St. John Lutheran Church

Holy Trinity, 2018

Isaiah 6:1-8 & John 3:16-17

“So that He gave…”

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

This world often brings us down. Many of the events and tragedies and problems that happen in our lives sadden us and draw us to utter the words, “woe is me.” The prophet Isaiah had another reason to say that phrase. Isaiah had been lifted to heaven. He heard the angels cry out “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3) The foundations and the thresholds of heaven shook around Isaiah as God spoke. And Isaiah, trembling said, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5)

Isaiah feared for his life. He was standing before the Almighty God and realized that he was a miserable sinner that dwelled in the midst of other miserable sinners. According to God’s Word in the Old Testament…those that came face to face with God expected to die immediately. We know Isaiah to be a faithful prophet of God. He lived among the chosen people of Israel…people that had turned their backs on God. Wicked people. Evil people. Sinners. Isaiah warned the people. Isaiah rebukes their many sins. But the people didn’t listen.

At the time of our text God’s chosen people, the Israelites, were full of selfish greed. They thought only of themselves. They not only forgot about the poor but oppressed them. The people sought out foolish earthly pleasures. They were viciously wasteful and materialistic. They defied God and His commands. They lacked moral standards, started worshipping false gods, were proud of their own intellect, and didn’t see a need for God.

Listen to Isaiah’s own words concerning his people: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!” (Isaiah 5:20-23)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. These words proclaimed so long ago…describe the world around us today. I remember watching an episode of Sesame Street with Aaron & Luke. And it bothered me. There in this children’s program we see Elmo who competes against the big strong athlete to win the golden shoes. Elmo’s eyes brighten when he sees the golden shoes. He seems haunted by them. He lusts after them. Even while losing the first two events…he keeps dreaming of the shoes. Finally during the last event, running the hurdles, the big strong athlete stumbles…and faced with the moral dilemma of winning the race and the shoes or helping the big strong athlete…Elmo finally, after debating, helps the other athlete. I was relieved…to an extent. But also frightened knowing that some children may not have understood the moral dilema portrayed. I was frightened because while this is just a children’s program…there are children… who have been killed or have killed to get a pair of expensive shoes. Cherish the teaching moments with your children. And teach them the truth of God’s Word…because television programs will not!

But that was just a children’s tv program. The World around us is even worse! Our society is greedy. Our society does seek out  foolish earthly pleasures. We want the newest tech gadgets, a bigger house, a nicer car, new clothes, and more. We are often wasteful and materialistic. People that starve throughout the world would be appalled at how much food we throw out and waste. We do ignore many of God’s commands. We shouldn’t lie…but it was a white lie…it didn’t hurt anyone. We shouldn’t lust…but I really want that new… We should go to Church. Every Sunday. But… We shouldn’t bear false witness…but did you hear about so and so? Our country has lost moral standards and worships false gods…false gods of sexual desires, lusts, choices. We do laud our own intellect. Society knows better than to believe in fairy tales known as the Bible. We evolved…there was no God who created. And often we don’t see a need for God. We can do it on our own. Look at what we have accomplished…we have gone to the moon, climbed the highest mountains, flown around the world, driven faster and faster, we call and text with a device that fits in our hands.

Each Sunday we, like Isaiah, are lifted up to heaven. Each Sunday we worship with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven. Each Sunday we hear God speak and whether we realize it or not the very foundations of heaven shake. And we like Isaiah come before Almighty God. And like Isaiah we are people of unclean lips who live among people with unclean lips. We like Isaiah are poor miserable sinners that live among other poor miserable sinners.

Even though Isaiah thought standing before God was a “woe is me” situation…it was not. And even though we are raised to heaven this day and stand before God it is not a “woe is me situation” for us either! “Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” (Isaiah 6:6-7)

This very day you get to receive from this very altar the body and blood of Christ who atoned for your sin on your tongue as your sins are forgiven and your guilt is taken away.

      “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”(Isaiah 6:8) We have been called by God to share the truth of His Word. We have been called by God to be witnesses. We have been called by God to act. Now. And we are able to…for our sins have been forgiven, we have been given strength, and the Holy Spirit has entered our hearts through the waters of Holy Baptism.

Like Isaiah we are called to call our friends and family and neighbors to repentance. That isn’t easy. It wasn’t easy at the time of Isaiah and it’s not easy now! People will get upset. They will call you names. They might not speak with you. You may suffer or even die one day for sharing the truth of God’s Word. The truth of God’s Word isn’t just words that condemn. The truth of God’s Word also contains life giving joyful news. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)

We are sinners. We deserve eternal damnation. But God loves sinners. He loves us so much that He gave His Son to die us. He forgives. He saves. He loves! He loves you… me…He loves all sinners. How do we know? Christ died and rose for us. Christ gives you His very body and blood at this altar. Your sins are forgiven. Eternal life is yours. And that wonderful news is the joyous news we get to share. Amen.

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.