Yes, Lord, and the Crumbs?"

Sermon for Sunday, August 16, 2026 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mt. Olive, Illinois 

Audio

 “Yes, Lord, and the Crumbs?”

And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed." ²³ But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." ²⁴ But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." ²⁵ Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" ²⁶ But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." ²⁷And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even (or just and) the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." ²⁸ Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (NKJ Matthew 15.22-28)

 

 Introduction

 

     Today’s Gospel lesson introduces us to one of the most remarkable ladies of the Bible. We do not know her name, but if we did, I’m sure there would be many Christian girls named after her. She is one of those interesting people in the Bible who seems to “get it” before everyone else. As we look back at her story God impresses upon us three important things: First, that Jesus is truly the Messiah; Second, that Jesus, the Messiah, came to help people of every nation no matter how far away they may be either geographically or spiritually; and Thirdly, that Jesus helps us in the most needful way by healing us of spiritual wounds. 

 

The Background

 

     At the beginning of chapter fifteen Jesus had an encounter with the scribes and Pharisees. They came questioning him about “the tradition of the elders.” They had fallen into that temptation of focusing on their own man-made rules rather than focusing on the word of God. Jesus really let them have it by calling them hypocrites and the blind leading the blind. We can get caught up in this also when we skip over the word of God and start chasing all sorts of religious fads that replace the Gospel with psychology, politics, motivational self-help lectures, musical concerts, or perhaps most dangerous of all – the popular tradition of today: I don’t need the church to help me find Jesus, He’s always in my heart. Because of this confrontation with the Jewish leaders, Jesus probably decided to de-escalate the situation by venturing into the non-Jewish region of Tyre and Sidon. This is the Southern part of modern Lebanon. 

 

     There a woman came crying out to Him to heal her badly demon possessed daughter. Jesus tested her by first ignoring her and then telling her that He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. She cried “Lord, help me.” Now Jesus really tested her by saying, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” He actually calls her a “dog,” which is exactly what the Jewish people thought about these people from this region. They descended from the ancient Canaanites who were terribly wicked, practiced child-sacrifice, and were sworn enemies of Israel. Then the woman makes this remarkable statement: “Yes, Lord, and the dogs eat the crumbs that are falling from their master’s table” (my translation – See note below). Then Jesus said, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” Her daughter was then healed instantly. How can this woman, in her great faith, refresh us in our faith this morning? 

 

Jesus Is the True Messiah

 

     First, this woman shows us that Jesus is truly the Messiah. Almost everyone I’ve ever met likes Jesus. The problem with many is that they don’t love Jesus. They don’t fall down before Him and worship Him as the true Son of God, Messiah, and Savior of the world, and they really don’t know Him or listen to Him. Instead, they bend Him around to fit their own ideas about God. You hear this when people say things like Jesus was a failed prophet. Jesus wasn’t sinless. Jesus never said anything about abortion or homosexuality, therefore He affirmed those things. These are people who hold to Scripture and to Jesus loosely. They conform Jesus to their own ideas instead of being transformed by Jesus, who called us all to holiness according to the Ten Commandments. But, the Canaanite woman was not at all like this.

 

     The Canaanite woman began by acknowledging Jesus to be the Son of David, and when Jesus says He was sent to the lost sheep of Israel, she agreed. This woman knew the important prophecies about the Messiah… that He would come out of the people of Israel and particularly from the family of King David. Why is this important? Satan doesn’t want anyone to believe in Jesus. So, he misleads people with false messiahs such as the “restitution Jesus;” or the “politically correct Jesus;” or the “health and wealth Jesus,” and the “Jesus welcomes everybody repentant or not Jesus.” But the true Messiah is the Son of David. David always looked to God first for forgiveness and then for all the other blessings of this life: “Look on my affliction and pain, And forgive all my sins.” And again he blesses the LORD, “Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases” (Psalm 25.18 and 103.3). 

 

The Messiah for All Nations and for You

 

     Secondly this woman shows us that Jesus is truly the Messiah for all nations and for all people. The Canaanites had a horrible history. In many ways the deeds of her ancestors followed her like a shadow. But God doesn’t hold people guilty by association, either by association with your race, your family, or even your own past. It is precisely because Jesus is the Messiah of forgiveness, earned not by you but by His life, His death on the cross, and His resurrection that He can be the Savior for all nations, for all people and for you. The Canaanite woman knew this with such certainty that she could say, “Yes, Lord, and the crumbs...” Even the crumbs of the powerful blessings of Jesus were good enough for her. This is why the Canaanite woman could approach Jesus so boldly. She knew that God’s Messiah was her messiah, even as a foreigner descended from a people that were hostile to God. 

 

     Are you haunted by things you’ve done in the past? Have you ever wished that you could undo some things that you have done? Perhaps it is just all the little things that you wish you could change – like a cloud that hangs over your past? Jacob, who was also called Israel, was a man like this. Early in life he deceived his father and cheated his brother. But at the end of his life he gave thanks to God saying that He was, “The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil” (Genesis 48.16). Jesus came, indeed, to redeem the lost house of Israel; and He came to redeem all nations; and He came to redeem you from all your lost ways.

