Jesus’ Forgiving Love Never Changes!

St. Luke Ev. Lutheran Church of Watertown, WI-WELS

Sermon delivered by Pastor Anthony E. Schultz

Pentecost 15 series C September 8 + 12, 2004 Hebrews 13:1f

Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

People of God—rescued from the flaming lake of fire in hell by the innocent blood of the very Lamb of God:

My grandson Jacob was one year old last Sunday. He had a birthday party last Sunday—celebrating the big 1! He wore a special outfit for his birthday—a “onesie” of course! Little Jacob is changing all the time. He has four sharp teeth in the front of the bottom—with little serrated edges and three sharp little teeth on the top. He can chew those little fish shaped crackers. He could chew great fists full of chocolate cake—shaped like finding Nemo. He has his first shoes—a pair of Nikes just like Uncle Matt’s. It’s different walking in shoes—different from when your little toes can grip the carpet. Jacob is practicing—signaling touchdown—for the upcoming Packer games. He is practicing saying “Bye!” when he leaves. Jacob is changing all the time—a little taller, a little stronger, a little smarter, a little more articulate. Jesus is always the same. Jesus doesn’t have good days and bad days. Jesus doesn’t have days when he’s feeling crabby and cranky—the least little thing sets him off—and fire and brimstone rain down on Sodom and Gomorrah—there’s a flood because people aren’t behaving. And then he has a good day—and flowers bloom—and little fawns run safely across the highway—and whales come all the way out of the water—kersplash! God’s Word is simple and to the point:

Jesus’ Forgiving Love Never Changes! Jesus loves you this moment the same way he loved you the moment he died on the cross for you.

Jesus’ Forgiving Love Never Changes!

Jesus’ love colors our attitude
Jesus’ love colors our actions.

The letter to the Hebrews is a letter to people who had Abraham’s blood in their veins and Jesus’ love in their heart. The letter to the Hebrews is one of powerful comparisons. Angels are great—holy, fiery messengers, winged servants who worship their Heavenly Father. Angels are great—Jesus is greater! Moses was great. Never has there been anyone quite like Moses—who knew the Great I AM—the Holy One of Israel—face to face. Never was there anyone quite like Moses—who said to the Mighty Pharaoh—“Thus saith the LORD!” Moses was the Law giver. Grace and truth and life come from Jesus—far, far greater! The Sabbath-rest was wonderful. Jesus said—come to me all you who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest! The High Priest was wonderful—once a year into the most holy place—to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. Jesus died—once—for all—to pay for the sins of the whole world. Jesus is at the same time—the high priest and the sacrificial lamb---the scapegoat who carried on his head the blood guilt of us all. Between these examples—again and again—comes the call to persevere—to remain faithful—not to fall away. Remember just a few weeks ago—one of those powerful warnings? Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eye so Jesus, the Originator and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame… Hebrews 12:1,2 Fix your eyes on Jesus—so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:3b

The part of God’s Word we are concentrating on today encourages us. Jesus’ forgiving love never changes. That powerful Gospel truth will color our attitude and our actions. In the upper room—after he had washed his disciples’ feet Jesus said, “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my (students, followers, imitators) disciples—if you love one another.” John 13:34 Today God’s Word says, “Keep on loving each other as brothers.” The English language is sometimes pretty careless when it comes to the use of the word love. People say—I love deep dish pizza. I love caramel cashew sundaes. I love grilled Italian sausage—golden with fancy mustard. I love the Packers—except when they throw interceptions. The Greeks were very precise when they used the word love. They have a word for love—that is the warm and tender love of a husband and a wife. The kind of pure hugs and kisses love that Jesus intends for having marriage—having children—having a family. There is a Greek word for the wondrous love of God for people. It is a love that gives and gives—without expecting anything in return. It’s the kind of love that gives and gives—when the one who receives that love does not deserve it at all. There is a Greek word for love that is brotherly love. It is the tender love of family and friends. Love for your brother is built on love for Jesus. God’s Word is profoundly simple. God’s Word says, God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him…We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4”16b and 19-21 Pretty powerful words—God is love. If we say we love God—but haven’t talked to our earthly brother for years—because we are holding a grudge over what—some old piece of furniture—some bundle of green wrinkled papers—some word spoken in anger and haste? Have we not talked to our earthly brother—over some argument—some misunderstanding—that for the life of you—you couldn’t accurately explain—it happened so long ago? How tragic is that? The fact is—if you haven’t talked to your earthly brother for years—the day is surely coming—when the phone will ring. And someone with so much pain in their voice—you might not even recognize them—will tell you your brother has died. And then it will be too late—too late! Love between brothers will be a powerful and durable love—that Jesus strengthens—so even Satan cannot spoil it!

