What’s in a Name? – A Sermon on Mark 9:38-50

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our text this morning is the Gospel lesson, where John tells Jesus about someone going around in Jesus’ name. “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” William Shakespeare has had a profound impact on our world. His play have shaped the way we speak. Shaped the way we think. If you’ve ever had nothing to lose, or had a method to your madness, you got it from Shakespeare. If the world has ever been your oyster, if you have seen better days, you got it from Shakespeare. If you are eaten out of house and home, or you have worn your heart on your sleeve, you got it from Shakespeare.

And if you think names just really aren’t that important, you probably got that from Shakespeare as well. Juliet’s words might as well be our own. “Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love. And I’ll no longer be a Capulet. ‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy. Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What’s Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet; So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d, Retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title.”

Likewise, does the name of Jesus really matter all that much? It was a common name in Jesus’ day. It’s a common name today. I’m sure you’ve met a Jesús or a Joshua or two. Jesus wasn’t even the first person in the Bible to have that name. Yeshua is the name of the guy the sixth book of the Bible is named after. So it’s not like that name is all that special. What’s special isn’t the name, but who Jesus is, right? What He did for us. And whatever you call His name doesn’t really matter.

And Scripture tells us the same thing, right? Sure, the demons recognize the name of Jesus. But that alone isn’t enough. In Acts 19, the Sons of Sceva call upon the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches in order to better drive out demons. The evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 

It takes more than just saying the name of Jesus to do things in the name of Jesus. Jesus Himself says that very same thing. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven… On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ So how can the name be important? When what we’re really looking for is who Jesus is and what He’s done on our behalf.

That said, our text today seems to attach a great deal of importance to names. John says to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

Jesus sure speaks well of people doing things in His name. Giving out a cup in Jesus’ name comes with the promise of a reward. In last week’s text, receiving a child in Jesus’ name is to get Jesus too. Elsewhere, praying in Jesus’ name is to have our prayer answered. Two or three gathered in Jesus’ name is to have Him here among us. The Father will send the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name. And don’t forget, the one who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. That’s a lot of promises attached to Jesus’ name. That’s a lot of promises attached to something that we don’t think matters all that much. Not to mention Jesus is very protective of His name. After all, the second commandment is about just that. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

But that’s a very different way at looking at a name than we’re used to. For us, the sight and smell give the name of ‘rose’ meaning. In the ancient world, in Scripture, and in God’s way of doing things, the name ‘rose’ gives the sight and smell of that flower its meaning. And you can see it even in Shakespeare. Despite being willing to throw away the name Montague, Romeo is still defined by it. Montague means he must revenge Mercutio. Montague mean he must kill Tybalt. And Montague means he must kill Paris as well. Despite Juliet’s wish, Romeo cannot help but live up to his name. Because his name is what gives meaning to his every action.

That is what the name of Jesus is so important. But not the proper name ‘Jesus,’ per se. But rather the name that belongs to Jesus. The name that, as Jesus tells us, is also the Father’s name. It’s the one name found all over Scripture. The one name the Jews were afraid to even utter out loud. The one name that we end up translating as Lord, even though it’s something else completely. The one singular name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The divine name. Yahweh. The one who is.

That’s the name at which every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Yahweh. That’s the name that gives meaning to everything Jesus does. The one who was, the one who is, the one who is to come. The one who exists outside of time itself. The one who has no beginning and no end. This one is born and dies for you. Without that name, would those events have mattered? With that name, they are significant beyond measure.

The name of God is who God is. It is no mere identification. It is no mere symbol.  To have the divine name is to have God Himself. Therefore it is no small matter when by Jesus’ command we are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Baptism isn’t just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s Word. And not just any Word. But one Word in particular. The name.

Names give meaning to the one receiving that name. And you have received the divine name in your baptism. You are given meaning by that name. You are defined by that name. Everything you do is only understood through that name. Yahweh. The One who is. He has decided to be with you. And to do that took a sacrifice whose value is beyond comprehension. Because it was better for God to loose a hand, or a foot, or an eye, rather than see you thrown into hell. It was better to have a millstone tied around the neck and be thrown into the sea rather than see you scandalized by the wages of sin. It was even better to sacrifice eternity, sacrifice existence, sacrifice His own life all to save you. And so the cross itself gets its meaning from God’s very name. The death of Jesus gets it’s meaning from the name of the One who is.

