Sermons of 2019

“The Secret of Jesus’ Name” (Matthew 1:18-25)

December 22, 2019

Rev Yuki Goto

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

The fourth candle of Advent wreath is on. Today is Christmas worship. Christmas Plays are performed by kids at Christian kindergartens, nurseries, and church schools. The roles of Mary and the Great Angel show highlight scenes, while the role of Joseph has no lines. Because Joseph says nothing in today’s text of the Bible. Joseph agonized over many things. When we live, we experience what we have never imagined before. Today’s text tells us that Christmas is the incident which took place in the midst of suffering. And it also tells us that the salvation of Christmas occurs in our suffering.

What really happened in Christmas?

“His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:18)

The incident of Christmas begins from here. An engagement in those days was legally regarded as a marriage. Mary who was pregnant through the other person except her fiancé should deserve to be killed by stoning. Here the text says, “she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” Mary was not unfaithful to Joseph. The incident occurred by God’s mysterious power. The incident should not be examined scientifically. It should be received through faith. Those who believe the Bible consider it as a miracle by mighty God.

But the phrase “through the Holy Spirit” is very ambiguous when someone doesn’t believe in God. It might be likely to be used as an excuse in many cases. What did Joseph think about it?

Today’s text says, “Joseph her husband was a righteous man.” It means that Joseph was a “faithful Judaist who kept the law.” According to the law, Mary should be killed by stoning. So, Joseph did not want to expose her to public disgrace, and he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But even if he had divorced her, it would have been extremely difficult for her and her baby to survive. Joseph must have agonized over it. If he had kept the law faithfully, Mary and her baby would have faced a crisis.

How was the incident in Christmas going on?

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. (Matthew 1:20)

We feel envious of having a divine revelation in a dream. Because it might be unnecessary for us to suffer, if God would show us the way clearly. But Joseph, who had a divine revelation, must have suffered more deeply. When God shows us His plan, we must have faith enough to follow it. What the angel told him was that what was conceived in her was from the Holy Spirit, and he was to give a baby the name Jesus. Today’s text says, “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded hm and took Mary as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” (Matthew 1:24-25)

Joseph believed the angel’s message. This was the turnabout of his faith. He was a righteous man who had kept the law. But he, believing God’s message, broke the law to protect Mary and Jesus. The age of the old law ended at Christmas, and Jesus became the Lord of the law. Joseph, as “a righteous man,” protected Mary, who was in the most disadvantageous position, and Jesus. Joseph must have wrestled with the decision, though the text says nothing about it.

We face many problems in our daily lives. We ask why those miserable situations are left as they are. And we are apt to think that, after all, we have no God. We are likely to think that even if God would exist, He might be powerless or indifferent to human beings. Though we may think in such a way, we are still unable to understand the reason why we are now suffering and why we cannot solve the problems.

But the Bible says the opposite. When Joseph faced a great trial, the text says, “God is with Joseph,” and it tells that the incident of Joseph and Mary is God’s plan, being traced to the age of the Old Testament, which transcends all human knowledge and wisdom.

“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Immanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:24)

As Joseph was a faithful Judaist, he must have read the Bible carefully. So, it may be safe to say that he knew the book of Isaiah. But he must have never imagined that Isaiah’s message came true on himself any more than the other many people. It was the moment when his life was united with his faith. The union occurred unexpectedly and at the time of his severe trial.

The text from the Gospel of Matthew tells coolly about what Joseph did after he received Mary. He must have been unable to express his feelings.

Could he hold the baby Jesus dear from the beginning? Did he wonder if the baby was really the son of God? Did he wonder if the voice of the angel in his dream was certain? Or was it just his wish? He must have suffered from agony. But all his suffering took place by his decision to believe in God. Believing in God does not necessarily get rid of one’s mental agony. Even if we believe in God, we still have many things left unsolved and unpersuaded. It is natural that believing involves such problems. Joseph believed in God and accepted Jesus, though he was in suffering. We also believe Jesus, though we are in suffering and hesitation.

We are not always joyful. We are not always able to pray. We are not always able to accept what the Bible tells us. Our such struggles occur because we begin to walk in faith. We do not need to conceal our real picture. Let’s show what we are in front of God! Joseph would not have hesitated, if he had followed the law, not the voice of the angel. But he was righteous, and followed God. Joseph received God as righteous. To use Luther’s words, he gave God justice. Therefore, when we are going to follow God, the Bible tells us, is not “hesitate,” nor “suffer,” nor “have bitter turmoil,” but “do not be afraid!”

“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife.”

When we believe God as righteous, and follow Him, we may hesitate, but we should not be afraid. “God with us” comes true on us at that time. So, as Joseph walked forward, we can go forward with belief in God.

Surely, there are many incidents in our lives which make us think why God let them happen. Do you deny God at the time? Do you yet live with trust in God? The Bible tells us that Joseph decided with belief in God, and that God is with us. As Jesus is with us, we can stand up in spite of our miserable situations. This is Christmas message for us. In other words, Christmas is the day when we begin to live with Jesus just like Joseph received Mary and Jesus. This is the meaning of Immanuel—God is with us. The name of Jesus means “God is our salvation.” Joseph gave the baby the name Jesus, as the angel told him. At that time Joseph must have told himself that God was the salvation.

Let’s offer ourselves to God, who receives us as we are in suffering and trouble, and walk this week, too, trusting the word “do not be afraid!”

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus! Amen.

