Luke 2 21 Wyneken Original
"Solace and Revival Sermon" by The Late Pastor Fr. Wyneken Based on Luke 2:21 Presented January 1, 1868 St. Louis, Mo: "Lutheran Concordia", 1868 Dedicated with affection and esteem to Pastor Th. Brohm (currently in Watertown, Wisc.) long-time, loyal friend of the late composer of this sermon by the latter's son, H. Wyneken + Jesus! + Text: Luke 2:21 "Eight days later the time came to circumcise him, and He was given the name Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived." Beloved in Christ: By the grace of God we are starting a new year today. Where would many a one of us be if Christ had not prayed for us: "Lord, leave it this one year while I dig round it and fertilize it" when God, the owner of the vineyard said in the parable of the fig tree: "See, all these years I have come to collect fruit on this tree and there is none. Therefore cut it down, why should it go on using up the soil?" -- He must see to it therefore that he not trifle away this period of grace, for the prayer says: "Lord, leave it this one year while I dig round it and fertilize it. And if it bears next season, well and good; if not, you shall have it down." For each and every guidance by God during the past year, regardless of how different, joyful or sorrowful, was for only the one purpose for each and everyone of us--whether by his chastising and taking away or by his forbearance and giving--that we produce fruit for eternal life in Jesus Christ. Those now in whom the Lord has reached this goal, where they have converted to Jesus Christ, or, if they already were Christians they faithfully gave themselves under the reign of the Holy Spirit in love and good works, these have spent the past year aright and have obtained the everlasting price (while they remain otherwise faithful). It matters not that during the past year they might have suffered loss of property, health, relatives or friends. However, whosoever has spent last year without coming to repentance and faith in Christ--or has not grown in faith--his life was once again empty and without gain even though he might have greatly increased his goods, honor, and well-being. Instead of taking great care in saving his soul, he only increased the amount of sins and God's wrath on the day of revelation and divine judgment. For all of God's discipline--in mercy and seriousness, and all His ways lead to Christ, that through Him and in Him we gain forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Not for nothing did God arrange it that the world's celebration of the new year coincides with the church's celebration of the Lord's name-day and the day of His circumcision. Therefore, on this first day of the new year, together with the Holy Spirit let us: I. consider the meaning of Christ's circumcision and the name Jesus, II. consider how these apply to us at the beginning of the new year. I. Beloved, you know that God first instituted circumcision . . . . with Abraham, as the sign of a covenant and a seal for him and his descendants. For God had made a covenant with Abraham, as you can read in many places in the Book of Genesis. Great and mighty things were promised to him and his seed, among which the main promises were: 1. Through Abraham would come the woman's seed promised in Paradise, who would crush the serpent's head, and, as was specifically promised to Abraham, by whom all mankind would be blessed. 2. That He would be the God of Abraham and his descendants. The descendants of Abraham, however, were partly physical, that is his descendants through Isaac, and partly spiritual: those in the faith of Abraham. They were to carry this sign of the covenant and seal on their bodies to remind them at all times that they had a merciful God who would aid them in all their timely troubles, save, protect and guard them, and richly bless them. Yea, he would even deliver them from all sin, from death and judgment and give them eternal life. At the same time circumcision was to remind them that all of mankind was conceived and born in sin, and that this inherited (original) sin is upon all people. They were to be constantly aware of the abomination of sin, especially of original sin, so that they would live their lives in continual repentance and humility before God. They were to recognize everything God did for them, be it worldly or spiritual blessings, not as deserving but as a gift of mercy, and they were to be ever mindful to circumcise the foreskin of their hearts so that with God's mercy they could live before Him in a chaste, righteous and God-pleasing manner. However, Christ's circumcision has a totally different meaning. He was not in need of this sign of a covenant and a seal. He was the Son of the Most High. He himself was righteousness and not conceived and born in sin as other men. He was our equal in everything, except He was without sin. He suffered circumcision in part to demonstrate that He was true man of the seed of Abraham though God in the highest, praised in eternity. He wanted to give us an example how one is to lovingly be under all physical ceremonies, laws and orders even if not compelled by the Law. However, the fourth chapter of Paul's letter to the Galatians lists the main reason (vss. 4 and 5): "When the term was completed, God sent his own son, born of a woman, under the Law, to purchase freedom for the subjects of the Law, in order that we might attain the status of sons." To be under the Law means: To be subject to the right of the Law. For the one who is subject to it, the right of the Law means that he is obligated to obey the Law, and all those who violate the Law will be condemned to punishment. And it is thus concerning God's Law. He demands