The sons of Sceva did not have that name. The ones to whom Jesus says, “I never knew you,” do not have that identity. But you do. You have that name. You have the one name written in the Book of life. And to be called by any other name would not smell nearly as sweet. Because that name is much more than a hand, or a foot, or an arm or a face, or any other part belonging to a man. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. There is no other name under heaven by which we have been saved already. Thanks be to God.

A Child’s Favorite Question – A Sermon on Mark 9:31-37

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our text this morning the the Gospel lesson, where Jesus still has His disciples confused. They’ve been confused for a while now. When Jesus told them about His upcoming death and resurrection the first time around, the disciples didn’t understand it at all. Peter was afraid someone might take Jesus’ words literally. And that wasn’t going to do. Jesus must have meant something else, right? Something spiritual perhaps. But when Peter tries to talk Jesus into saying it some other way, Jesus rebukes him. Get behind me Satan! Those aren’t good words to hear from Jesus.

But later, when Peter, James, and John walked down from the mount of transfiguration, where they had seen Jesus shining brightly between Moses and Elijah, Mark’s Gospel tells us that they still didn’t understand. How could Jesus, who was clearly divine, possibly get killed? Well, in last week’s sermon, we saw them arrive just in time to see the other nine disciples fail to drive out a demon. Jesus isn’t easy on them. Calls them faithless. Those aren’t good words to hear from Jesus either.

Well, now they’re on their way through Galilee, and Jesus didn’t want anyone to know where they were going, nor have anyone follow them. Because He wanted the disciples to understand this thing that they didn’t understand. He says it again. “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And when He is killed, on the third day, He will rise.” But once again they didn’t get it. But now, with the scolding Peter got for arguing with Him the last time. And with the scolding they got for not having faith earlier. They’re afraid to ask Jesus anything about this. Which could have made for a very long walk indeed.

But you’ve got to pass the time with something, so I imagine the other nine disciples asked what happened up on the mountain. Now, Jesus left explicit instructions not to talk about it. But that doesn’t stop you from saying how you felt about the whole thing. I can imagine Peter saying something like, “Jesus asked us not to say anything, but you would not believe it if I could tell you. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. Maybe someday, if you’re as good a disciple as I am, Jesus will show you too.”

Well, James and John were up there as well. And later in Mark, we’re going to see those two try and take that role of Jesus’ most prominent disciple away from Peter. One asking to sit on His right, and one on His left, when Jesus enters His glory. I think that question, that argument between Peter and the sons of Zebedee starts here. Or at least gets heated up some. What we know for sure is that the disciples talk about who is greater on the way back to Capernaum. So much so, that they didn’t bother to talk about what Jesus said.

Don’t we do the same thing? Jesus is always challenging the thinking of that Old Adam in us. And even though that new creation of faith in us believes and trusts, that part of us doesn’t always understand it all either. But instead of asking why. Instead of chewing on Jesus’ Words. Instead of talking about what Jesus has said with our neighbors, and loved ones. Instead of that, we get into our own conversations about who is the greatest. Who is the greatest politician this election cycle. Who is the better sports team this year. What could be better about the weather. What it is that could be better in the news. What’s better about this place where we live. It’s not that talking about those things are bad. Nothing wrong with doing that whatsoever. But we do have something better to ask about. Something better to talk about.

But we’re afraid. Afraid someone else will think that we’re weird. Afraid we’re going to look like fools. Afraid we don’t really know what we’re talking about. Afraid we’re going to say something wrong. Afraid we’re going to say that one thing which someone will get angry and scold us about. I know this, because not only is what Peter and the disciples felt. It’s what I feel too. And I’ve heard it from some of you as well.

But then Jesus asks us. What were you discussing on the way? On the way here to church? On the way over to the social hall? On the way home? On the way with your neighbor? On the way at your workplace? On the way with your family? What did you talk about? When Jesus asks us, are we going to respond with silence too? Because I think we get it. Telling Jesus that we spoke politics, or sports, or weather, or current events, or ourselves. We know that isn’t the answer Jesus is looking for.