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

“All Are Alive to God” (Luke 20:27-38)

November 10, 2019

Rev Yuki Goto

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

When my husband was a junior high school student, his father died. After he grew up, he began to attend church, and was baptized when he was 26 years old. He knew, the Bible tells us, that death was not the end of his father’s life, and would be raised in the kingdom of Heaven. So, he and his father would meet again. He told me that he found much consolation from the truth.

On the contrary, one of my senior pastors told me about a funny story. A member of his church said to him, “Though I believe Jesus and my resurrection after my death, I am apt to lose my pleasure in entering the kingdom of Heaven, whenever I think of that person who will also be there.” The pastor said to her, “The kingdom of Heaven is not so tiny. God is more generous than you think. Feel at ease!”

We recite Apostle’s Creed in worship service every week. We confess “the resurrection of the body.” The resurrection of Jesus from the cross is the core of the Bible. But it is difficult for us to understand the truth. As a matter of fact, we are occupied with our real lives rather than resurrection in the remote future. We ask God to help us to deal with difficult problems at present, rather than our eternal lives. But the Bible tells us that the matters of real lives are closely related to the truth of resurrection.

Today’s text from the Gospel of Luke tells about the Sadducees. Some of you may think whether they are different from the Pharisees or not. The Sadducees mainly identified with the upper class of Jewish society. They are closely related to the priests. They observed the five books of the Old Testament such as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The five books do not tell us about the resurrection. They rejected such ideas as immortality of soul, bodily resurrection after death, and the existence of angels. The disbelief of resurrection meant that they found the worldly life more than satisfactory. The reason why they believed so might be owing to the fact they monopolized all the rights and interests. They believed that “the winners” in the earthly world was the blessing by God.

The Sadducees asked Jesus a question. “There were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. The second and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. Finally, the woman died too. Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married her?” The law of marriage attached great importance to an ancestral line. The law also prevented an estate and property left by a deceased person from being transferred to the other people, and it protected bereaved female family’s lives. The Sadducees asked Jesus pointedly, because if resurrection was true, something absurd would happen.

It is also difficult for us to understand resurrection. When we will be raised, we may think how old we would be look like, and If possible, younger is better. We are apt to think about resurrection as if our earthly lives would continue after we die. But Jesus says to us, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.” (Luke 20:35-36)

Briefly speaking, our bodies after resurrection are not restored to the present earthly bodies. Before Jesus was crucified, he went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face was changed and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. When we will be raised, our figures will be transformed into the likeness of resurrected Jesus. Paul tells us, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 CO 3:18)

To tell the truth, our new lives have already started since we believed Jesus. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (2 CO 4:16) Therefore resurrection does not mean restoration of our earthly bodies but new birth as sons of God. We will no longer marry nor be given in marriage. So, it is out of question whether you and your husband would become closer again or become strangers in the kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus says, “In the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” (Luke 20:37-38)

Abraham and other people lived long ago in the age of the Old Testament. When Moses lived, they were alive some hundred years ago. So, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” means “We believe the same God who appeared to the old ancestors such as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” But when Jesus says, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” means Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are alive to God. And he says, “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” (Luke 20:38)

It means that human beings live in the relationship with God. It means the truth far beyond the fact that they live on earth or they are about to finish their own lifetime. Strictly speaking, we live in front of God, or face to face with God

Every week we recite the Ten Commandments in worship service. The first Commandment is “You shall have no other gods besides me.” The original text of the Bible says, “You shall have no other gods in front of my face.” We live in front of God’s face. Though we sometimes wonder if there might be no God, or feel that God is far away from us, you surely live in front of God. When we finish our lives on earth, we still live before God. Your loving family members live now before God. We will meet them in time of resurrection.

Today’s first text is from Job. Job had much wealth, and lived happily with family members. But he faced trials. He could not understand why he suffered. He suddenly lost his wealth and family, and he fell into serious illness. His close friends went away from him. Some friends visited to see him, but they accused Job because he might have committed serious sins. What the book of Job lets us to think is that why we have sufferings or trials, and what are their causes, and what it is to believe in such critical situations.

Probably we are unable to find clear answer for them. Even one person may have a different answer in a different time when he reads the book of Job. But the answer that the book of Job tells us about, is believing God. It is impossible for human beings to see through their lives or to explain them clearly. It shows us that human beings are essentially diminutive. Job himself could not continue to hold his faith firmly. He wavered or grieved over his situation. But he says, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God.” (Job 19:25-26)

These verses are very mysterious. Yet they are very important, because they, in the Old Testament, remind us of resurrection. “He will stand upon the earth” means that the Redeemer will stand on the grave. Even if he would die, he will see God. This idea is quite different from the Sadducees. Job, on the earth, loses his wealth and family, and becomes ill, and his friends go away from him. But he will see God. And “at the last he will stand upon the earth” may also refer to Job’s resurrection. At any rate, even if Job’s life on the earth might be suffering and lonely, he says that he lives with God, and he will see God after his life ends. At that time everything makes sense. Job’s reality is very severe, and he grieves as if he had lost any hope. But he lives clinging on to the relationship with God. He is just alive to God.

We worry about our earthly lives, and we are likely to have no reward in this world. It is true that such situation is apt to continue through our lives. But Jesus says to us, “All are alive to God.”

This Jesus’ message is the promise to us. You are alive to God. Even if the reality in front of you may be severe to you, God will never abandon you. We are in the hand of God. When we are about to end our lives on the earth, God says to us, “I am your God,” and He will take you to the eternal kingdom of Heaven. Even if you might be unable to rely on the honor and wealth in this world, God will take you in your hands, and says, “Stand up!” With this promise we believe in Jesus and live today and tomorrow in this world.

Let’s believe in God and walk this week, too!