 

Spiritual Wounds and Healing

 

     The last thing I would like to take from this account of the Canaanite woman is the healing she received from her spiritual wounds. Jesus said, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” Listen closely to that. She came for the healing of her daughter, but Jesus first recognizes the healing of her own soul, then the healing of her daughter. People came to Jesus for many kinds of healing. But this woman came especially for spiritual healing. Her daughter was badly demon possessed. I don’t know where the line is between biology and demonology, but I believe that sin works in both. I believe that the afflictions of life can be both biological and spiritual. I thank God for doctors and for the physical healing they can bring. But I look to God even more for the healing and protection I know that I need against the non-biological evils of this world. They are powerful and prevalent. I pray for myself, for my family and for all of you the words of Jesus in the final petition of the Lord’s Prayer: “Deliver us from evil.” 

 

     Look at the problems in your life. (None? Be thankful. Prepare. They are coming!) How many are biological and how many are spiritual? How many can really be fixed with a pill or another dollar, and how many really need to be fixed with God’s help and a prayer? This Canaanite woman would not be dissuaded... Not by the disciples who wanted to shoo her away and not by Jesus who was testing her faith. Twice she came to Jesus with her fervent plea for help, and the third time she simply trusted in the truth of God’s word. We can learn a lot from that pattern: Pray and pray and finally just trust God according to His word. Does He like evil? No. Has He promised to save us from it? Yes. Might it take awhile? Perhaps. But we, like the Canaanite woman, will not lose heart. 

 

Conclusion

 

     Jesus tested the Canaanite woman three times. Should we be surprised when God tests us? It has rightly been said that there are at least three answers to prayer: Yes, No, and Wait. God tests our faith for good reasons – one of the most important is that it allows us to be a witness to His faithfulness. When this woman said to Jesus, “Yes Lord, and the little dogs also eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table…” she was holding God to His promises. Martin Luther said about this moment: “She catches Christ with His own words.” This is exactly what God wants us to do. Hold fast to Jesus. He is your Messiah, your Savior from sin and from every malady caused by sin. Amen. 

 

Translation Note and the Importance of Israel

Verse 27 deserves special attention. Almost all English translations translate the woman’s words in a contrastive sense: “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs…” But the Greek words for yet even are kai gar. Jeff Gibbs, in his commentary on Matthew, points out that this phrase is used approximately 40 times in the New Testament. In all cases but this one it is translated in an affirmative sense. For example Mat 8.9 when the centurion says to Jesus, “For I too am a man under authority…” 

When it is translated in a contrastive sense, it sounds as it if the woman is correcting Jesus or contradicting Him. But this is not the case. She is affirming Him. Jesus was sent to the lost house of Israel. Israel is a priority in God’s plan of salvation. This is so important in order for us to understand and properly interpret the New Testament and the Gospels in particular. Many of the discussions that Jesus had with Jewish leaders and many of His parables were about this. The Messiah comes from Israel for Israel but is rejected by Israel. This was all prophesied and is one of the ways that Jesus is identified as the true Messiah. But the prophets also emphasize the universal reach of the Messiah’s ministry. Paul deals with this in Romans chapters 9-11. So this woman has a deep understanding of the ministry of the Messiah. 

How to Help the Poor 1 (Bible Study)

 How to Help the Poor

 

1. The Causes of Poverty

 

Introduction

     

     Moses taught Israel: For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land’ (Deuteronomy 15.11). Poverty is a complicated problem that causes much suffering in the world. Yet at the same time there is great wealth in this world. Why does this happen, and how should Christians respond to it? If all the wealth of the world were distributed evenly to all people, would that solve the problem of poverty? Are there other (better) ways to address the problem of poverty? I hope this Bible study will help answer some of these questions and encourage us to do all that we can to love our neighbors.

 

1. Discuss the following causes of poverty and the typical responses. How would you change this chart or add to it?

 

Causes of Poverty	Responses
Ignorance, Lack of Knowledge	Education
Oppression by Powerful People	Work for Social Justice
Laziness, Drug & Alcohol Addiction	Evangelism
Religious Beliefs (Karma, Evil Spirits, etc.)	Evangelism
Local Violence	Work for Social Justice
Lack of Material Resources	Give Resources / Help People Move
Lack of Jobs	Economic Development
Debt	Education / Economic Development
Mental Illness	Social Care

 

2. Has there been progress?

 

     Various studies show that extreme poverty* has been reduced substantially across the globe (as much as 50%). Most of that reduction has been in China.

 

     * Living on less than $1.25/day

 

3. What does the Bible say? 

 

     Exodus-Deuteronomy – There are many references to the poor and ways to help the poor. But there is no discussion of the cause of poverty. You often hear, “when a person becomes poor.”

 

     Ruth – Here poverty was caused by a famine in Israel. However, this is also the time of the Judges when there was a lot of lawlessness and violence.

 

     Job and Psalms – The predominate cause of poverty mentioned is oppression such as Psalm 72.4: “He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor.”

 

Proverbs – There are a number of references pointing to personal responsibility as a cause of poverty.  In Proverbs 10:4 we read, “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.”

 

The Prophets – There is a strong emphasis on the cause of oppression as in Isaiah 3:15 “What do you mean by crushing My people and grinding the faces of the poor?” Says the Lord God of hosts.”

 

New Testament – The poor are often grouped together with the sick, the lame, the blind, the widowed, etc. 

 

4. Poverty is undoubtably a sin problem. Sometimes the sin is personal. Sometimes it is oppressive. Sometimes it is both. Poverty can also be caused by a lack of resources and innovation. 