So, this is why Jesus calls a child into their midst. You know what a child’s favorite question is, right? It’s ‘why’. And unlike an adult, a child doesn’t have to have the answer before asking the question. They aren’t afraid of asking. And before God, our littlest children put us to shame with their great faith. We are no different from the disciples. But they… They would have asked Jesus why. Why do you need to delivered into the hands of men? Why are you going to be killed? Why are you going to rise on the third day? I think God’s favorite question to hear from His children is in fact why.

Jesus says, “whoever receives one such child in my name receives Me.” And to receive that child means also receiving the child’s question. It’s a question we as Christians should always ask. It’s one of the ways we end up having a childlike faith. Because our Lord never stops teaching us. There’s always more to learn. So ask why. Even if you think you know the answer already. Even if you think you’ve got it already. There’s still more to teach you. Even now. You are never too old to be a child of God.

So let’s ask why. Why, Jesus, are you to be delivered into the hands of men? Well, we know that Jesus had to pay for our sin. We learn that from other places in Scripture. But there’s even more to learn about why from the very words Jesus uses. His words in the New Testament are recorded for us in the most exacting language the world has ever known. But it turns out that the word used for ‘deliver’, or ‘handed over’ is also the same word used for ‘to hand down,’ or ‘tradition.’

These words are no accident. God had always wanted His people to hand down His Word as tradition. We find it even in Deuteronomy 6, the Old Testament’s John 3:16. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way…. What were you discussing on the Way? Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. That’s what Jesus’ disciples were supposed to be talking about. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, that’s our tradition. And just as He said, He was delivered, traditioned unto the people who killed Him. He is traditioned still into the hands of sinful people with the words Take eat, and take drink. My body given, my blood shed for your forgiveness. Why? Because Jesus hands Himself to you. Now there’s something worth talking about!

Because now, Jesus isn’t just some far off God, who takes a passing interest in you. Jesus isn’t just some guy who has some nice things to say. Because now the death and resurrection of Jesus, which happened on that cross two thousand years ago is in you now. The death that paid for all sin. That payment is here. That resurrection that undoes death itself. That victory is here. You have Jesus. All He has done. Right now.

Every why is answered. Answered in that death and resurrection, which Jesus has traditioned, handed over, delivered to you. But there is no end to that answer. It always goes deeper. There is always more. Just like there is always more forgiveness in there. Just like there is always more life in there. There is also always more to learn in there. That’s why Jesus keeps answering why. That’s why Jesus keeps giving Himself to us repeatedly.

And the more Jesus gives, the less we have reason to be afraid. It no longer matters if we are thought to be fools, for we have something worth more than the approval of other people. It no longer matters if we don’t know it all, because we are no longer afraid of admitting we don’t know and therefore asking why. We don’t have to worry about being scolded for that asking either.

So we will always ask the child’s question when it comes to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Because in answering why, Jesus shows us who the greatest really is. For the greatest is a child, born of the virgin Mary. Who made Himself last of all. Made Himself the worst of sinners in order to serve us. In order to hand over His own life. In order to give us His own in exchange. There’s what we talk about while on the way. There’s what we have handed down to us. There is our tradition. Thanks be to God.

How Can You Accomplish Anything When You’re Dead? – A Sermon on Mark 9:14-29

“I told you these guys were frauds,” said one of the scribes in a voice loud enough for the whole crowd to hear, while elbowing one of his friends in the ribs. They laughed out loud while the crowd murmured. What had gone wrong? They had driven out demons before. Jesus had sent them out two by two. Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits. And it had worked. Each one of them standing there had done this. And now, all of them together couldn’t. And it was looking to everyone there that the scribes were right. That they were just frauds.

Just then, Jesus returned, and He was not happy. He pointed to the scribes over his shoulder and asked sternly, “What are you arguing with them for?” Before they could come up with a good reply, the father of the boy they were trying to heal made them look like idiots. Jesus didn’t respond to that father, but to them. “O faithless generation… how long am I to bear with you?”