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus! Amen.

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

“By Scripture Alone, By Faith Alone, By Grace Alone” (Romans 3:21-28)

October 27, 2019

Rev Yuki Goto

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

Today’s church hymn 450 is Martin Luther’s favorite song, which was composed by him. Its lyrics comes from Psalm 46. “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”This hymn tells us about our trust in God under any circumstances. Then, in what situation was Martin Luther put?

He was a monk in 1517. He insisted the truth based on the Bible against the prevalent Catholic teaching. So, his life was threatened. He fought against the massive church power, and was ordered to appear as a sworn witness at the Diet Worms, and was resulted in his excommunication by the pope and condemnation as an outlaw by the Holy Roman Emperor. So, he was put in the outside of legal protection. He could not receive social security, and any crime against him was not to be punished. He had no security against his life and wealth.

He was given refuge in the Wartburg Castle. His friends who approved of his insistence took him away to the castle under the guise of abduction. He could not go out from the place, so his reform seemed to be suspended. But he completed the translation of the Bible into the German vernacular. The reformation was steadily under way, even when it seemed to be suspended in the eyes of human beings. Luther sings “How can I ever rely on my weakness! My support is so strong that I can win.” Those who approved of Luther’s teaching gradually formed Protestant churches including Lutheran ones. It is sure that God is our fortress in time of our trials.

Then, what did Luther tell us?

What he agonized over was the word of “God’s righteousness” in the Bible. In his days people thought that God’s righteousness was the criterion for God’s judgment so that their sins might be clarified. Its criterion was considered to be so severe that sinful human beings might be impossible to meet it.

Can we stand before God? We easily realize that how sinful we are, even when we just glance at our behavior for a week. If we had not a belief in God, we would not care about our behavior. But we believe in God. Anyone will never fail to stand before righteous God. At the time we will know that we are not righteous. Luther was trembled to think about that. But he happened to see the Psalm 71:2. It says, “Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness.” Then, Luther started to think about God’s righteousness which does not condemn man but deliver him. When he read the letter to Romans, he realized that God would give a sinful man His righteousness. Therefore, a man should only accept it to be saved. It is the faith to accept his righteousness. This is “Justification by Faith.” When we, sinful beings, believe that we will be saved by God’s righteousness, it will become joyful.

Then, why does it happen that God’s righteousness is given to us? The Bible says that it is owing to the crucifixion of Jesus.

Today’s text from the letter to Romans tells us “But now, apart from law, a righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the Law and the Prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:21-26)

In brief, the blood shed on the cross is for the atonement of our sins, and by it we are given God’s righteousness. Jesus said at the night before he was put on the cross, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:20)

This is the Communion service we participate in today. What is ‘the new covenant in my blood’? The Old testament of the Bible and the New testament of the Bible derives from this word. ‘The new covenant’ is the word which was predicted in the book of Jeremiah by the prophet by far before Jesus was born. “Heart” is a very important word in the book of Jeremiah. “The sin of Judah is written with an iron pen; with a diamond point it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts.” The engraved letters by iron pen and diamond point are indelible. Their sins are engraved on the tablet of their hearts. This is the real picture of human beings. Therefore, human beings could not observe the law before God. The law was curved on the stone tablet when Moses received from God. However, the prophet predicted that the day will come when God forgives such human beings and renew them.

“The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God and they shall be my people.”(Jeremiah 31:31-33)

Briefly speaking, God makes the human beings utterly new, whose sins are engraved on the tablet of their heart, and writes down God’s law on their hearts by His hand. This is the new covenant. God will forgive our sins and no longer remember them. The fulfilment of the new covenant is the crucifixion of Jesus.

Luther says about forgiveness of our sins and the new law of faith which is engraved on our hearts, “Therefore I believe that the sentence ’The law is written on their hearts’ is the same as ‘God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit’. This is, in the real sense, the law of Christ and the fulfillment of the law of Moses.” The law of Christ engraved on our hearts is to love God and love our neighbors—"Love one another.”

The feature of the Lutheran Church is to serve both God and people. There were many tasks for the Lutheran Church to tackle with in the early days of the Reformation. What the Lutheran church picked up among them first was social welfare for the weak people. It created a joint depository system. The attitude toward social welfare has handed over to the present Lutheran Church. Scandinavian countries are famous for the advanced social welfare. It is closely related to it, scholars point out, that Scandinavian countries are Lutheran. Considerate social welfare needs the high tax. It is impossible to maintain the social welfare system on the principle of self-responsibility. Lutherans believe that they have grace from God, and that God’s grace is utterly free. Namely, it is ‘by grace alone.’

Justification by faith means not only we are justified by God but also we justify God. Luther says, "The justification of God and trust in God are the same thing.”

To justify God is to believe God is righteous, and to trust in God. I was once told that faith is to decide our position. To decide our basis on which we stand is to trust in God, like “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” However tough our situation may be, we trust in God and follow Him. We trust in God, and we sing “A mighty God is our fortress. We will never depend on our weakness. We have the strong support to win by.”

Today is Reformation Sunday. We have learned about the core of the faith “Here We Stand.” We are justified by Jesus’ cross. God is with us. We believe in God and leave ourselves to God. And we tell our neighbors about God’s righteousness and His love. Let’s walk this week with the faith and trust in God!

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus! Amen.

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

“God Will Never Abandon You in Your Turmoil” (Genesis 32:22-32)

October 20, 2019

Rev Yuki Goto

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

Everyone experiences many trials beyond his own power, and must face his own weakness. In such a time he will become unable to know God or stumble over his faith. Today’s text of the Bible tells us that we should always pray and not give up.