strict obedience and curses and condemns those who violate it. Yet even the most saintly does not fulfill the Law, neither is he able to do so. Though there have been many who lived devout and saintly lives, never has there been one on earth and there never will be one who fulfilled the Law, except Christ. For the Law is spiritual and it demands not only holy works, but first of all a thoroughly pure and holy person. We, however, even though we are believers, are by nature sinners and are under the dominion of sin. Therefore, according to the right of the Law, we are condemned and given over to the suffering of eternal condemnation. Now, beloved, what can be more burdensome than this yoke and the burden of this Law: having to do what one does not want to do, and then having to face eternal punishment and suffering! Everyone senses this, though he may not thoroughly understand the basis for his feelings. That is the blight which befalls his life-blooms; it is the bitter yeast which has settled at the bottom of every cup of bliss, making his entire life bitter. What is Christ doing here, though he is lord of the Law he submits freely to circumcision? St. Paul says in Gal. 5:3: ". . . you can take it from me that every man who receives circumcision is under obligation to keep the entire Law." Therefore Christ's circumcision means for us that he submitted to the right of the Law; meaning: he has taken on the obligation to keep the entire Law for us, to fulfill it in the most perfect loving obedience, and to receive for us the wages of sin--that is death and condemnation--in short, all the suffering and pain which the Law had appointed for all time and eternity on the sinner and the violator of the Law. These drops of blood, shed by the baby Jesus during his circumcision, are like a down-payment--a guarantee given for us in God's judgment. He is taking it upon himself to pay the entire debt for us and do everything on our behalf in order to establish a right peace between us and God and His Law. On the cross, in death, this act was completed. There He gave his life as payment for the sins of the lost children of Adam. With His precious blood He paid the entire redemption and bought them from the condemnation of the Law, so that the Law no longer can demand complete obedience or face eternal death! Thus they have been redeemed from sin, death and Satan. There God's Law has been completely fulfilled, so that now he is a reconciled father who forgives us our sins for Christ's sake. He takes us back as His children, wants to give us life and eternal life, for which he prepares through the Holy Spirit, so that we can be righteous and holy before God. See now, that is the significance of Christ's circumcision. You must agree that it is of the highest importance for a lost sinner. For thus is taken from your shoulders the terrible yoke and horrible burden of the Law and its impossible demands, and the dreadful curses. They are laid upon this dear little child who made the first payment with his drops of blood, taking it upon himself to pay your entire, large, large, debt, so that you can go free. In addition, by this down payment and guarantee he has obtained forgiveness of sin and eternal life for you. And now let us examine what meaning the name Jesus has for us. When the angel made the annunciation to Mary he already told her that the child to be born was to be named Jesus. Later an angel appeared to Joseph while he slept and instructed him to take Mary unto himself and that the child within her, which was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was to be named Jesus, for He would free his people from their sins. At the time of circumcision, then, when He began His work of redemption and salvation, He publicly received this name. This name is to remind you, then, that you have a Savior and Redeemer, given you by God Himself, one who loves you and has taken your sins and your condemnation upon Himself, in order to redeem you from your sins and give you eternal life. Whosoever has been freed from his sins has also been freed from the wages of sin and punishment. Wages of sin and punishment is the wrath of God, followed by all physical troubles and suffering, war, pestilence, famine, poverty, shame, disease and death, and finally eternal damnation and eternal suffering in hell. These are the wages of sin. Therefore, as Jesus is delivering us from the wages of sin He is also delivering us from the wrath of God. He reconciles us with God, upholding us and keeping us safe from all evil, all dangers and sufferings. He uses these so that they turn out to be good for us, finally redeeming us completely, yea, He leads us through death into eternal life and everlasting bliss. -- See now, all this is contained in this name Jesus and given to you. Therefore, if you believe in this name and call on Him, not considering your own works and merits as your Savior, then you are redeemed from your sins and the wages of sin, then you are righteous and saved, a child and heir of all of God's promises. However, no one can be saved if he cannot be certain of this salvation. For where there is uncertainty there is also doubt, there temptation cannot be resisted--especially concerning the cross--there will be doubt. Therefore your conscience must be sure of forgiveness of sin and salvation. This would be impossible if our salvation were depending on our own works and deeds, or if Christ were to save us in light of our own merits and works. In that case Christ would be no different from Moses, the Gospel would only be Law. That would turn the Savior into a judge, and the Redeemer into the executioner. But, praise be to God! Our redemption is based on