And that wasn’t fair. That’s not fair, Jesus. We’ve followed you all this time. We’ve done great things in your name. We’ve given up everything. We have shown remarkable faith. And yet you go and say things like you’re going to be handed over and killed. Tell us we’re in league with Satan if we try and stop you. How are we supposed to keep the faith, Jesus, when it doesn’t look like you are? Because surely the one who can drive out any demon, heal any sickness, even raise the dead, can find a way to not die. Because how can you possibly accomplish anything when you’re dead?

“I told you these guys were frauds,” said one of the scribes in a voice loud enough for the whole crowd to hear, while elbowing one of his friends in the ribs. They laughed out loud while the crowd murmured. What had gone wrong? These were Jesus’ own disciples that he had brought his son to. He had heard that they could drive out demons and heal the sick. He heard that they could do this because they were with Jesus. One of the greatest miracle workers the world had ever seen. But maybe the scribes were right. Maybe these followers of Jesus were just frauds.

Just then, Jesus returned, and He was not happy. He explained to Jesus that the disciples couldn’t do anything for his son. So, when his son fell down convulsing in front of Jesus, he begged Jesus do something, anything, if He could. But then Jesus’ anger turned on him. “If? If?! All things are possible for one who believes.”

And that wasn’t fair. That’s not fair, Jesus. Belief is what brought me here to you and your disciples in the first place. I believed you could help my son, despite what they said in the synagogues. Despite the tut-tutting scribes there today. But if you want to play this game, I am that desperate. If I’m not believing enough, do something about it. Lord I believe, help my unbelief.

But what is this? You cast the demon out of my son, but he lies on the ground, unmoving? How am I supposed to believe now? You took away the one thing I came for. How am I supposed to keep the faith, Jesus, when it doesn’t look like you are? I wanted the demon driven out so I could have my son. So, how, Jesus? How can I possibly be a father now, when my son is dead?

“I told you these guys were frauds,” says the self-proclaimed intellectual elites of our day. They say it in a voice loud enough for the whole world to hear, while elbowing their friends in the ribs. They laughed out loud while our communities murmur. What has gone wrong? We’re Jesus’ very bride. We’re the church, God’s holy people. Supposedly we have faced challenges all throughout history. But today, history is about all we see. How many of our members are seventy, eighty, ninety. And how many are twenty, or thirty, or forty? Whatever was working before, just isn’t working now. And if the Church gets old and dies, wouldn’t those elites be right? Wouldn’t we just be frauds?

How can Jesus be happy with that? It’s not just a problem here in Caruthers. The Church throughout the United States is shrinking. The old members are dying, and there aren’t new ones. The few congregations that look like they’re succeeding are really only just competing with other churches for their members. Often with the losing congregation not even knowing there was a competition in the first place. And the ones that compromise what they confess in order to reach more people are hemorrhaging people the fastest. What happened? Weren’t we being faithful? I thought we were.

So, it’s not fair. It’s not fair, Jesus. How can we be expected to be faithful, not just in our hearts, or inside this building, but out there in our families, our workplaces, our communities, sharing the Gospel with the World; How can we be expected to do this when the survival of this congregation, even the entire Church on Earth, has nothing to do with us at all? But instead has everything to do with the Holy Spirit, and where He decides to work today? We want to be faithful. Want to do it all for You, Lord. We want something that You can look at, and then say to us, “well done, good and faithful servant.” And how can we possibly do that if the church dies?

“I told you these guys were frauds,” said one of the scribes, but this boy couldn’t hear the words. The man’s lips moved. He elbowed someone next to him. But there was no sound. There was never any sound. Just a reverberating silence. They looked like they were laughing. Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a world where he could laugh too? And not be in this constant pain? This constant fear? Afraid that at any moment, he would be seized again?

There were some other men there. They stood around looking sad. That was a face he knew from personal experience. Even his own father looked worried. But what worried this boy more was when the next time his own body left his control. It happened often. Everything would go dark. His body would twitch uncontrollably. And where the pain came from next was anyone’s guess. He would wake up with burns. He would wake up coughing water out of his lungs. He would wake up bleeding from his mouth. Or bruised beyond belief.

But this was life. It wasn’t fair. It was never fair. And it wasn’t going to be fair today either. He felt his father pull on his arm. He walked forward again. And then he saw Him. A man, different from everyone else. He seemed angry. Angry at those who laughed. Angry at those who were sad. Angry at even his own father. And maybe this man was angry with him as well. Or was it at what was in him?