According to Genesis, Jacob had a senior brother of the twin, Esau. When he was young, he deceived his father, who was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, and Esau in order to monopolize his father’s blessing. Esau was so angry with Jacob that Jacob left the home country. He stayed with his relative’s house. Today’s text of Genesis tells about him in twenty years after he left the home country. After he fled for his life, he married and got his children. And he acquired much wealth. He lived in peace as if he would not have committed any sin. But he must have suffered agony like a thorn in his heart. At last he decided to get back to his home country.

But he was afraid to face Esau, his brother. The former part of Genesis chapter 32 tells that Jacob divided his wealth equally so that half of his wealth could survive, even if Esau might have attacked him for revenge and taken his wealth by force. He prayed “Save me from the hand of my brother.” (Genesis 32:11) His prayer was honest. He prayed out what he had in his heart as it was.

Jacob reached the ford of the Yabok. When he would cross it, he would meet his brother Esau. The ford of the Yabok was the place of his trial, because he would have been unable to overcome his sin, if he had not crossed it.

We all have the ford of Yabok in our daily lives. We must cross it, though we have fears and anxieties to fight with in our hearts. Jacob could hardly cross it. He sent over his family and his possessions, and he was left alone.

Then,“a man wrestled with him till daybreak.”

This incident was mysterious. The Bible tells us that a man who wrestled with Jacob was God. He had to face not only his brother Esau but also God. Jacob was afraid of not only his brother but also God. If he would have to face his brother alone, he would have managed to think of the way of escape, because he was very smart. But he had to face God who knew everything. This is the ford of Yabok for him. Jacob wrestled with God till daybreak.

You may have a similar experience like that. When you are seized with fears or anxieties, awake or asleep, you think of nothing else. It may be safe to say that at that time you just wrestle with God.

When “the man said, ‘Let me go, for it is daybreak,’” Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”If Jacob would not be forgiven, he could not go forward. He had nothing to rely on except God.

This is Jacob’s faith. He knew well that he was sinful and not worthy of God’s grace. But, for that reason, he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”Today’s text of the Bible tells us that we should “continue to pray.” We should continue to pray not only in a peaceful time but also in time of wrestling with God.

Then, the man asked, “What is your name?”

According to the Old Testament of the Bible, a name stands for a person’s character. For example, Adam, formed from the dust of the ground, stands for the human beings. “What is your name?” means “What are you?” Jacob means

“hold (someone) by the heel.” He had lived by standing on someone else’s back. Furthermore, Jacob means “a man who deceives.” Esau said about Jacob, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived two times: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!” (Genesis 27:36) In other words, Jacob responded, “I am Jacob,” which means “I am a deceiver, and I have committed a crime.”

Then, the man said, “Your name will be no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” (Genesis 32:28)

We see the name “Israel” for the first time in the Bible. Israel means “a man who wrestles with God.” Then, what is it to wrestle with God?

It is told that Jacob wrestled with God all through the night, and had overcome. But, to tell the truth, we do not know whether he really overcame or not. The Bible says, “he was limping because of his hip.” The man touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Though Jacob seemed to win, to tell the truth, he might have been defeated. We pray what we want be heard to God. Jesus promises us our prayer will be answered. Though we say our prayers will be answered, it does not mean that all our prayers will come true. More exactly speaking, we pray that the power of God be on us, and God’s plan be prepared for us, and the best result for us take place. Jacob continued to pray, wrestling with God, and left everything to God’s rule. Through Jacob’s struggling with God, a change had occurred in him.

Jacob was not a fine person. He was sinful, crafty, and sordid, as we are. But, through wrestling with God, he was totally changed into a faithful follower of God. At first, he sent over his family and all his possessions across the stream, and he stayed, because he himself wanted to survive. But Jacob, who had become Israel, was changed into a humble man who earnestly begged his brother for his forgiveness. “He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.” (Genesis 33:3) Jacob said, “I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared. (Genesis 32:31)

Properly speaking, his life was changed into a new one. He firmly believed God was with him, and he could walk forward. He was changed into Israel who lived with God, and crossed the ford of Yabok.

We also experience crossing the ford of Yabok. We also experience wrestling in prayers. But Jesus promises us that God will surely be with us in our turmoil. Jesus said, “Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?” (Luke 18:7) Through Jesus we are given God’s blessings. We, who believe Jesus, is new Israel. We no longer deceive others, and we no longer hold them by their heels. No need of doing such a thing! Though we are sinful and weak, we are forgiven by Jesus and made “righteous.” We have wrestled with God, and prayed in time of suffering. We have become Israel who live with God.

Jesus himself wrestled with God, and followed Him. Jesus prayed at Gethsemane. He was sorrowful and troubled in his extreme suffering. At first, he prayed, “Take this cup from me.” But soon after he prayed, “Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Furthermore, Jesus cried out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He wrestled with God. But he completely followed God, obedient to even death on the cross. Therefore, God raised him. Jesus teaches us that God’s power be surely on us through our praying and following God.

Even if Jacob were sinful and faulty, God would never abandon him. Likewise, even if we are weak and sinful, God will never abandon us. God will be with us, when we are facing trials beyond our power. Jesus teaches us that God pours the power of the Holy Spirit upon us, and holds us in His palm. Therefore, Jesus tells us, “We should always pray and give up.” We are new Israel. Let’s believe that Jesus is with us, and live for this week with the help of the Holy Spirit!

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus! Amen.