 

5. Can the problem of poverty be solved? 

 

     There are many organizations, both Christian and secular, that are trying to find ways to help the poor. Even secularists acknowledge that the problem of poverty is complicated, and despite billions of dollars in aid and much effort, the problem of poverty remains. There is an obvious difference between Christian aid organizations and secular aid organizations. Secularists often believe that poverty can be eliminated through resources, education and innovation. Christians believe that poverty will never be eliminated until the problem of sin is eliminated, as Jesus said, “For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always” (Matthew 26.11).  Christian aid organizations seek to solve the problem of both spiritual and physical poverty. 

 

6. Does that mean we should give up trying to help the poor?

 

     Galatians 6:9-10 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

 

     2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

 

     The second great commandment tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. The causes of poverty are complicated, and that will be important as we consider the best ways to help the poor. As difficult as it may be, we certain have God’s command to do good to all. 

What Do We Do with Our Fear? Matthew 14.22-33

 “What Do We Do with Our Fear?”  

Audio

 

Matthew 14:22-33 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  ²³ And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.  ²⁴ But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  ²⁵ Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  ²⁶ And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.  ²⁷ But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."  ²⁸ And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  ²⁹ So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  ³⁰ But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"  ³¹ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  ³² And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  ³³ Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."

 

Introduction

 

     Brian Simo is a race car driver, and most of you have probably never heard of him. However, there is one thing about him with which you are probably familiar. In 1985 he created the “No Fear” clothing line and found an idea that appealed to many Americans. We have a lot of respect for bravery and for those who are willing to take challenging risks. But this “No Fear” attitude often crumbles when it has no real foundation, when that foundation is simply ourselves rather than our Savior. Today’s Gospel lesson teaches us that “No Fear” is not just a decal or a T-shirt. It is not just a spirited hope of getting lucky. It is not at all about taking foolish risks. The real “No Fear” lifestyle is found in those, who like the Apostle Peter have the faith to cry out to Jesus, “Lord, Save me!”  

 

Jesus Prayed

 

     We start our thinking about the problem of fear by noticing Jesus’ focus on prayer. After the feeding of the five thousand, He wanted to be by Himself to pray. Jesus prayed often and for significant lengths of time. Why did Jesus pray? Jesus prayed because although He is completely and fully the Son of God, He is also completely and fully a human being. This is the mystery of the Two Natures in Christ. Jesus’ prayer life is one of the ways He faithfully obeyed God’s Law for us. His prayer life is an example for us to follow, but it is also the edge of an axe that splits the chains of the Law that condemn us because of our failure to keep the Law and to pray constantly as we should. 

 

Trouble

 

     We also notice that Jesus sends His disciples on in the boat knowing that they would run into trouble. Trouble is everywhere in this world because of sin. God knows that, and His promises to us are not that we will be exempt from trouble, but that we will survive it and thrive in spite of it. A friend of mine, Pastor Sam Boda, who passed away some years ago, had a small banana grove in his backyard. Bananas will grow in our hot and humid summers. But the season isn’t long enough for them to produce fruit. Some people tried to overcome this by starting their banana trees in a green house earlier in the spring. But, according to Pastor Boda, banana leaves have to be exposed to the wind as they are growing. If they grow in a quiet greenhouse, and are then are put outside, those big beautiful leaves will be shredded by the first summer windstorm. So too, we are exposed to troubles of all kinds as we grow as Christians just like anyone else. But God uses those troubles, mixed with faith, to strengthen us.  Job said, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” (ESV Job 23.10).  Peter said it this way: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1.6-8). (See additional passages at the end of the sermon.)

 

Three Words

 

     Now Jesus comes out to the disciples walking on the water. This must have been a fantastic sight. Matthew actually uses the word phantasma, which is often translated “ghost.” Peter, the leader of the twelve, rises to the rescue. “If it is You... command me to come...” Peter is commanded, and incredibly, he also steps out onto the water. But the ordeal is not over. As Peter came close to Jesus, a strong wave frightened him, and he began to sink.  It is then that Peter prayed one of the simplest prayers, “Lord, Save me.” This is a beautiful prayer which God answered by a beautiful and amazing miracle. “Immediately” Jesus reached out to grab hold of his arm and saved him.  

 

     Three words… Three little words that make all the difference. Let’s examine them closely.  First of all, consider the word, “Lord.” This is not the “lord” of your imagination. This is not some vague higher power. This is not Muhammed’s rule giving Allah, Buddha’s Supreme Being, or even the modern woke Jesus, who the world only believes when they cross out almost everything He said. The world screams “All gods are the same.” Look carefully at the gods of this world before you seek their help. They are not Saviors. They are idols, mirror images of their makers. They are the gods that people want… gods who will reward them for their own goodness in the end. But Scripture says, “I, I am the LORD, and besides Me there is no Savior” (Isaiah 43.11). Jesus is truly that Savior, the Son of God, who came down from heaven and gave His life for ours. His blood, and His blood alone wipes away the guilt of our sin and makes us God’s people.  

 

     This leads right to the second word of this simple prayer, the word “save.” “Save” does not mean that we merely receive some help from God. When a person drowns and is resuscitated by a lifeguard, the first words they say when they are conscious are not: “Thanks for helping me. It’s good thing I’m in pretty good health, swam halfway to the beach, and I was easy to resuscitate.” No, they would simply say: “Thank you. You saved me.” To be saved means we didn’t help. It means we were helpless. 