He hadn’t known there was a difference before now. But whatever it was that was in Him did not like it one bit. He felt the convulsions taking over. He felt the darkness coming. But in that darkness, the man still stood. Bright. Shining. Clearer than anything else had ever been. And that man spoke. And for the first time, this boy heard.

“You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The boy shook like he had never shaken before. He cried out for it all to stop. And it did. It all stopped. And there was nothing. Nothing at all. Not darkness. Not light. Nobody was there. Not even him. And in a life filled with fear, there was nothing as frightening as this. Was this death? If so, even the pain was better than this. He wanted to cry out. But he couldn’t even do that. The nothingness encompassed all.

Until, all at once, someone reached down. A hand was grabbed. And the boy realized that it was his. He had a hand. And a body. He was alive. He could hear. And He understood what he heard. He could speak, and people could understand what He said. This man, this Jesus, had raised him from the dead, and set him on his feet. The anger was gone. The unclean spirit was gone. And he was alive, maybe for the first time.

What happened with this boy also happened with his father. Only after the son had died did Jesus give to that father what he was truly looking for. A son who lived. What happened with the father also happened with the disciples. Only after Jesus had died, did the disciples get what they were truly looking for. A Lord who overcame His enemies. And don’t get it wrong. Jesus didn’t work through death. Jesus worked against death. Turning it backwards every time. Defeating it every time it thought it had victory in its grasp. Conquering it completely and utterly at the cross. Through His own death and resurrection, Jesus punches death in the teeth. Reaches into that gullet. Seizes your hand. And pulls you out alive.

It turns out that this good news doesn’t depend on what others think of us. This good news doesn’t depend on what went wrong. It doesn’t depend on whether we got our part right. It doesn’t depend on what’s fair. It doesn’t depend on things working out as we planned. This news doesn’t depend on whether or not Jesus is angry with us because of what we’ve done. And it doesn’t depend on whether we’re doing okay or not. It doesn’t even depend on us being alive.

It depends solely on Christ Jesus. And no matter what condition we’re all in, Jesus died and rose on your behalf. So your hand would be grasped. So that you would be set on your feet. So that you too would have His resurrection. Now, when we face what the world has to throw at us. When we face that Old Adam inside our own selves. When we are called frauds. When we are at our worst. When we don’t know what to do next. When things aren’t fair. When nothing goes according to plan. When the pain is to great to bear. When we look all around us and see nothing but grey hairs in the pews. When death itself is knocking on our door. It’s then when Jesus asks, “Just what is it that you’re afraid of? Because there’s nothing out there they can do to you that they didn’t do first to me. Therefore, there is nothing out there that I haven’t already made right by my cross.”

That is why we believe. And if that’s too much to believe, The Lord saved a prayer for us to use. One that was used by someone who was in the same boat we are. It goes, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” And that’s a prayer that is always answered with a yes. Because it asks for the very thing God Himself has promised to give to you. Thanks be to God.

That’s Not How Any of This Works – A Sermon on Mark 7:31-37

Were you there? Have you heard? Do you know the miracle that happened right here in the Decapolis today? Call your friends. Call your neighbors. You might even call your in-laws, this is so big. Breaking news! Who is first on the scene. Jesus of Nazareth has opened the ears of a deaf man. Rescued from a world of silence. Able to speak normally now. This healed man tells the story of just how great Jesus is. You have to tell someone about this! It’s too exciting not to! Because how often is the news this good?This Jesus does all things well. And what He does is astonishing beyond measure. He makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak. Is there anything He can’t do?

What has Jesus done in your life? What is your testimony about how great Jesus is? What miracle has happened to you that will keep this story going? What have you seen out there that will get the next person excited about our Lord? Because Jesus has given a wave of pure excitement to ride. And it’s going to go non-stop until the very last day. Or so we’re led to believe. After all, He has done all things well. And that’s the good news. Especially when we can see that in the lives of those we meet. Especially when we get that excitement in our own lives.