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

“Let’s Rise and Go!” (Luke 17:11-19)

October 13, 2019

Rev Yuki Goto

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

Today’s text of Luke tells about the incident which Jesus met on his way to Jerusalem. He was crucified on the cross there. His journey was the one-way to the cross. But this one-way to the cross is vital to our lives.

“He was going into a village when he was met by ten men suffering from a dreaded skin disease. They stood at a distance and shouted, ‘Jesus! Master! Have pity on us!’” (Luke 17:12-13)

The reason why they shouted at a distance was that people suffering from a dreaded skin disease were isolated from ordinary people. They were prohibited to enter a village and come close to healthy people. So, they could not come near to Jesus, keeping a distance from him. Keeping a distance from Jesus really suggests our reality. We also keep a far distance from God in our daily lives.

I am using Job as a text in the Old Testament class of the college. The class students’ thinking is very flexible. I am interested in this class.

According to Job, he says to God, “Let me alone; my days have no meaning.” And he says, “you will search for me, but I will be no more.” I discussed this passage with my students. I asked them, “In what situation do you think we utter this kind of words?” A student said to me, “Teacher! People who loved each other use such words. What’s more, a partner thinks regrettably about the other.” I found him convincing. Job believes God, but he stands far from God. We also stand in a distant from God. We are fully occupied with our daily works, and our prayers do not come out. We do not know what to pray and how to pray. We are really in a distant from God.

What we can barely do is to pray “Jesus! Master! Have pity on us!” We remember those who have greatly suffered from the recent typhoon. When we face such a kind of disaster, we cannot pray to God. What we only can do is to say, “God! Have pity on us!”

All the prayers of ten people with a dreaded skin disease were put into such short prayer as “Have pity on us!” In those days, a dreaded skin disease was not only a disease but also regarded as morally smeared, namely, God’s punishment for sin. They were alienated from ordinary people, and lived as most disadvantaged people. They suffered from not only s skin disease but also alienation from society. Their inexplicable sorrow and unheard cry were put into their earnest appeal, “Jesus! Have pity on us!” They just prayed, “Heal!” “Help!”

To tell the truth, “Jesus! Have pity on us!” is the “Kyrie,” the first prayer of the worship of our church. The Kyrie “Lord! Have pity on us!” is the prayer offered by us who, for a week, have been in a distant from God, tired, hurt, sinful, and failed. But Jesus has pity on us.

When he saw them, he said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” (Luke 17:14)

This means that Jesus’ pity is on us. They were cleansed, as they went to their priests.

What you should mark here is that ten people with a dreaded skin disease obeyed to Jesus, when he said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” At this point they were still patients. Nothing had changed with them. But they started to walk to their priests as Jesus said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” They believed their healing, and followed Jesus’ words.

Before they were healed and went into ordinary society, they had to go to their priests and get priests’ declaration “You are clean.” Without it they had to be isolated from ordinary society. They were not permitted to approach ordinary people when they were ill. But ten people with a dreaded skin disease started to walk to their priests though they had not yet healed. If I had been in their place, I would have hesitated to go to their priests because nothing had changed with me. However, they started to go to their priests when they heard Jesus’ words, though they were not yet healed. They believed Jesus, and started to walk to their priests, because they believed Jesus’ words, “You have been cleansed, and go, show yourselves to the priests.”

“One of them, when they saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.” (Luke 17:15-16)

The kingdom of Hebrews was divided into Northern kingdom of Israel and southern kingdom of Judea, and Israel was destroyed by Assyria 150 years before the ruin of Judea. When Israel was conquered, Assyria brought Assyrian settlers in Israel, and increased intermarriage took place. Samaritan history began in the tragic situation. Jewish people much thought of blood lineage. So, they discriminated Samaritans from them. It was prohibited for them to have relationship with Samaritans. Samaritan temple was different from Jewish one. There were ten people with a dreaded skin disease. They were Jewish and Samaritans who lived and helped together, as they were all segregated from their own communities.

Jesus said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”

Jewish patients had to go to the temple in Jerusalem, and Samaritan patients must go their priests in the different temple. Though they lived and helped together, ironically, they were going to be divided again. This circumstance well reflects our society as it is. According to the 4^th chapter of the Gospel of John, a Samaritan woman asked Jesus, “Our fathers worshipped on this mountain Gerizim, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship in Jerusalem. Where should we worship?” Yet the temple in Gerizim was in ruins.

The Samaritan patient came back to Jesus, not a Samaritan priest. He came back to Jesus, true God. “come back” means “return.” Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

There is no condition for receiving God’s compassion. Ten people were equally healed. But the other nine came back to the temple according to the ritual, not to living God. But this Samaritan confessed Jesus was the real priest of God. The place where we should return is Jesus.

This Samaritan praised Jesus. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked. This is worship. We confess our sins, and pray “Lord, have pity on us!” We praise Jesus and thank Him. And we hear this voice.

“Then he said to him, “Rise and Go; your faith has made you well.”

The word “rise” means resurrection. This Samaritan stood at a distance. He could not come near to Jesus. But at the moment he threw himself at Jesus’ feet. He was about to live with Jesus. We also start to walk as Jesus gives us life of resurrection. Let’s rise and go to our own place! Though we may face troubles during a week, our faith will make us well. We are no longer stand in a distant from Jesus. We are here with Jesus! He blesses us, saying “Let’s rise and go!” He cleanses us and start to walk with Jesus’ power upon us.

Thanks to Jesus means that we accept what Jesus does as good. Praise means that we receive what God plans and works on us. When we accept what Jesus has done as good, we rise and go.