His works which started with His birth, freely submitting to circumcision Where He solemnly made a pledge to God which He gloriously fulfilled on the cross. For that He was born, circumcised, crucified, died, buried; for that He descended victoriously into hell, where He imprisoned the prison. For that he triumphantly arose, ascended to heaven, sitting on the right hand of God from where He will return to judge the living and the dead. With this judgment He will complete His work. Jesus is the end of the Law, he who believes in Him is righteous, and whosoever calls on His name will be saved. This name contains all your salvation, the peace of your conscience, the joy of your heart, the hope for life, the victory over death; in short, all of life and salvation, God and Heaven, all this is contained in the name Jesus. The name of Jesus embraces the unfathomable depth of mercy and the love of God towards the lost world of sinners. Jesus is our God and Lord. II. How then are we to apply . . . . what we have heard to the beginning of the new year?-- Beloved, once again we are standing at the threshold of a new year. It is quite natural to think and wonder: what shall it bring? No one can give an answer, God alone knows. Therefore, if we ask: how will I be doing in my office or vocation? The answer will have to be: God knows. If we ask: what good or bad luck will befall me? The answer again is: God knows. If we ask: shall I survive this year or die? Once again the answer is: God knows. You say "We must move into the dark, the dark and unknown; and I am seized by fear." -- There is no need for that. Look, over the portal your God has painted a beautiful picture and written a name above it. Look at it and beg God to put this precious picture and name into your heart. The picture depicts the circumcision, and the name is the sweet, precious name Jesus. This picture and name enable you to look right into heaven, into the Father's heart. And if you tell me what your attitude is toward that picture and the name, I will tell you whether you will enter into the new year joyfully and confidently or with sighs and fear. If you cannot rejoice in this picture and the blessed name Jesus, you have no savior, you are a wretched human being. You cannot joyfully look backward or forward. If you look back, what have you got? The joys you experienced are over with; the money and property you had amassed are but dust which you will have to leave behind when sooner or later you will be brought to the place where you yourself will turn to dust and ashes. But your sins are not gone; they have been entered in God's record book, and you have no part of the blood which was shed by the Christ child here and later on the cross, the blood which will negate these sins. They are all before the throne of God, accusing you; and you have no Jesus who will defend you, in front of whom these sins must fall silent. These sins are like threatening dark clouds of God's wrath which are amassing over your head. There is no mercy-sun to break up these clouds. And how do you propose to look forward? What can you expect from this new years where you have no Savior? Can you say: "Well, I am trusting God?" Which God? Who is a true god, the righteous and holy God, who has already announced--by his Law--your damnation? The Child's blood, His mighty and holy name could save you from the wrath and damnation. See, that is what He wanted: for you too He took upon Himself the horror of the Law, in baptism He called you too by name--but you scorned this truth again during the past year. The reconciler between you and God offered His hand to you too--enticing and begging you--but you have rejected Him. You are not His, and He is not yours. What if this year the command came: "Cut him down, why is he using up the soil?" Then what, you poor, wretched man? Oh how many have started the past year with joyful expectations; what plans were made for good fortune and pleasure! What has happened to these expectations and plans? They are gone, like the one who made them, whose body is moldering in the grave, awaiting the terrible resurrection; while the soul lies in hell, suffering terrible pain and the fire, crying in vain for just a drop of water to cool the burning tongue! As a condemned man you are coming from the old year, as a condemned man you are starting the new, do you want to die as a condemned man?--Oh Lord God, have mercy on him.--Take another look at the picture. See, the blood is still crying today for mercy for you. The name Jesus is calling out to you: "Why do you want to die, you from the House of Israel?" You too must have mercy on your poor soul and cry out to the man: "Oh Jesus, you Savior and Redeemer, have mercy on me, give me your mercy so I may repent and don't let me die in my sin; convert me and I will be converted, cleanse me and I will be clean." -- If you do this and submit, allowing yourself to be led to repentance and faith, then the coming year will bring you nothing but good fortune and blessings. For the one who has faith in this little child--which here has been given the name Jesus, who with his first drops of blood becomes the bondsman against the judging and condemning Law and God's justice because He is the Savior of his people--He can rejoice and confidently step into the new year. For this little child, after He has completed His work of salvation, is seated at the right hand of God, and His crucified hands are ruling the world. From His hand will come all which befalls you during this year; and His name guarantees that only blessings will come from His hand. It is certainly true that He did not promise you that during this year there will be no misery, suffering