 

     Finally, there is that little word “me.” “Lord, Save me.” The world cannot handle large numbers of people. Therefore it always focuses on groups. The government helps categories of people. Corporations cannot afford to treat everyone individually. This is just a fact of life. But with God it is different. He does look at each one of us as an individual.  When His friend Lazarus died the Jewish people said, “See how He loved him” (John 11.33).  Jesus regularly took time to meet one to one with individual people. Their names will be remembered forever: Nicodemus, Zacchaeus, Mary Magdalene. Jesus said that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without God caring about it. “Do not fear therefore. You are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10.31). God saves you, personally. In Revelation 3.5 Jesus said, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Imagine that, Jesus calling out your name before God the Father and His angels! This is why you can confidently pray: Lord save me. He has promised to do just that.

 

Truly the Son of God

 

     After Jesus saved Peter and calmed the storm, He urged the disciples not to be afraid but instead to have faith. They responded by worshiping Him as the Son of God. Now this last part is most important. Matthew chapters 11 to 16 form a unit in which Jesus repeated demonstrates that He is the Son of God. It will conclude with Peter’s great confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Notice that I said Jesus “demonstrates.” Doubters and skeptics love to point out that Jesus Himself rarely “said” He was the Son of God. These fools are willfully blind. Jesus showed Himself to be the Son of God by walking on the water and stilling the storm. Who defies the Laws of Nature unless He is the Lord of Nature? Jesus also accepts the worship of the disciples which is another way of saying, “I am God.” 

  

What Is Your Fear?

 

     What kind of fear have you been dealing with? Is it the fear of the unknown... what will happen with the economy, my job, my retirement? Is it the fear of change... your freshman year in high school, college or relocating? Is it the fear of difficult relationships? Are you being bullied in a bad divorce or pressured to endure a bad marriage? Are you worried about spiritually wayward children? Have you been hurt by former friends who now disregard you? Are you worried about what lies ahead with your health? Pain? Suffering? Perhaps it is the most basic fear of all: The fear of God’s judgment, the fear of how I stand before God?  This world is full of the strong and fearful winds of trouble. Even those who stand side by side with Jesus will end up, at times, like Peter sinking in fear.  

 

     If this miracle of Jesus walking on the water teaches us anything, it teaches us that all human beings have their moments when fear will overwhelm us. All of us are weak by nature. What we should not do is to try to rely only on ourselves to overcome the troubles of this world. “No Fear” is not a slogan. Real “No Fear” is much more than that… It is staying close to Jesus and crying out to Him, “Lord, Save me.”  

 

Conclusion

 

      At our Vacation Bible School in June, we sang the Christian hymn: “Jesus, Loves Me.”  This hymn was originally a poem that was included in a novel titled, Say & Seal. The poem was spoken by a teacher to a dying child to bring them comfort. A musician later added the music, and since 1860 it has become one of the most well-known Christian hymns today: “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.” That hymn has brought comfort to many fearful Christians over the years. Why? Because it captures the important truth that “we are weak, but He is strong, and therefore we can always and at any time say with Peter, “Lord, Save me.”  Amen.  

"Mary!"

https://youtu.be/WUt778sq4Sg

But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.  And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.  Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. John 20.11-18

Introduction

 

     During our Lenten Season, in preparation for Easter, we've been studying the "Witnesses of the Passion." These are the people who were there when Jesus died and rose again. We've learned good things from Mary, the sister of Lazarus, Peter, Malchus, Pilate, Judas, and John. Today, on Easter Sunday, I want to present to you one of the greatest witnesses to the passion: Mary Magdalene. As we think about the impact of Jesus on her life, I pray that we would also be moved to faith as she was. 

 

A Woman of Substance

 

     The first time we meet Mary Magdalene in the New Testament is in Luke chapter eight, where she is described as one of three women disciples, along with Joanna and Suzanna. Luke describes all three of them as women of some means who were able to support Jesus financially. (There is a tradition that Mary Magdalene is also the sinful woman we read about in Luke 7.36, but there is no way to be certain of this.) These women loved to hear what Jesus said so much that they not only took every opportunity to listen to Him, they also supported Jesus with their money so that He and His disciples could reach more and more people with God’s truth and love.

 

Seven Demons

 

     Luke also tells us that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her.  She must have been very tormented by those demons, and so she was very appreciative for the healing she received from Jesus. Many people think they are free in this life, but if they don’t have the Holy Spirit and the gift of repentance and faith, they are not free from sin or from the power of the devil. The Bible tells us that Jesus partook of flesh and blood “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2.14). It is good for us to think about how we are spared from the fear of and the dominion of evil through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

 

“My Lord”

 

     Mary’s faith in Jesus is one of the strongest we find in the Bible. She was one of the disciples that stood by the cross and stayed with Jesus all the way to His death. Whenever we find a list of women disciples in the Bible, Mary Magdalene is always mentioned first. She was the first disciple to go to the tomb on Easter morning. She was the first to realize that Jesus had risen from the dead. All the disciples called Jesus “Lord” when He was living. But Mary is the only disciple who referred to Jesus as “the Lord,” and “my Lord” even after He was crucified and before she knew He was raised. This was the beginning of the true faith that all disciples have. He is our Lord no matter what. He is our Lord no matter what the world says about Him or what it has done to Him. He is our Lord no matter what the world says or does to us. This is a beautiful example of the way we fear, love and trust in God above all things. 