Whatever incidents may happen to us during this week, we are surely given Jesus’ word, “Let’s rise and go!” Let’s give thanks and praise to Jesus, and walk with Jesus!

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus! Amen.

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

A Person Who Is Trusted With Very Little (Luke 16:1-13)

September 22^nd ,2019

Rev Yuki Goto

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

Many people visited this church last week. A person said to me, “Frankly speaking, I think only of daily things which worry me, though I believe God.”

I said to her, “That’s right. To tell the truth, the same with me.” This is our reality. Then, what does God tell us?

There are some places in the Bible which are difficult for us to understand. Today’s text is one of them. But such places are very important as God’s messages. The 15^th chapter just before today’s one tells us about the shepherd who goes after one lost sheep leaving 99 in the open, and the father who receives his prodigal son. Jesus tells us about God’s abundant love toward us who think only of daily things, rather than God. Then, Jesus tells about today’s story. Let’s listen to him!

Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’” (Luke 16:1-2)

The manager, who is accused of wasting his master’s possessions though he is trusted master’s wealth, means us. This parable reminds us of the prodigal son in the 15^th chapter. What matters is that master’s possessions are not of our own. We are trusted with our lives by God.

But we, sinful human beings, cannot manage our lives righteously. And when God says to us, “Give an account of your management,” namely, when we end our lives on earth, we certainly stand before God, though we are not sure when it will come. At the time, no one can give a just account of management to God. No one can escape from God’s judgment.

This manager thinks about his life after the master’s judgment notified beforehand, from which he can never escape.

“Well, I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.” (Luke 16:4)

So he plans to falsify the accounts. Yet, believe it or not, his master commended the dishonest manager. It is the master that suffered a loss, because his debtors were relieved. The dishonest manager understood his situation, and he made his decision. He realized that he must confront all the things he had done. But he was not yet fired. So, he prepared for his future. What the parable teaches us: first, we have to realize our situation and second, we have to prepare for our future because our end is near, and third, we have to think about how we should live the rest of our own life.

Then, what is it that we prepare for the rest of our own life? Jesus continues to say to us, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” (Luke 16:9)

Jesus’ words startle us. We get confused at hearing “dishonest.” What does it mean?

It does not mean “to do something wicked.” You should not think about it alone. You have to take it into consideration that this parable is closely related to the 15^th chapter. Luke 15:1 is “Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’”

This parable was told in such a situation. The judgment of “unrighteous” depends on the criterion of righteousness. It is righteous to the Pharisees to keep the Jewish law. In the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Bible says, “Joseph her husband was a righteous man.” It means that Joseph a man who kept the law. Tax collectors and “sinners” who worked as hard as they can, and could hardly keep the law were called “unrighteous.” Furthermore, it was unrighteous for Jesus to invite tax collectors and sinners and dine with them. This was one of the reasons why people came to cry, “Crucify him!” The response of the Pharisees who heard Jesus’ parables is written in Luke 16:14. “The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.”

But Jesus says, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts.” (Luke 16:15)

The Pharisees justified themselves, and judged tax collectors and sinners sinful and unrighteous. They thought that it was unrighteous that Jesus invited tax collectors and sinners, and ate with them. But Jesus asked whether the Pharisees were righteous before God or not, and he said to them, “I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.” (Luke 16:9) The disciples who heard this parable were those who had managed to live someway or other. They knew that they could not justify themselves. But they knew that Jesus came to them and became their friends in spite of their severe realities. So, it was tax collectors and sinners that they made friends by means of dishonest wealth and were invited to the eternal home. This parable tells us that we manage to live everyday someway or other, but Jesus becomes our friend for inviting us to the kingdom of Heaven.

Though we can live in faith every day when we do not worry about any

problem, we are likely to think “We cannot live by faith alone,” when we face difficulties. But Jesus knows well our severe reality in our daily lives. We can live today, only because Jesus receives our weakness and forgives our sins, and encourages us. What matters about this parable is whether we have a being who receives us as we are, or not. Luke 16:4 tells, “I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.” And, Luke 16:9 tells, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” We are given Jesus who receives us as we are unconditionally. Jesus receives us, though we are smeared with unrighteousness. So, you may feel at ease.

Therefore, what is important is how we should do our best every day. Jesus says to us, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:10-11) If you are not trustworthy in handling worldly affairs, the true riches in the kingdom of Heaven will not be trusted to you.

Furthermore, Jesus says to us, “You cannot serve both God and Money.”

You should not let the wealth, which is trusted on earth to you, take over you. You must use it wisely and prepare for your eternal life before God. It is a good preparation for the kingdom of Heaven to do your best in dealing with your everyday work.

What is the most enigmatic and yet the most crucial in the parable? That is the forgiveness by the master who made his manager righteous with a great sacrifice. This means the crucifixion of Jesus. It was for the purpose of forgiving us, no more than sinners, who can never give a coherent account to our master, and yet Jesus becomes our friend and welcomes us into eternal dwellings. When we come to stand before God, we are forgiven by Jesus crucifixion, though we cannot submit a righteous account to Him. We are surprised at reading the parable, saying, “What? Are we forgiven? Why?” This is just our surprise, when we receive Jesus’ forgiveness.

Therefore, we do our best while we are alive, though we are really occupied with worldly little affairs which are trusted to us. Let’s be faithful to those whom you meet this week, and use what is trusted to us wisely for God and people, relying on Jesus!

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”

Let’s live this week, remembering this word! Let’s be faithful to our daily works and seek the eternal kingdom of Heaven, looking up to Jesus’ cross!

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus! Amen.

