Sermons of 2023

He was John the Baptist. The meaning of “John” is grace or compassion. The writer of the Gospel of John tells the readers about God’s grace. Isaiah the prophet says “A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a high way for our God.’” (Isaiah 40:3) This voice is John the Baptist. The voice is grace and compassion of the Lord through John the Baptist, being called to the people who are to be saved.

“He came as a witness to testify concerning that light so that through him all men might believe.” (7)

The light is Jesus Christ the Son of God. Jesus the Lord says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (8:12)

“He (John) himself is not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.” (8)

As the matter of fact, “When the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, ‘I am not the Christ.’” (19-20)

“They asked him, ‘Then who are you? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No,’ Finally they said, ‘Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’” (21-22)

“John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” (23)

John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord so that the people may believe in Jesus the Lord and be saved.

The Pharisees sent those who questioned to John the Baptist. The priests and the Levites were Pharisees at the time. The Pharisees did not obey the Bible itself but held to the tradition of the elders.

“‘I baptize with water,’ John replied, ‘but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’” (26-27)

The Pharisees did not understand the reason why John baptized with water. “Among you stands one you do not know” meant that if they did not know John the Baptist was the voice of one calling in the desert, they could never know Jesus Christ the Son of God was “the light of life.” Briefly speaking, the Pharisees who believed that those who held to the tradition would be saved could never understand Jesus Christ the light of life. Thus, John the Baptist expressed the Messiah clearly who stood unrivalled.

“This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.” (28)

Bethany was a poor area. We are able to know that the activity of John the Baptist started in such area. Furthermore, “the other side of the Jordan” reminds us of the history of Israelites who were going to enter into Canan, the promised land on the other side of the Jordan. The writer of the Gospel tells us that Jesus Christ the Son of God started his life of salvation from Bethany to set us free from the law of sin and death.

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” He called to the people so that they believe in Jesus the Son of God. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. (Cf. 1:29, 5:35)

So, you go out to the world in Advent to tell the good news so that everyone may believe Jesus Christ.

Let’s pray. We know the heart of God through John the Baptist. Let us tell the good news to the world to develop the kingdom of God and righteousness of God. We pray that our family and neighbors are led to repent of their sins and be saved. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Amen.

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus, God’s Son, is coming." (Mark 1:1-8)

December 10, 2023

ELCA J3 Missionarius Ms. Vola Ranaivoson

Missionary of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

Have you ever expected a very important person to come into your home? Perhaps it was an important politician, or the boss or supervisor where you worked, or maybe a religious leader, or an important member of the family.

What do you do to prepare for their arrival? You might cook something special. You might choose some special music to be played, or purchase a gift of welcome. Most importantly, you probably would do some serious cleaning – dusting away the dirt, vacuuming and sweeping the floors, scrubbing away built-up grime and stains in the kitchen and bathroom. If you were to ask your guests, most would probably say that all the cleaning and preparation really didn’t matter to them. They came to see you and not your house. But the preparation mattered to you.

We are reminded again today that Advent is a season about preparation . Advent” in Latin means coming or arrival. According to the traditional church calendar, it refers to the four-week period starting on December 3rd leading up to Christmas Day during which Christians remember the coming of Christ — both his first coming (birth) and his promised second coming when all things will be made new.

John the Baptist in Mark 1:1-8 leads us to see this morning that the most important preparation to celebrate Jesus’ first advent or to prepare for his second advent is that we prepare our hearts.

Mark wastes no time in his Gospel telling us for whom we are to prepare our hearts. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus, God’s Son, is coming. What a confession of faith! Every great story has a beginning, and Mark takes us to his beginning of the gospel. The ancient Greek word for gospel means “good news,” This is not a mere celebrity or royal dignitary. This is not even a dearly loved family member or long-lost friend. – this is a book of good news (Gospel) about Jesus Christ, God’s Son. (Mark 1:1).

God had promised through the prophet Isaiah that a messenger would come to prepare the way for the Messiah. My messenger is important because this is the first authentically prophetic voice to Israel (with the slight exceptions of Anna and Simeon in Luke 2) for 300 years. Some thought that God stopped sending prophets because He had nothing more to say, but John shows this wasn’t the case at all.

John the Baptist was the one crying in the wilderness. Through his message of repentance, he worked to prepare the way of the Lord.

Clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt: In his personality and ministry, John the Baptist was patterned after the bold Elijah (2 Kings 1:8), who fearlessly called Israel to repentance.