 

Do Not Cling to Me

 

     Jesus spoke to Mary, but she thought He was the gardener. She did not recognize Him or His voice physically. Like all the other disciples, Mary had to go through a transition. She had to move on from the old way of knowing Jesus when He was physically present with His disciples. We call this the time of Jesus' humiliation. It is the time from His birth to poverty to suffering and finally to dying on the cross. Jesus went through this in order to become a sacrifice for our sins, to stand in our place under the judgment and wrath of God. But when He said "It is finished," that time of His humiliation and suffering for us was over. After those words in the Bible, you will see that no one argues with Jesus. No one tries to arrest Him or hurt Him. He began to be in the state of exaltation.  In this state Jesus rose from the dead and the soldiers guarding His tomb fell unconscious like dead men. In this state of exaltation that He commissioned the disciples to go baptize and teach all nations. In this state He ascended into heaven and poured out the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and Gospel began to be preached throughout all the world. In this state He is now at the right hand of the Father and rules over all things for the church. In this state He will come again on the last day. Jesus told Mary not to cling to Him because that old way of knowing Jesus in His humiliation was over.  We must hold on to Jesus now in a different way. How? How do we hold on to Jesus since He has risen and ascended into heaven? 

 

     I have noticed that if you ask any Christian this question: "What does Jesus want us to do?" I will get a variety of good answers. Some will say, "Love your neighbor." Yes, that is true. Jesus tells us that three times in the Gospels. Another person will say, "Tell others about Jesus." Yes that is true. That is the great commission. One day I was in Troy, Illinois making evangelism calls. I walked down a long street knocking on doors and inviting people to come to church. Finally I got to the last house and a very nice Baptist lady thanked me for what I was doing. But then she said, "Pastor, I bet most of the people on this street told you they were Christians." "Yes they did," I said. "But," she said, "On Sunday morning these streets will be empty. Hardly any of these folks will go to church." They knew about loving others. They knew about evangelism. But they didn't know about "clinging to Jesus" in His exaltation. The first disciples clung to Jesus as they sat at His feet and listening to Him in His humiliation. But how did they cling to Jesus after His resurrection and ascension into heaven? How do we today "cling to Jesus"? 

 

     The answer is in the very next words that Jesus told Mary, "Go to My brethren..." Mary and all of Jesus' disciples would cling to Him by clinging to each other, by being with each other in worship and fellowship. Jesus told them earlier about this when He said, "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matthew 18.20). Six times in the Lord's Prayer Jesus uses the words "our" or "us" showing us that Christianity is not as much about "me and Jesus" as it is about "we with Jesus."  St. Paul taught the Christians in Colossae to cling to Jesus by "[Letting] the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (3.16). 

 

Conclusion

 

     Mary Magdalene was a great disciple of Jesus. Though she was wealthy, she didn't idolize her wealth.  She listened carefully to Jesus and supported His ministry. When she was troubled with demons, she came to Jesus and was healed. She was the first disciple to see Jesus risen from the dead. And she was the first disciple to cling to Jesus by going to Jesus' brethern and telling them of the resurrection. I hope that all of you would agree with me when I say that I want to have a faith like Mary Magdalene. I want to listen carefully to Jesus because He teaches me to repent, believe, and live by faith. I want to go to Jesus with all my demons that trouble me in my life. I want to cling to the exalted Jesus by going to His brothers, my fellow Christians, and saying as we do every Sunday, "He is risen!"

 

     A couple of weeks ago we were talking about the importance of our faith in Jesus in a Bible study. We also talked about what life without that faith might look like. I compared it to a jigsaw puzzle that was missing one piece. What would you do with a puzzle like that? Would you spend a lot of time putting it together even without that one missing piece? I don't think you would frame it? More that likely you would throw it away. Mary Magdalene shows us a lot about our life with her life. She had friends. She had wealth. But she had demons. She had something missing in her life until she found it in Jesus. I hope you find that as well. Amen.  

Glorifying Jesus 2 Thessalonians 1.11-12

Glorifying Jesus

2 Thessalonians 1.11-12

 

Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Introduction

 

     This is what I want you to think about today - these words from the Apostle Paul: "that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." When I was in college I liked to sing a song written by Bob Kilpatrick titled "Lord, Be Glorified." It has a very simple message: "In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified. In my life, Lord, be glorified today." It's a nice song and easy to play on the guitar, however it doesn't really say what it means to glorify God. But it is actually similar to the song the angels sang at the birth of Jesus, and which we sang already in our service, the Gloria in Excelsis. It is also very simple: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom He is well pleased" (Luke 2.14). In either case, if we want God to be glorified in us, it is important to know what it means and how it is done. That's my goal in this message today. 

 

What Does "Glorify" Mean?

 

     Let's look at some examples of the glory of God in the Bible. Moses told the children of Israel they would see the glory of the LORD when He provided them with manna and quail from heaven (Exodus 16). A few chapters later Israel saw the firey glory of the LORD on Mt. Sinai, and then upon the Tabernacle, and later the Temple. David said that "The heavens declare the glory of God..." (Psalm 19.1). The Apostle John began his gospel by telling us: "The word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (1.14). Jesus said that people would see the glory of God when He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11.40), and when He himself died on the cross and rose again for the sins of the whole world (John 12 & 17). One of the ways we glorify God is to see His great works and to praise Him for them. We see the glory of God when we see the great works of God, especially His work of salvation in Jesus. 

 

     But there is another especially important part of glorifying God. We don't just glorify Him like spectators glorifying a winning team. Remember the Blues fans singing the song "Gloria" on their march to the Stanley Cup! Because this is God we're talking about and not man; no one can glorify God and His works without being affected by God and His works in their personal life. Imagine that for a moment. Can you think of anything so great that by looking at it or reading about it, it will completley change your life forever? That's the glory of God! This is why Paul says that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is glorified in us! Paul also said, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10.31). Peter said: "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ..." (4.11). To glorify God begins when we see the glory of God, but it continues when we become part of those great works ourselves.  So let's look at some of the ways we see the glory of God today, and glorify Him by being a part of those glorious works of the Lord ourselves.