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

First Sit Down (Luke 14:25-33)

September 8^th ,2019

Rev Yuki Goto

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

We have had several incidents this week, too. Some of them failed, and some of them did not go well. How about you?

Some of the things Jesus had done did not go well. When Jesus’ work was disturbed, he said, “Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way.” (Luke 13:33) How did Jesus feel at that time?

We also have the same experience in everyday lives, but “today, tomorrow, and the next day we must be on our way.” It is impossible that someone takes the place of us. However greatly we may envy others, we have to live our own lives. So, we want Jesus to give us his power. Then, Jesus teaches us what his disciples should be.

According to today’s text from Luke, Jesus’ instructions seem to be very severe to us. Jesus said three times like “If anyone ----, he cannot be my disciples.”

First, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters -yes, even his own life-- he cannot be my disciple.”

“Come to Jesus” means “believe Jesus and follow him.” Jesus does not say about some conditions for becoming his disciples nor being saved, but says about how Jesus’ disciples should live after they have followed him.

Anyway, Jesus’ message seems to be very severe. Is it against his message of love to hate their family, and even their own lives? One of the Ten Commandments says, “Honor thy father and mother.”

To tell the truth, “hate” in the Bible does not mean “dislike” or “to be hostile.” It means “compare the two things, and rank the one against the other.” In Hebrew expression, the one is honored, the other is “hated.” For example, Luke 16:13 says, “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” So, the Gospel of Matthew shows this teaching more plainly. “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37)

Jesus tells us that we should leave the important things such as our family or our lives to Jesus’ hands. This message, at first glance, seems to be severe to us. But when we are worrying about our family or future, it sounds like the helping hand of God. It means that it is permitted for us to leave our worries to the hand of God, because we are under God’s rule. That is to say, we put Jesus first and live with trust in God’s plan. If you do so, you are just Jesus’ disciples.

When a person was baptized, she said to her pastor, “Teacher! Now I will be able to wriggle at ease.”

I was told that a female pastor I know much suffered after her marriage because her husband fell into an unexpected illness, and her family was badly affected by it. And she decided to leave everything to God, when she was about to be thrown into disorder. After that, her family gradually got back to its normal situation, and now is going well under God’s plan. Once she talked about it as her witness.

Second, “Jesus said, “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

What does “his cross” mean? When we fall into illness, or face difficulties that cannot be easily solved, we often call them as “our own cross.” Surely there are our crosses that we have to carry, though we do not want. We wish there would be nothing like that for us. But Jesus’s word means, “As I walk with my cross on my back, you also should follow me with your own cross on your back. At the time you are my disciple.”

When we carry our own cross on our back, we recognize our own true character. We cannot rely on what we have considered as our own real support. We know that we are, in reality, helpless and powerless. Martin Luther says when we carry our own cross, it makes us real human beings, namely, wretched and sinful human beings. Though we had kept up appearances in the world and considered ourselves as powerful as god, to tell the truth, we have nothing in front of God. The deeper our faith is, the more nearly we are changed into Jesus on the cross. And we realize our own weakness, and come to know God’s help.

It may be safe to say that we “are made to carry” our cross rather than we “carry” our cross. But when we carry our cross, we are following Jesus, just as Jesus says to us, “I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day.” Though Jesus tells us that we have to hate our father and mother, and even our own life, we could never have anything our own way. Yet Jesus invites us as his disciples.

Third, Jesus says to us, “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”

This expression is the same as “hate.” It means that you should rely on Jesus rather than what you have. As a matter of fact, Jesus’ twelve disciples did not give up everything they had. The Bible tells us that some of them had their own houses in which Jesus stayed, and had their family, and they had ship by which they went fishing. Jesus does not deny ownership of their property. Rather, Jesus teaches us that when you carry your own cross, you should rely on Jesus, not depending on what you have.

When you think about these things, Jesus’ message which seems to be, at first glance, very severe, sounds like words of consolation. Jesus tells us that we would never be his disciples if we would not hate our family and our own life. Because we can do nothing else to carry our own cross. Even our family could never act on our behalf till we are called to the Kingdom of Heaven. We are really such people, so we are surely Jesus’ disciples. Jesus says to us, “any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”

Whatever wealth you may have, you cannot bring it to the Kingdom of Heaven. you cannot depend on it at the very end. For the very reason we have Jesus’ cross.

Jesus tells us about two parables. One is building a tower. The other is a king who is about to war. The both tells us about the importance of completion.

A man comes to Jesus, and live his life as Jesus’ disciple. This is his start not his goal. What matters is how he lives as Jesus’ disciple. Jesus, according to today’s text, says to us, “First sit down and think about it.”

When Jesus said, “I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day,” he was going on a one-way journey to Jerusalem where he was about to be put on the cross. Though many people were following him at that time, his remark suggested that they could nearly follow him till the last.

To tell the truth, none could follow him to his cross. The crowd who followed Jesus disappeared at some time or other, and then people cried, “Crucify him!”

How about us? Whom do we follow, when we continue to walk with our own cross on our back? We cannot bear our burden till the end. We cannot follow Jesus till the end. But Jesus walked to the cross so that he might be with us till the end.

Therefore, we can leave everything such as our family, our burden, and our property to God, and can walk relying on God’s plan. Though various things might happen to us, we will be able to follow Jesus, and “keep going today and tomorrow and the next day.” We can walk on our way trusting in Jesus. Such repetition is our believing God. When we really suffer with our cross on our back, it is impossible to imagine our future. When Jesus walked on the way to Golgotha, he must have thought of how far he should walk to the cross. But he could do nothing else to walk step by step. When we suffer, we must also walk, bending our knees. At the very moment, Jesus tells us, we are walking as his disciples.

