God Gave You a Preacher
John 20:19-31
April 19, 2020 anno Domini – Redeemer
Today I’m going to preach on my favorite subject – me. Now before the deacons rush the pulpit to put a stop to the sermon I’m not going to preach about me – Bruce Timm, but about the office I hold for you – pastor, the office of the Holy Ministry. You might think this sermon is about me, but I make this disclaimer. Bruce Timm can do nothing for you. It doesn’t matter if your pastor’s name is Bruce, Bill, or Bubba, although if his name is Brenda I’d be concerned. But a pastor is a different matter. Don’t take my word for it. Take Jesus’ Word.
Jesus instituted the Office of the Holy Ministry, and gave it to His church. Pastors are His first gift after resurrection. On Easter evening Jesus came to the 12 minus 2 (one was dead, and the other was running to Walmart because he heard they had toilet paper.) Jesus said, “Peace be with you.” He said it again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
How did the Father send His peace? He sent His peace in the flesh. The Son of God became man. The angels proclaimed it to the Shepherds on the night when Jesus was born. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” As the Father sent Jesus in the flesh so now Jesus sends His peace in the flesh. His Word bring His peace through the mouths of His men.
Let’s be honest – most people don’t want a pastor. The couple who is living together wants a wedding planner and a pretty building. They don’t want a pastor to point out that God’s blessing will not rest upon those who hold on to their sins. The person who lives life for personal pleasures and preferences does not want to hear the pastor say your life is not your own, but life is to be lived by faith in God and love toward neighbor. At best we want pastors to overlook our sins. At worst we want him to celebrate them. The worst part of being a pastor is the sleepless nights over sheep that are caught up in the raging water of temptation or grazing on some poisonous grass and don’t know it or don’t want to know it. Virtual church is easier than real live church – you can drink your coffee and watch in your pajamas. You don’t have to see your sister in the back pew crying or that stranger who looks homeless wander into the sanctuary. You don’t have to give offerings and the pastor doesn’t really know if you’re fighting sin or enjoying it.
This is the peace we long for – that God would keep His distance that we could live in isolation from our needy neighbor. A virtual congregation would be ideal – you could shut me off and I wouldn’t know you. We would manufacture our own peace, but it would be no peace at all and God knows it and so do you.
Our troubles are not virtual. They cannot be escaped by retreating from the world, because the trouble comes from within us. Our sin affects our bodies and souls. You shouldn’t be surprised that you’re more angry or sad or moody in this lockdown. You’ve been stuck with yourself and your family. Sin creates conflict.
God the Father sent His Son to bring peace to sinners. The Father sent His Son in the flesh to be the man who took man’s place as the sacrifice for sin. Scripture says that the only way a sinner stops sinning is to die so Jesus dies for you and then in your baptism, by faith He gives His death to you. You will not pay for your sin in the end because Jesus paid for it on that cross.
This is the peace Jesus delivered in the Resurrection. He said to the 10, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:21–23, ESV)
The Lord delivers His peace in a physical way – through the mouth of His men, the Apostles and then those who hold the Office of the Holy Ministry, but the peace He gives is not yet physical. The disciples were afraid of the Jews yet Jesus didn’t take the Jews away. Jesus didn’t take physical death away either. Every apostle would die. Eleven of them would be killed by enemies of the church. So the Lord gives you peace this morning, but He isn’t taking the corona virus away. He isn’t taking away cancer or your COPD or your arthritis. He’s taken away your sins, but not your sinning in thought, word, and deed. He gives you peace, but that doesn’t mean you’re not going to get hurt by others or be hated by unbelievers, or suffer bodily for your faith. Everything is not going to be alright if you believe in Jesus, but you will have peace.
He doesn’t take away your enemies or your sinning or your death so that you cling to His Word, so that you live by faith, not by sight. That’s God’s way with His people – His Word brings His Spirit and His Spirit brings life. No Word, no Spirit, no life, no peace. That’s how Ezekiel raised the dry bones of Israel in the Old Testament reading. He preached God’s Word which brought God’s Spirit who brought life. That’s why Jesus gave the church the Office of the Holy Ministry, why He ordered and authorized men to preach the Word, so you would have His peace in the storm, in the midst of your sin, in the hour of your death. His peace is this – you’re forgiven because Jesus died on the cross and rose again. That means God loves you and has chosen you to be His child. As a child of God you get the same inheritance that Jesus got – the resurrection and life in God’s presence forever.
Why do you need a preacher? The same reason you need water for baptism and bread and wine for the Lord’s Supper, the same reason that you go to church if you have faith. This is what Jesus has given you so you can have the gift of peace, the peace of forgiveness. Your troubles and your sins are real and so is your peace. Your peace is Jesus, a man who died and rose again for your sins to win forgiveness. That forgiveness comes in water, in bread and wine, and in the Word from the mouth of His men. The elements are nothing, the man is nothing, until God takes hold of them for Himself and then uses them deliver His peace to you in the name of Jesus. Amen.