The Things That Bring Peace :: Luke 19:41-48

Let us pray: Cleanse us, O Savior, from everything that would separate us from the things that bring us peace. Open our hearts, minds, and ears to your Word. Enable us to hang on your every Word so that you may achieve the purpose for which you sent it: the forgiveness of all sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

The Lord be with you. Everytime we meet, whether it is here in the sanctuary for the Divine Service or in the fellowship hall for Bible study, you hear me say these words: The Lord be with you. They are important words for all of us to hear as often as we can. 

The Lord be with you. Have you ever thought about what those words really mean and why your pastors greet you this way? The Lord be with you (2 Th 3:16) is a Word of peace. When the Lord is with you, you have peace ... or as the Hebrews might say ... you have שָׁלוֹם ... which is an even better word for peace ... God’s word of peace. This peace is not just wishful thinking. It is not just platitudes to start your day or week. It is not just serenity. It is the forgiveness of sins. When the Lord is with you, God has forgiven your sins. He has become one with you, reconciled himself to you in such a way that it’s not hidden from your eyes: You can see it and feel it and touch it and taste it; You can hear it and hang on every word of it. 

So let’s say it again: The Lord be with you. 

You have called your pastors to bring you this peace of God ... through preaching, teaching, and the administration of the sacraments which God ordained for you to receive. In our ordinations, we vow to bring you this peace ... to remind you of the peace of God that surpasses all understanding (Pp 4:7) ... of how the Lord of peace grants you peace at all times in every way (2 Th 3:16). Peace enables all of us to be ready for death. Peace means knowing you've already died to sin. Peace means you have eternal life.

Children, both young and old, should hang on to every word of the Divine Service .... that is, God’s Service to us ... listening for this peace ... so that in hearing it you may know you are being cleansed and saved (Rm 10:1). 

AS YOU HANG ON HIS EVERY WORD, YOU WILL KNOW THE PEACE OF GOD THAT THE LORD IS ALWAYS WITH YOU.

This is our theme. This is where our Gospel reading from Luke 19 is leading us. 

I.

To get there, we need to first hear Jesus doing something that we don’t want him to do ... weeping over our sin and becoming angry about it. 

When our Lord spoke the words of our Gospel reading, our savior was on his way to Jerusalem. He mounted a donkey, and rode into the city of peace. Some of the people thought it was pretty awesome to witness this sight. They began cheering and singing, Blessed is the King, who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest (Lk 19:38). 

Of course, while some of the disciples who accompanied Jesus had received him in faith, many others had not. The Pharisees scorned the Lord for this scene. They didn’t want his peace. They thought salvation depended upon themselves.

That’s where our reading picks up. Today we see the Lord is with us.

Now as he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, if [only] you knew ... the things that bring peace (v 41-42a)! As Jesus looked upon Jerusalem, he could say that the city had no idea what was about to happen. The people had so polluted themselves in every way imaginable that they had no idea that the Lord was actually with them ... That this is the time of Lord’s visitation. They had no idea who Jesus really is ... the Only God Incarnate coming to cleanse them with his Word and sacraments.

Let’s face it: Even now we struggle to believe that the Lord is with us, too. We cannot by our own reason or senses believe in Jesus or come to him. We struggle to believe his word and the efficacy of his sacraments. That’s why Jesus weeps. 

Apathy and unbelief fills the temple. The tears of our Lord flow because he sees people all around us who reject his mercy. He weeps because they have allowed his sanctuary to be polluted by the concerns of the world. He weeps because he sees people who think they can find safety in this temple. He weeps because he hears people saying to themselves, that God will look past their unrighteousness simply because they showed up. He weeps because they like the status quo. He weeps because many of them will endure God’s wrath because of their unbelief. He weeps because he hears people telling themselves ... See, I’m a Christian; that’s good enough. 

More than that, Jesus weeps because he sees people robbing others of faith in God’s word and promises ... loving mammon more than God, and tradition more than his service. They think the Lord is with them because they are here. 

2.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, apathy and unbelief is reflected in one’s use of God’s word and sacraments. The Pharisees and Sadducees and chief priests and scribes had turned the temple into something of their own making, spurning God’s word and setting aside his sacraments in favor of the traditions of men. They thought baptism was their dedication to God. 

Have you been apathetic to God’s word and sacraments, too? 

Have you denied the forgiveness of sins to those in need? 

Our Lord’s reaction to the scene in God’s holy temple was certainly justified anger. As Saint John says, he made a whip of cords and overturned tables, cleansing the temple of the riff raff we bring to his father's house. It is written, he declared, My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a cave of robbers!

Do not think for a moment that just because you show up for Sunday worship that you are somehow safe from God’s wrath. That is idolatry! God doesn’t deliver the forgiveness of sins to you based on merit. Instead, Repent! And believe the Gospel: The Lord is with you in word and sacraments. Prepare for the way of the Lord!

3.

Now hang on that word of Christ (v 48). We can see and hear the teachings of our Lord throughout the day and every day in the temple. Then ... even as the chief priests and the scribes and principle men of this world seek to destroy Jesus, to silence Jesus, to deny Jesus and prevent us from receiving the means of grace ... they will not be able to keep Jesus from you as we hang on his every word (vv 47-48). The Lord is always with you.

Today is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2). Jesus has brought this reality to bear for you through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension into the heavens. He who knew no sin became sin for you so that you don’t have to suffer through the total destruction of the temple. On account of his innocent suffering and death on the cross, Jesus was numbered with transgressors and brought us peace with God by shedding his own blood. Jesus became the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world ... the ultimate sacrifice for your sins. Jesus died and was buried. 

But on the third day ... that is, on resurrection day ... the day we celebrate today ... God built a better temple and showed us there is true peace in the world. The Lord is with us in Christ. Jesus is no longer dead. He is risen! The Lord is with us. We have peace.

4.

Let us always hang on to that word of peace and share it with each other. God gave us his word and sacraments so that he might distribute to us today the benefits of his peace. Return to your baptisms, hear absolution, and receive the Lord’s supper. Hang on this word of Christ. These are the things Jesus commanded us to remember and teach and preach so that he will be with you. They proclaim the Gospel that now saves you.

Baptism unites you in the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It cleanses your temple, and makes you holy just as the Lord your God is holy so that the Lord will always be with you. It leads you back to God’s Word that pronounces absolution upon you so that in hearing you will have God’s peace. And it then prepares for you the feast of forgiveness, that is, the Lord’s supper, which has no end. The Lord has not hidden these means of grace from your eyes. Jesus comes to us everytime we meet this way, and all of the company of heaven joins him, to sing his praise. 

And lest we forget, when we need peace, there are few things you can do that will help you as much as prayer ... which the Lutheran confessions say also could be called a sacrament. That's because it has the command and promises of God (Ap XIII 16). Jesus taught us to pray and seek forgiveness through it. And you can be sure that because the Lord is with you, he will certainly listen and act on your behalf. 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, our Lord Jesus still weeps when he encounters apathy and unbelief. But these are tears of deep compassion. He loves us all. He suffered and died for the sins of all. More than that, he defends us and gives us true faith in Christ our Savior as we use his word and sacraments through which he bestows on us all the spiritual blessings that come when the Lord is with you ... in Jesus name.