We keep going with trust in God today and tomorrow and the next day. Let’s spend this week with our Lord!

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus! Amen.

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

God is My Shield (Genesis 15:1-6)

August 11^th, 2019

Rev Yuki Goto

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

“Do not be afraid. I am your shield.”

These words in Genesis are spoken to us, coming together for worship this morning.

Abram, which is the former name of Abraham, who later becomes the ancestor of Israelites, appears in today’s text of Genesis. Abram lived in the 18th century BC, 4000 years ago. Abram lived in a region of Iraq. When he was 75 years old, he heard God’ s call which he had never heard before. He followed the call, and he left his home, just believing God’s promise. God’ s call is “Leave your country and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. and I will give the land to your descendants.” This call is written in the 12^th chapter of Genesis. Abram decided to leave home, giving up his wealthy and steady life which he had built up. God’s call was surprising to Abram who had no children, because God said to him, “I will give the land to your offspring. You will become the source of blessing.” He started to leave his home, believing God.

Abram’s journey is often compared to our lives. We believe in Jesus, and continue our own journey toward the kingdom of Heaven. God’s encouragement to Abram was “Do not be afraid! I am your shield.”

Abram was in serious situations. Abram was afraid. He was worried, and must have had doubt about God. When we live in faith, we do not necessarily go on well. It is sure that we sometimes are filled with gratitude and praise. But it is also true that we sometimes cannot pray to God, or have doubt about God.

The Bible tells us that Abram just went through the time of faith crisis. The cause of his unbelief or doubt came from his doubt about God’s promise. Abram said to God, “O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” (Genesis 15:2)

Genesis continues to tell about Abram after its 12fh chapter, in which he heard God’s call and left the country. In Genesis 15:2, for the first time, he uttered his voice to God. Even when he heard God’s call “Leave your home for a journey,” he followed it without anything into words. But now he raised his voice to God. Because he did not get anything over the years, even though God promised to him, “I will give this land to your offspring.” Abram started to have his doubt about whether his obedience to God was right.

We sometimes are put in such situations. When we make our decisions concerning our own future course, job change, or family, we sometimes have doubt about whether our own decision had been appropriate. But today’s text tells us that God will never leave us alone. According to Genesis 15:5, “God took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the heavens and count them.’ “Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’”

God said to Abram, “Count them.” It let him know about the smallness of human beings who can never count stars and, at the same time, about God’s greatness of the creator of the world. There was no electricity nor air pollution in the ancient world. So, the starry sky that Abram looked at must have been quite different from what we see now. Under the sky Abram must have realized his own smallness before God. Then, “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

Righteousness by faith, the core of the whole Bible, appears in Genesis! This is the reason why Abram is called, “the Father of faith.”

Then, what does “Abram’s righteousness” mean? “Righteousness” signifies the relationship between people. When a man acts rightly before the other, he is called “righteous.” For example, suppose there is a lord and his followers in the old Japan. A follower acts rightly in the relationship with his lord, he is called “righteous” or “faithful follower.” In Judaism, there are contracts or regulations of the law concerning the relationship between God and people. People who keep the contracts or the regulations of the law are called “righteous.”

What I pay attention to is that Abram was recognized as righteous only because he believed God, not because he offered something as sacrifice or kept some regulations. Abram did nothing but believing God. Abram believed God, so, Abram was made righteous. He was recognized as righteous in the relationship with God.

Abram believed that God would never leave him alone, and that God showed him

God’s plan that his offspring would increase as many as the stars in the sky.

Our belief in God is that we accept what God does for us as good, and we trust God’s plan. The important thing is, not only that God recognized Abram as righteous, but also Abram also recognized what God had done for him was just.

Martin Luther says that it is to make God righteous that God becomes true in us. Abram “recognized that God was true and righteous even though God’s promise would require a lot of time and he did not know how long he would need to wait.

Hebrew word for Abram’s “believe” is “ 'aman.” This is the same origin of “Amen” we use. It means “really true.” Abram believed the Lord. It means that he wholly accepted God’s promise beyond his own plan or hope. It means that he entrusted himself to God’s sovereign rule, believing God’s working upon him.

Then, why did Abram come to believe God, though he began to doubt Him before. Because he received God’s call, “Do not be afraid!” The Bible tells, “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” To tell the truth, his faith was also given by God. His faith was not born within himself. It was brought about by God’s care, call, and inviting.

Abram’s situations did not change soon. Abram waited for the fulfilment of God’s promise. His son Isaac, as God promised, was born fifteen years later. Abram must have been afraid or have had doubt about God’s promise during long years. But he always remembered God’s promise, whenever he had doubt, and he continued to go forward.

We are recognized as righteous in the relationship with God by Jesus’ forgiveness based on his crucifixion. We are made righteous by Jesus, not because our faith is fine. We are apt to have doubts or worries in our minds. At that time Jesus calls to us, “Do not be afraid! I am your shield.” The shield protects us from all kinds of trials or temptations.

Jesus said to us, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your father has been pleased to give you the kingdom,” and “Do not worry. Your Father knows all you need. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

We have similar experience that severe situations around us would not change soon even though we believe God, or that our prayer would be hardly answered. We are likely to have doubt, when we would be unable to pray. But remember always God’s call made to Abram. “Do not be afraid. I am your shield.”

Abram heard God’ call, when he was afraid, and he trusted God. Let’s go forward for this week with our trust in Jesus cross, believing his call “Do not be afraid. I am your shield.”

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus! Amen.

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)