     

Conversion

 

     What is the first glorious work of God that we experience in our lives? It is our conversion. Paul spoke about the conversion of the Thessalonians in his first letter. He had come there and taught them for only three weeks. But in those three weeks the Thessalonians were dramatically converted. Every day, when the people of this Greek city looked up across the sea, they saw the famous Mt. Olympus. This was supposedly the dwelling place of the gods like Zeus, Poseidon, and Aphrodite. But after hearing about Jesus, and another mountain, Calvary, they, in Paul's words: "turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come (1.9-10). They saw the glory of God, and became part of the glory of God in their conversion! 

 

     How has that happened in your life? How were you turned from idols to serve the living and true God? For me it happened early in life when I was a baby. My Christian parents brought me to Jesus in baptism and taught me about Him every day after that. I can honestly say that I can't remember a single day in my life that I didn't know and believe in Jesus. However, that doesn't mean that my early conversion made things easy for me. I was constantly and still am afflicted with temptation. Sadly, there were many times when I wasn't living, as Paul says, "worthy of this calling." But an early conversion is always followed by God's many promises of preservation. I am so thankful for that - thankful for the countless times God has, as the Catechism says, "broken and hindered every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world and the sinful nature which do not want us to hallow God's name or let His kingdom come."

 

     Your conversion may have come later in life like the Thessalonians or Paul on the road to Damascus. He was going to imprison and kill Christians when it happened - A glorious, blinding light, knocked him off his horse. This light was Jesus in His glory, and He called Paul out for his sins and gave him the gift of forgiveness. Martin Luther was baptized as a Christian, but he wasn't taught the forgiveness of sins. Because of this he feared God and entered a monastery in the hope of pleasing this "unforgiving God." This God was really an "idol" created by the scholastic theologians of the church in the middle ages. In desperation he turned to a friend who simply told him to read the Bible. There he began to see the glory of God when he read, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith''" (Romans 1.17-18). 

 

     Whether your conversion happened early in life or later, it was the glory of God coming into your life to save you from your sins. If you believe that, you are glorifying God, and His name is glorified in your life. 

 

Persecution

 

     How else do we glorify God? Remember how Jesus said He would be glorified in His death and resurrection? The glory of God is the opposite of the corruption of evil. When God preserves us in our faith, even when we are surrounded by evil, He is glorified in us. One of the reasons Paul wrote his two letters to the Thessalonians was because they were being heavily persecuted. You can read about this in Acts chapter seventeen. For three weeks Paul preached the good news of Jesus in the synogague at Thessalonica. Many Greeks believed, and among them was a man named Jason. Jason had allowed Paul and Silas to stay at his house. But those who didn't believe what Paul was preaching formed a mob and attacked Jason, dragged him to court, and accused him just as Jesus had been accused of proclaiming another king, contrary to the decrees of Caesar. The mob approach to things people don't like is nothing new. 

 

     What would happen if you were attacked by a mob for your Christian faith? Mobs are irrational. They aren't seeking justice because justice requires reason, debate, and democracy. Their purpose is to incite violence and to overpower their opposition by force. Mobs are the work of the devil, or another name given to that fallen angel in Revelation, "Apollyon," which means "destroyer." There is no way for a Christian to stand up against a mob. But there are two things that God does give the persecuted Christian: An insurmountable faith to be saved, and the wrath of God upon the persecutors. We need to keep these two things in mind at all times in this violent, mob-driven world. 

 

     Right now in Nigeria thousands of Christians are being killed by radical Muslims. It is a true genocide, and yet the world largely ignores it. Governments don't want to get involved. Who wants to face the wrath of the Jihad? But don't be discouraged. God gives us a faith that He preserves even unto death as we have all acknowledged in our confirmation vows. Yesterday was All Saints Day. This day was established in the 700s AD by Pope Gregory III. By that time so many Christians had been killed for their faith that no one could keep track of them all. All Saints Day remembers the martyrs "known and unknown" throughout the world. It is good for us to remember that kind of faith in the martyrs and pray for it ourselves. 

 

     But the other side of persecution is Judgment Day. While many persecutions may be ignored or forgotten by the world, not a one is forgotten by God. Paul's words are clear. He will bring tribulation and flaming vengeance upon those who persecute Christians when He comes to be glorified in His saints. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and will never see His glory. It is not our job to return evil for evil. Instead we've got better things to do.

 

Doing Good

 

     This brings me to the last thing in our reading from Paul that shows us how the name of Jesus is glorified in our lives. It is doing good. Paul calls it fulfilling "all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power." Paul gave thanks to God for the Thessalonians because they didn't go out and start a riot to destroy all the pagan temples. Instead he said they "abounded in love." Just as we glorify God by believing in Him and being converted from our idols to the living God; Just as we glorify God by faithfully enduring persecution and leaving the vengeance to God; So we also glorify God by doing the good pleasure of God and the work of faith with power. Jesus said this: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5.11). This has been the legacy of the Christian faith from its beginning. Help for the poor, hospitals, public education, universities, modern science, the ending of slavery, protection for the unborn and elderly - all of these are undeniably the fruit of the Christian faith and the glory of God in His true church. 