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it! Hospitality is a reflection of Jesus’ forgiving love. I can remember hospitality from over 27 years ago! When I was a vicar there was a little grandma who said—never ever come over unannounced! You must call the day before you plan to visit. So I always did. And when I got arrived at our appointed time—her home always smelled of angel food cake! We would have a piece. Then we would celebrate Lord’s Supper—even sweeter. Then we would have one more piece of cake. What was left we divided. I took home half and she kept half. I can still remember Pastor Mueller’s hospitality. I would come over to show him my text study—my translation of the Greek or Hebrew and my tentative theme and parts. I would sit at his kitchen table. He would get me a glass of soda with ice cubes that he threw into the glass with such love for Jesus that more than once—he actually broke the side out of glasses. He would make pop corn—and serve crackers and cheese and venison summer sausage. And if I didn’t make those little round sandwiches fast enough he would make them for me. Then he would put in a frozen pizza and we would have that, too! Pastor Mueller made those snacks and refilled my soda—because he was treating me the way he would treat Jesus—if Jesus stopped for a snack. That’s how Jesus’ love will motivate us—to show hospitality to our spouse—our children—our brothers and sisters.

Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Do you think about people in prison? Do you worry about the men in Waupun? Do you think about the women in Taycheedah? Do you worry about the people in Kettle Moraine or Oshkosh or Fox Lake? My last church I had a whole bunch of members who were workers in Corrections—Bill across the street was in one of those towers in Waupun—up there with his high powered rifle and scope—watching for murderers and rapists and child molesters—who might dare to try to escape. I have members like Sharon—who worked with those nasty ladies in Taycheedah—capable of doing things far more filthy then the most terrible men convicts. I used to worry about people who were guards. But care about and pray for people who were prisoners? There was a time when the apostle Paul was a prisoner—the Apostle Simon Peter—the disciple Jesus loved named John was in prison—falsely accused. Some of our missionaries in Nigeria were questioned by the Nigerian police—and could have been arrested and locked up. People who are abused in prison—do we care? It was only a few months ago—that they passed laws against the most unspeakable crimes committed by prisoners against fellow prisoners. Who cares? Jesus cares. And Jesus wants us to care. Not to look down on people in prison—like whoa! Those guys are really bad sinners. But to have compassion on people in prison—to pray for them. To visit them—when they are people we know. Not to forget them—but care about them for Jesus’ sake.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” We are running out of time—and there is still so much that could be said. God’s Word warns us against the love of hugs and kisses anywhere outside of marriage. The love of money—the illusion of control and happiness that lots of money promises. God’s Word makes it clear—there will be painful consequences if people are unfaithful! Imagine an alcoholic—far, far from home on a business trip—has way too much to drink. He wakes up the next morning in bed with someone whose name he doesn’t even know! At first he tries to convince himself—he doesn’t need to tell his wife. He will never visit this city again—much less that same bar or hotel or woman. He tells himself this will never ever happen again. What would be the point in telling his wife. It would only make her cry. It would only break her heart. He is so ashamed. He tries to convince himself—he has told Jesus about it. That will be enough! But think about it! How can he go home? How can he look his wife in the eyes—hug her, hold her, kiss her. How can he answer her innocent question—how was your trip? Anything new? Anything you want to tell me? Jesus’ expectations for God’s people is exceedingly high! Whoever looks at another person with lust in their eyes has already committed adultery in their heart! The only way to avoid a lifetime of guilt and shame and pain—is to be faithful—faithful to Jesus and faithful to our spouse and our family!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! Can you remember—4 years ago—this month—watching the news. They showed a father and his frightened 12 year old son Mohammed al-Dura—crouching down beside a wall. The father was wounded as he tried to shield his son. Then the little boy was shot. He died in his father’s arms. At least that’s what everyone was told. Two Israelis soon after that were beaten to death—in the first of several acts of revenge. Now—4 years later—it is reported the who thing of the father and his son may have been staged—an elaborate fake and fraud to incite acts of bloody revenge! Can that be? Can people manipulate video? Can a child bleed in his father’s arms—and yet there be no blood—and then a day later there is blood on the sidewalk? Jesus Christ did suffer and bleed and die. Jesus spilled his blood on a cross—once for the sins of the whole world. The nail marks on Jesus’ hands remain. The saving power of his forgiving blood will not fade. Jesus’ forgiving blood will never change. That forgiving love is what colors our attitude and our actions—giving all glory to Jesus. Amen!