and affliction in store for you. On the contrary, He has said "He who will not daily take his cross upon himself and follow me, cannot be my disciple." That is why already at your baptism He had the sign of the cross made over you so that you will at all times be aware that you belong to the realm of the crucified, for we know that His followers go through much suffering into the Kingdom of God. As certainly as you are a Christian, as certainly you will suffer your cross and affliction.Yes, beloved, if we look at the ever increasing sin in this country, at the growing defection from the Gospel and the terrible rage against it, we can reckon with two things: The more God blesses this country and the more patient He is[,] the more terrible will His judgment be. Finally there will be open persecution of the Gospel and its followers in this country where up till now there was room for it. But we Christians say "nevertheless." "Nevertheless Israel has God as their comforter." Today's Gospel assures and guarantees this. Christ's circumcision teaches us Christians who have a Savior that all reasons for fear, terror and worry have been removed because we are no longer under the Law with its condemnation and judgment. Therefore, in the peril which may befall us we no longer see punishment or the wrath of God, but we see the chastising hand of a loving father. The name of Jesus encompasses all mercy, all love, all promises, all bliss, it is the guarantee that God is our reconciled father from whom we will receive only good things. The Almighty who sits on the throne of glory, who commands His enemies, whose enemies must all fall under His feet, before whom all knees in heaven and on earth must bend: He is our Savior, brother, bridegroom and judge. It is true, you might remain or fall into poverty, but you have the one who says: "I will never leave you," and again "Therefore do not ask what shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek, for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." It would certainly be a strange thing if the one who gave us His only Son would not also give us food and drink, clothing for our body and this very life. It is possible that severe suffering and trials, much shedding of tears, has been prepared for you. But Jesus is with you, He has mercy, "he is faithful and he will not have you tempted beyond your ability to resist, He will make it so that you are able to bear everything." "Can a woman forget about her little child so that she has no mercy on the fruit of her womb? And if that were so, I will not leave you, see, I have written it into your hands" says the Lord. Yes, your tears will produce a harvest of joy, and your temporal and worldly sufferings will result in abundance of glory. In short, no matter what may befall us: Jesus, Jesus is our God and King; and: if God is for us, who can be against us? And even though at first it may be awful when you are in fear of losing your mind under all that which has been heaped upon you: "Fear not for I am with you, I will not leave you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness." You can fall no lower than into the lap of your heavenly father and into the arms of your heavenly Bridegroom; and whatever befalls you, it is the best which your God and heavenly Bridegroom have found for you on this earth. But death, death! It too may befall you in this coming year. And if one were to tell the children of this world in the midst of yesterday's and today's celebration that they would surely die this coming year, they would be terrified, and rightly so. But for you this is a different matter. It cannot be denied that among those who truly and steadfastly believe in Jesus there are some, who, if they were to learn that they will die this coming year, would become fearful and worried. Not because they want to remain longer in this world, but because they fear that death may find them unprepared. Neither can it be denied that some who were in the faith at the first day of a new year lost their faith during the year and died as unbelievers. Why? Not only because they lost their Savior due to laziness, overconfidence and daring and spitefulness, but also because they failed to seek Him and re-accept him. I am asking you, you who today is still in faith to Christ: do you want to leave Him this year? Is His love like a burden or has His yoke become too heavy? Do you want to once again depend on the world and your own righteousness? You say: "Oh no, no, but my heart is weak and doubtful, and sin is mighty!" Do not despair. There will be enough temptations, trials and sin, yeah, you may be overcome by your body's weakness. But you are not depending on your own heart but on your Jesus who saves you from your sins, gives you renewed mercy in Word and Sacrament; forgiveness of sin surrounds you like the air, yeah it is spread out around you like the sky. He is faithful, the one who has called you. He will do it for you. You just hold on to His Word and Sacrament; do not forsake prayer. Death might meet up with you whenever and wherever it wants, it will only lead you into the eternally new year, into the right peace and bliss. And even while you are in the throes of death, this beautiful name will lighten your way and bring you safely across: J E S U S! ______________________________________________________________ This text was translated and converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Erika Bullmann Flores and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: COSMITHB@ASH.PALNI.EDU. Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (219) 452-2123 Fax: (219) 452-2126 ______________________________________________________________