 

     The glory of God in us is fulfilled when a we simply ask, "How can I do good?" and when we pray to God to help us do good. We heard Isaiah say in the first lesson today: "learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause" (1.17). Psalm 34 says, "Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry" (v. 14). This is one of the simplest things we can do, and it goes right to the core of who we are by the grace of God. 

 

     The summer I got married I worked for my father-in-law on his farm. He paired me up with one of his farm hands. Here I was a college graduate on my way to the seminary working side by side with a farm hand that couldn't read or write and probably couldn't count much past ten. What could I learn from him? I learned one of the most important lessons of my life that summer. I learned how to do good. Allen didn't have many skills beyond those of a low-level laborer, but he had some virtues that I will always remember. Allen never complained and never criticized, and most of all, he never did less than he was asked to do. He always did a little more. He did the good that he was able to do as humble as that was. 

 

     Many people preach the ethics of doing good, and I'm glad for that. I'd rather people try to do good than try to do bad. But without faith it's impossible to do the good that glorifies God. Without faith in God's word we don't even know what "good" is, let alone have the power to accomplish it. But remember all that Paul has been talking about here - how to glorify God in our lives - is a prayer. He said, "Therefore we also pray for you..." Doing good is a command - a good command. But getting it done is matter of grace. And that is exactly how Paul ends this chapter, "according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." Always remember that everything God tells us to do, He also empowers us to do. That's how grace works, and also how God is ultimately glorified in every way. 

 

Conclusion

 

     There have been many glorious events in the history of the world. The creation was glorious, the rainbow after the flood was glorious, the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai was glorious, the birth of Christ was glorious and sung by angels. The resurrection of Christ was glorious. Pentecost was glorious. Judgment Day will be glorious. But what about today? What about tomorrow? Will they be glorious? Can they be glorious? They certainly can. Pray for the glory of God in your life - in your baptism and conversion, in your enduring persecution if need be, and in simply doing good. "In my life Lord, be glorified, be glorified. In my life, Lord, be glorified today!" 

Why We Believe in God - The Book of Ruth

Why We Believe in God - The Book of Ruth

Pastor Michael P. Walther

Faith Lutheran Church, Beaufort, SC

October 12, 2025

 

Introduction

 

     God tells us about many important people in the Bible.  Many of them are women such as Eve, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Mary the Mother of our Lord Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha, Lydia, Priscilla, Phoebe, Damaris, Dorcas and many others.  Many people today say the Bible oppresses women. This comes from people who think that men and women are in competition with each other. But the Bible presents men and women in cooperation - Fully dependent on each other and fully dependent on God. 

 

     One of the favorite women of faith in the Bible is Ruth.  I want to look at her life so that we might better appreciate God’s grace.  Before we leave this worship service today, I hope we will all be refreshed by our realization of God’s goodness and faithfulness to all - men, women, and children.  This is Why We Believe in God.  

 

1.  Ruth Shows Remarkable Faith in the Face of Tragedy.

 

     We don’t know anything about Ruth’s childhood.  She enters into the recorded history of God’s plan of salvation as a bride.  Foreigners from Israel had come to her country because of a famine in their land.  Ruth became acquainted with them.  Their names were Elimelech and Naomi along with their two sons Mahlon and Chilion.  To Ruth there was something special about this family.  Knowing what pious Jewish life was like, we can imagine that she was attracted to their decency, their love and respect for one another, and above all their unwavering faith in Yahweh, the God of Israel.  She probably expected them to think lightly of their God since there was a famine in Israel.  Others might have joked with Elimelech telling him that “his God wasn’t doing his job.”  Ruth was probably used to this nonchalant view of divinity that was common in the pagan world.  Since these were gods that they had imagined in their own hearts, they could do whatever they wanted with them.  But the God of Israel was different.  He was respected no matter what.  There was no other God.

 

     However it worked out, we don’t know the details, Ruth was joined to this family in marriage.  While the spiritual life of this family may have been strong, outwardly this was a family facing many tragedies.  First there was the famine, the move to Moab, and finally the death of Elimelech and Mahlon and Chilion.  The writer of the Book of Ruth stresses the idea that these women were “left” -- Left to go on with life without the help and support of husbands.  Without the benefit of a support system like we have today these women were in big trouble.  Desperate for survival Naomi decides to return to Israel.  As painful as it may have been she also realized that Orpa and Ruth stood a better chance of finding new husbands in their own land.  Not many men, she thought, would be interested in these women from Moab.  Confused and dazed in her own grief - her own faith was shattering.  She even recognized that as Orpa was turning back to Moab that she was returning to her people and to her gods.  It is a bitter, bitter situation dramatically described as these women kiss one another and raise up their voices in sad crying.  

 

     Tragedy.  It is the experience we all dread.  We’re very used to having the things and the people we need.  What happens to us when they are taken away?  Even for Christians there is the threat that tragedy can shake our faith.  The new parent worries for the safety of their child.  They want to ride their bikes, but will they watch out for cars?  Will the cars watch out for them?  The child worries for mom and dad.  Everyday they kiss and say goodbye.  What would happen if one of them were not coming back to pick me up after school?  The young couple worries that the early joys of married life could be destroyed by the dreaded sentence:  Mr. so and so, I have some bad news to tell you…”  

 

     Tragedy tests us.  It challenges us by asking, “Is your God faithful?  Can He be trusted?”  Daniel tells us about the three men who were thrown into the fiery furnace.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abendigo were challenged to believe in the goodness and faithfulness of God.  They would not bow down to another god.  In fact they said, “O Nebuchadnezzar, … our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up" (Daniel 3.16-18).  “He will… but if not…”  These are the words of one who knows that God is faithful.  Even if He does not deliver me from this present tragedy, I know that He will deliver me from the hand of the wicked and from the evils of this world.  

