will serve us as pastors and church workers in all the days to come. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, You set apart kings and governments to safeguard Your people. Bless, we pray, our president; the Congress; our governor; our legislature; and all those who make, administer and judge our laws. Make them wise, and give them a discerning heart in the pursuit of justice for the offender, peace between the nations, and protection for the unborn and those least able to defend themselves. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, Your own Son was incarnate for us and grew from childhood into maturity filled with wisdom, and Your favor was upon Him. Grant to parents and the children in their care the wisdom and courage to know You as Savior and Redeemer and to gather at Your bidding around Your Word and table. Help us to form within our children the knowledge of and the will to do all that is right and good according to Your Word. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, though the numbers of people are great, You know their needs and show Your mercy to each one. Give healing to the sick, strength to the weak, peace to the troubled, consolation to the grieving and comfort to the dying, especially to Barb Lynch, Mike Schaal, Jana Clutter, Jeff Warhol, Linda Bateman, Matt Young, Darsie Hartzell, Ed Ray, Glenda Gustafson, Daryl Balts and those whom we name aloud that cry to You in need_________________ May they be encouraged by Your presence through their trials and Your promise to grant the ultimate healing of eternal life through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, until we acquire full possession of everlasting life, You have granted to us Your Spirit as the guarantor of the inheritance to come. Guard us throughout our days, that we may be faithful unto death and be raised on the Last Day to enter into our eternal rest with those who have gone before us with the sign of faith. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, Your servant Solomon stood before the ark of the covenant and gave offerings of thanksgiving for Your mercy. Give to us such a heart of gratitude, that with thanksgiving we may receive Your gifts and use them well for the support of those in our care, for the extension of Your Kingdom, and for the glory of Your holy name. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, as blessed Mary treasured all things in her heart, grant us to know what is worthy of our attention and what will pass away, that approaching the table of our Lord we may be well-prepared to receive with repentance and faith His flesh for the life of the world and His blood that cleanses us from all our sin. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

All these things we pray, O Lord, in confidence of Your mercy, trusting that You will grant to us all things needful and prevent all things harmful to our faith, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.