Verse 4-5 says John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

He was in the desert baptizing people and calling them to repent which means to turn from their sins and start life anew. He came baptizing, offering a ceremonial washing that confessed sin and did something to demonstrate repentance. Baptism was already practiced in the Jewish community in the form of ceremonial immersions but typically it was only among Gentiles who wished to become Jews. For a Jew in John’s day to submit to baptism was essentially to say, “I confess that I am as far away from God as a Gentile and I need to get right with Him.” This was a real work of the Holy Spirit.

John’s ministry met with wonderful response. There were many people who recognized their sinfulness and their need to get ready for the Messiah. They were also willing to do something about it. John’s main message wasn’t, “You’re a sinner, you need to repent.” John’s main message was “The Messiah is coming.” The call to repentance was the response to the news that the Messiah was coming.

John’s work and Jesus’ work would be different. John was clear on the distinction between he and the Savior: One more powerful than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals! The message of John the Baptist was simple. John preached Jesus, not himself. John pointed to Jesus, not to himself.

John was preparing people with a ceremonial washing connected to repentance. Jesus was coming with the Holy Spirit. He would bring faith to the repentant to trust that he was in fact the Savior that they hoped and longed for, even as he does today.

As you continue to prepare your hearts during this Advent season, let’s stay focused on our Savior and the new life that He has given us. Repent of your sin and know that there is no doubt—repentance doesn’t lead to despair. Our sins have truly been forgiven by the one who was promised and has come. Jesus lived and died to save you. We can also take peace in knowing that we can trust and celebrate God’s promises. There is much in life that we don’t know right now. There is a lot of bad news.

But thanks be to God, there is good news! Christ has come. He is risen! He will come again! Let’s be eager to put our hope in that, and to spread the good news of the Gospel with all of those around us! Amen.

Signs of the End of the Age (Mark 13:24-37)

December 3, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

“As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!’” Jesus replied, “Do you see all these great buildings? Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” (1-2) Jesus warned the collapse of the temple.

“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?’” (3-4)

Their question is “When does the collapse of the temple happen?” So, this matter is not about the final judgment of the world, from the context, nor the end of mankind.

“But in those days, following that distress, ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’” (24-25) This message arouses various imagination of the people who live now. But the words of the Bible should be understood in terms of the Bible itself. The sun, the moon, and the stars and the heavenly bodies are all creation of God the Lord. All those movements are ruled by God. (Cf. Genesis 1:14-16)

The heavenly bodies mean earthly authorities in terms of symbolism in the Bible. (Cf. Isaiah 13:9-10, 34:4, Amos 8:9) Briefly speaking, the description of the heavenly bodies expresses the change of the power structure on the earth.

“At the time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.” (26) “The Son of Man” means mostly Jesus Christ the Lord, the ruler of the kingdom of God. So, this message means that the rule by Jesus Christ the Son of God will be established.

“And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.” (27)

“The angels” mean “messengers” or “those who are deployed” as well as angels of ordinary meaning. So, the angels may mean messengers from God. So, this passage means that the Lord teaches his disciples to tell the evangel based on the cross and resurrection to those who are to be saved.

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.” (28-29)

Jesus tells that when they see these things happening, the collapse of the temple, the sign of the end of age will come.

“I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” (30)

We can know the change of season through the growth and change of the fig tree. I think Jesus says that the fall of Jerusalem will never come suddenly. The age of the Old Testament which means that worship should be held in the temple will end, after the signs of the collapse have happened.

Historically, the temple of Jerusalem was ruined in AD 70 during the Jewish Revolts.

Jesus the Lord declared, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (31)

“Heaven and earth will pass away” means that the structure of power on earth will change. The Jewish people thought that the center of the world was the temple of Jerusalem. So, the Jewish people must have thought that the collapse of worship of God in the temple was the change of “heaven and earth.”

Jesus the Lord tells us that even when we see the end of the age of the Old Testament, the word of the Lord stands forever. (Cf. 1 Peter 1:25, Isaiah 40:8)

Historically, there were great countries which prospered and perished like grass and flowers under God’s providence. The countries which appear in the Bible are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media and Persia, Greece and Rome. But the Bible has never passed away. The history is going on for developing the kingdom of God which has already come, and for its completion.

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.” (32-34)

The Lord warned his disciples repeatedly. “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (37)

From the context of the message, Jesus the Lord warned his disciples in order that they might not think that the Lord would come lately.