But, of course, there’s always that one person who wants to rain on everyone’s parade. That one person who just wants everyone to shut up about all this stuff. Who tries to tell people that these things don’t really matter all that much. And that it would be better for everyone involved if we stopped talking about it all already. It’s just that we never expected that one person to be Jesus Himself. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more He charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. Surely, that’s the point, right? A little bit of reverse psychology to get the proclamation of Jesus going? Except this isn’t the first time Jesus has done this. All throughout Mark’s Gospel, Jesus asks people to not talk about His miracles. The unclean spirit is silenced in Mark 1:25. More demons were not permitted to speak in 1:34. He commands the leper to keep quiet about his cleansing in 1:44. In 3:12, He commands silence again.

In chapter four, Jesus speaks in parables with the expressed intent that no one knows what he’s doing. In chapter 5, He tells Jairus and his family not to mention the raising of their daughter, for whom they just had the funeral! In chapter 8, He tells the blind man who received his sight not even to enter his own village anymore. He tells the disciples not to tell anyone after confessing Him to be the Christ. Jesus even tells Peter, James, and John not to tell anyone what happened at the transfiguration. At least not until the resurrection. So you know? I think Jesus is probably serious in today’s text too.

Can you imagine the man in our text? Jesus looses his tongue. He can speak rightly and clearly for the first time. And he’s told, don’t say anything? Now why? What could possibly be wrong with letting people know about Jesus? After all, Jesus is powerful. Jesus is victorious over the demons. Jesus works miracles. Jesus heals the sick. Jesus raises the dead. And Jesus does open ears. Jesus does indeed do all things well. And if I can tell someone that Jesus does those things. That Jesus has done some of those things in my life. And through that, they get to know Jesus. They get to have Jesus work in their lives too. How could that possibly be bad? And yet, Jesus commands silence.

Because that’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works. The good news isn’t that Jesus helped you find your car keys. The good news isn’t that Jesus sent you a sign from heaven so you’d know what to do. The good news isn’t that Jesus did some miracle that affected everyone in the whole community. The good news isn’t that Jesus has power, and is using it to make things better for those around Him. These things aren’t bad, after all, Jesus does them. But none of those things are worth proclaiming until after you hear the real good news.

After telling everyone to not talk about the miracles. After commanding silence from those he helped, Jesus did have one thing that He wanted said. That Jesus wanted repeated to anyone who would listen. Jesus let everyone know that He was going to die. And not just die, but be killed. And not just killed, but crucified. And He was going to be crucified by the very people who were thought to be the closest to God. The very people who were thought to have God’s favor in this life. Yet, despite all that, on the third day, Jesus would rise. On the third day, He would live. And that’s exactly what happened.

How that happened, that is the one story that saves. That is the one piece of good news that actually does something. Because that news opens ears. That news looses tongues. That news opens heaven for you and for me. There are no empty promises in that news. And that is the news that is to be proclaimed to anyone who will hear.

It is only when Jesus looks up to heaven praying in Gethsemane, does his looking up into heaven mean anything in today’s text. It’s only in His sighing at the cross, that His sigh here fits. It’s only in the Ephphatha that tore the temple curtain in two, that this Ephphatha makes sense. Because it’s at the cross that our ears are opened, our tongues loosened, and our forgiveness is won. It’s only because Jesus did one thing well, that He has indeed done all things well. And it is done. It is finished.

You don’t need a crucified and risen Jesus to find your car keys. You don’t need a crucified and risen Jesus toto send you signs. You don’t need a crucified and risen Jesus to do great miracles. You don’t need a crucified and risen Jesus to drive out demons, or restore hearing, or untie tongues. All you really need for those is a mystical genie of the lamp.

You do need a crucified and risen Jesus to forgive your sins. You do need a crucified and risen Jesus to raise you from the dead. You do need a crucified and risen Jesus to be there with you now, with you in the grave, with you always. Those are all promised to you by Christ. And those are greater miracles than even opening someone’s ears.

This is who Jesus is. This is His good news. That He died for you. That He rose for you. That He washes you in His baptism. That He feeds you His body and blood. All in order to make us one body with Him. To open heaven on our behalf and welcome us in. To raise us in our bodies on the last day. To be with Him forever. This is astonishing beyond measure. This is all things done well. This is Jesus for you. And that? That is good news. Thanks be to God.