 

     Over and over again, the Bible tells us that despite apparent and present circumstances God is faithful.  One of our favorite passages comes from St. Paul:  “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.  Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10.13-14).  

 

2.  Leaving Behind the Gods of Moab

 

     That last sentence also reminds us of a very important choice that Ruth had to make:  She had to leave behind the gods of Moab.  “Flee idolatry” is the opposite way of saying, “trust in God.”  One of the gods of Moab was the god Chemosh.  His name means “to subdue.”  He was a god of war, and he required human sacrifices in order to benefit from his powers.  This god is an example of what human depravity can imagine.  Chemosh was not about faith but about covetousness – when you want something so bad, you’re willing to do anything to get it – even destroy another human being.  Chemosh, like another famous god, Molech, was especially appeased by the sacrifice of children, or so his worshipers thought.  

 

     Ruth could see the difference between Chemosh and Yahweh.  The God of Israel did not exist simply to give us power over others so that we could get whatever we want.  Ruth could see that Yahweh was the God of salvation who in His lovingkindness does not give us whatever we want but what we really need.  He gives us His faithfulness to deliver us from evil. 

 

     You and I are also called to abandon our gods.  These are the things that we imagine in our hearts – things upon which we rely to get the things we want.  Our Chemosh could be our education, our job, our wealth, our family, our government.  Someone might say, “but pastor these are all good things, how can they be false gods?”  The answer is that when we rely on any or all of these instead of looking to God, they become Chemosh – they become those things we turn to in order to subdue our enemies and provide us with our pleasures.  And we also make sacrifices to our Chemosh idols. Think back on that list: education, wealth, government, etc. What is the first thing that people sacrifice to these idols? They sacrifice their time with the one true God. They read the Bible less and less, pray less and less, and live more like the world than like God.

 

     The illusion of selfish idolatry is growing stronger and stronger in our American culture.  People are more and more willing to commit sin in order to get satisfaction for their pleasures.  Greed and jealousy drive corporation executives and government officials to lie and deceive and to leave their investors, employees, and citizens empty-handed.  Greed and jealousy drive people to get-rich-quick lawsuits, to gambling casinos, and to state-run lotteries.  Immoral sex is promoted everywhere: sex apart from marriage, pornography, homosexuality, and gender confusion. The result is unwanted children or no children at all, unstable relationships, unstable minds, and suicide. Laziness and self-indulgence lead to poverty, addiction and depression.

 

     The modern priests of Moab are leading people astray with foolish sayings such as “You can’t legislate morality," and "Most people are basically good, but they're the victims of a few oppressers," and "You can do whatever you want as long as you're not hurting anyone." Each one of these foolish sayings dressed up as wisdom is destructive and lead to death. 

 

     God called Ruth away from the culture of Chemosh. God called Ruth to the holy life of repentance for our sin (Stop being a victim; take responsibility), trust in God's forgiveness (Stop thinking you can live with sin; let God take it away), and live by faith in God's word (Let God guide you, don't try to guide yourself.)

 

3.  Looking Forward to God’s Salvation.

 

     “Orpa kissed her mother-in-law but Ruth clung to her” (1.14).  Ruth had no idea what hardships and difficulties were still coming to her.  She had a bitter, unhappy, and struggling mother-in-law that needed her help.  She also had to go on somehow – but she would not go on by herself.  Ruth tells Naomi in verse 16 “Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.”  God used Naomi to convert Ruth, now God would use Ruth to preserve Naomi in her faith.  Many times in history it has been the recent convert who has turned around and shown more faith than the person converted long ago.  God uses all of us to support one another.  

 

     Ruth trusted in God’s faithfulness.  She knew that somehow He would provide the best way for her.  They arrived in Israel at the time of the barley harvest.  Ruth was permitted to glean in the fields.  That is, she walked behind the harvesters and picked up the grain that they missed.  God provided for her and her mother-in-law. Then God led a man named Boaz to marry Ruth and to take care of her and Naomi.  He became a redeemer to them:  Taking up the burden necessary to care for them.  Again God provided.  

 

     As the account goes on we see just how much God was providing not only for Ruth and for Naomi but for the world.  Ruth had a son named Obed, who in turn had a son named Jesse.  Jesse had a son named David, who became the king of Israel.  When we turn to the opening chapter of the New Testament, we discover the rest of Ruth’s story.  Ruth was one of the ancestors of Jesus.  

 

     Ruth did not understand what was happening to her and what the future would unfold.  But Ruth knew Who was with her.  She knew that the one true God, the God life and salvation, was with her all the way.  That is one of the most consist promises of the Bible:  “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1.5);  “The LORD of hosts is with us” (Psalm 46.7); “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed” (Isaiah 41.10).  

 

     When God finally sent His Son into the world, He was named “Immanuel” which means “God with us” (Matthew 1.23).  Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God’s goodness and faithfulness.  He took up our burden of sin on the cross so that we could be freed from the slavery of selfish idolatry.  

 

Conclusion

 

     Why do we believe in God?  We believe because God is good.  He is faithful.  He is gracious. He doesn't bestow favors upon us because we make sacrifices to Him. He is not a Chemosh. He loves us and bestows His love on us first in the form of forgiveness, and then in all the other needs of life. And He is with us to save us and deliver us from evil through Jesus Christ.  Amen.