Jesus the Lord says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

So, you can work for the kingdom of God to fill the world with righteousness and peace and joy.

Let’s pray. We thank that we hear the words of the Second Advent in time of Advent to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Please fill us with faith and the Holy Spirit, and work so that our family and neighbors may repent of their sins and believe in the good news, and be saved.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the living God. Amen.

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

The Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46)

November 26, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.” (31)

The prerequisite of “Jesus Christ’s sitting on his throne” is, from the context, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (24:14)

“All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one form another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.” (32-33)

“The sheep” means Jesus’ disciples or Christians who have faith in Jesus Christ and who are to be given eternal life.

“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” (34-36)

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’” (37) “The righteous” means Christians.

“The king will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” (40)

How do we understand this message? Jesus who comes calls himself “brothers.” (Cf. 28:10) Christians at the time were persecuted by the Roman Empire, and lived in needy circumstances. As the matter of fact, they helped one another. “Little ones” means Christians. Jesus says, “Nor are you not to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ.” (23:10) Teacher in Hebrew is “Rabbi,” which means “big one.” Against this, Jesus’ disciples are called “the least of these.” That is to say, Jesus who is big calls his disciples “little ones,” and calls those in dire persecution “least of these.”

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’” (41-43)

“The goats” are cursed.

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?” (44)

“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not for me.’” (45)

Jesus once said, “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” (10:42) This is the reason why they are judged

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (46) This is the conclusion of Jesus the Lord.

We should not be surprised at his severe warning. What would have become of us, born sinners, if Jesus Christ the Son of the living God had not performed the salvation by the crucifixion and the resurrection?

We sinners by nature could not help receiving the eternal punishment. But “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” (Galatians 3:12) This the evangel.

“No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man…. that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:13, 15, 16)

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:18-19)

This is the just understanding of love, salvation and judgment which the Bible teaches us.

Briefly speaking, those who are sinners by nature and do not believe in the Savior, Jesus the Son of God are to receive eternal punishment, but those who are led to repent of their sin by grace are given eternal life.

The Bible teaches us, “Wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Let’s pray. “Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, …and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings on the earth.” (Revelation 1:4-5)

And “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by blood and has made us to be a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:4-6)

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)

November 19, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

The kingdom of heaven “will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.” (14) We can know from the context that Jesus teaches his disciples so that they may be ready for the next coming of the Lord. “A man going on a journey” means Jesus the Lord himself. “His servants” means Jesus’ disciples. “Entrusted his property” means God’s grace given by the Holy Spirit. His disciples are going to tell the message of kingdom of heaven through gospel preaching and education all over the world.

“To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents of money, to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.” (15-18)

“Talent” is the unit of currency which was used two thousand years ago in the Mediterranean world. One talent is equal to 6,000 denarii, which would take an ordinary laborer 6,000 days to earn. Let us suppose that one denarius is 10,000 yen. 6,000 denarii are equal to 60 million yen. “Talent” is the source of ordinary use of the word “talent” which means “a natural ability to do something well.” So, Jesus Christ is compared to an investor. He gives his disciples various talents, and expects returns from them.

“After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.” (19) It means that when the Lord comes again, he settled accounts with his disciples.

“The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (19-21)

This disciple made use of his talent, and contributed to the growth of the kingdom of God.

“The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said. You entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.” (22-23)

“The man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’” (24-25)

There is a proverb in the Bible, “One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.” (Proverbs 18:9) Those who are slack in the work entrusted by God are regarded by God as those who are diligent to Devil’s work.

“His mater replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gathered seed? Well then, you should have put money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned, I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.” (26-27)

What warning does the Lord give to us? Those who are entrusted with one talent think themselves as inadequate, and are apt to make no use of their ability.

As a matter of fact, there are talented people and not in the world. God never seeks for good result to us. What matters is whether we make use of our own gift according to the talent which God gives us. Jesus the Lord says to us, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48b)

So, it is not necessary that we compare our own ability with other brothers and sisters. “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1Samuel16:7) This is the basis of God’s evaluation. So, even if your talent seems to be few, you should not be discouraged or be envious of others. It is important foy you to make full use of your talent. God evaluates your effort to make full use of your talent.

