“…the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”(John 1:3) I have had (even as a pastor) several Jehovah’s Witnesses come to my door. After some small-talk I gently ask them, “Whose way did John the Baptist prepare?” Appropriately they answer, “He was preparing the… Read more »
Jan Koenig
A Lamb Riding a Donkey
“And they brought the [donkey] colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.” (Mark 11:7) Advent means “coming” and on this first Sunday in Advent we are reminded why the Christ came. He came in order to enter Jerusalem so that He would accomplish our salvation by His… Read more »
Identity of the Saved
“Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” (Matthew 25:32) The Judgment Day scene in this Sunday’s Gospel can be easily misunderstood. Some may look at those who are “saved” and come to the conclusion that they… Read more »
Using What He Has Entrusted
“You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed” (Matthew 25:26) In Sunday’s parable Jesus gives a hint as to how His stewards are to invest the “money” entrusted to them. In giving us the response of the wicked steward Jesus highlights a farming metaphor: Master,… Read more »
The Oil?
“For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.” (Matthew 25:3,4) When Jesus spoke in parables He frequently gave no explanation. No doubt this was intentional, for it caused His people to wrestle with Scripture to discern an appropriate interpretation. … Read more »
They Shall See God
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) On this All Saints’ Day briefly consider the promise of Jesus that the pure in heart get to see God! Everyone wants to see God; even unbelievers want to see Him so they can “prove” to themselves He exists. This longing… Read more »
Abiding in His Word
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31,32) Everything begins with God’s Word. The world began with God’s Word, as Scripture explains, “And God said, Let there be…” Salvation began with God’s Word, being initiated when God… Read more »
The Image
And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” (Matthew 22:20, NKJV) When Jewish leaders questioned Jesus as to whether one should pay Roman taxes, He asked for a coin. They showed him a denarius and he promptly asked them whose image was stamped into the coin. After they answered that it… Read more »
The Wedding Feast
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.” (Matthew 22:2) A foundational institution of God is marriage. Within marriage the institution of the Church is also subsumed. Luther identified Adam as the first pastor, to whom was given the word of law and gospel… Read more »
A Clear Parable
“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard…” (Matthew 21:33) More often than not the parables of Jesus require significant wrestling to grasp and apply. Clearly this Sunday’s parable of the wicked vineyard tenants is not such a parable. In fact at the moment this parable proceeded from… Read more »