Paul the apostle wrote many letters which are recorded in the New Testament. Paul continued to work in the midst of persecution by the Roman Empire. “Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 28:31)

Paul faced serous difficulties and persecution. His experience was written in the second Letter to the Corinthians. “The Lord said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

So, we should be proud of our weakness like Paul, and make use of our talent which God gives us.

The Lord says to the servant who did not make use of the talent, “Throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (30) It is said that this way of saying in the Gospel of Matthew expresses in a roundabout way the misery of those who will be driven to the hell.

The parable of the talents, as well as the parable of the ten virgins, is the universal instruction which God gives us.

Let’s pray. Today you taught us that we should make use of the talents which God gives us, and seek first of all the kingdom of God and righteousness of God, and live as sons of light. Please lead us to work through gospel preaching and education for our family and neighbors so that they may have faith.

We pray with thanks in the name of Jesus Christ of the living God. Amen.

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)

November 12, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

When Jesus left the temple and was walking away, he told the collapse of the temple meaning the end of Israel. And he also talked about his own coming, saying, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (24:44)

He said, “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” (1)

“The kingdom of heaven” is the kingdom of God, namely, the domination by Jesus Christ the Son of God. “Virgins” mean those who believe the Jesus Christ the Lord. “Their lamps” mean the faith which comes from hearing the message of Jesus Christ. (Cf. Romans 10:17) “Went out to meet the bridegroom” mean Christians all over the world wait for coming again of Jesus Christ.

“Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.” (2-4)

“Oil” means God’s grace which is given by the Holy Spirit.

“The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.” (5)

Christians suffering from persecution at the time felt that the second coming of Jesus Christ was late. Peter the apostle, who must have heard Jesus’ message, testifies “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

Jesus taught his disciples that they were awake, continuing to seek the kingdom of God and righteousness of God. Christians should seek the kingdom of God in whatever situations they may live. (Cf. Luke 12:31)

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.” (6-8) “At midnight” suggests “the day of the Lord will come out like a thief.” (2 Peter 3: 10)

“The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out’” (8)

“The foolish virgins” might be applied to the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3:14. “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either or the other. So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)

Thus, “lukewarm” Christians like “foolish virgins” are not ready for the second coming of Christ. “Foolish virgins” said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.” “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’” (9)

This message tells us that “faith” of “wise virgins” is not enough for sharing with “foolish virgins.” Christians love and help one another in their daily lives, but cannot share faith on the day of judgement. Therefore, Christians should continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. (Cf. Philippians 2:12)

Paul the apostle says to us, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you? —unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came, ‘Sir! Sir!’ They said, ‘Open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’” (10-12)

Why were “foolish virgins” not allowed to enter the house? Jesus said on a mountainside, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (7:21)

It is sure that those who say, “Lord, Lord” are Christians. But, according to the context of the Bible, the parable of ten virgins is the message about the end of age. So, at the time, Jesus’ promise “Ask, and it will be given to you and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (7:7) is not applicable to the situation in time of the end of age. So, the bridegroom and wise virgins entered the banquet, and the door was shut. “Foolish virgins” did not have the faith, namely, the grace of God given by the Holy Spirit.

Really, Christians should always live and seek the kingdom of God and the righteousness of God, and earnestly wait for realization of the promise of the Lord. Therefore, “you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4)

Jesus the Lord concluded the parable, saying, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (13)

Let’s pray. We thank you for the grace given by Jesus Christ.

Please lead us to rely on you with repentance every day, and to go to you in the end of our own lives. We ask you so that we may share the faith with our family and neighbors through the work of your words and develop together the kingdom of God.

We pray with thanks in the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the living God. Amen.

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

The Greatest Among You Will be Your Servant (Matthew 23:1-12)

November 5, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” (1-5)

“Moses’ seat” means the position of teaching the law. The leaders of Israel—the teachers of the law and the Pharisees—were in a position of teaching the law or all the God’s words. So, Jesus said, “you must obey them and do everything they tell you.”

But Jesus said, “They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders.” They let the people follow “the tradition of the elders.” They added minute various rules based on other religions to the law.

Jesus said, “Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long.” (5) According to Numbers16:38, the Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord.’” But they make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long. Jesus criticized their hypocrisy. They tried to make their appearance good toward men, but were far away from God. Jesus said, “Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (6:1)

Jesus said, “They love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’ But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ.” (6-10)

Are pastors of Chirstian churches not to be called, “teacher”? Are those who teach at schools not to be called, “teacher”?

As I always say to you, the Bible should be grasped from the context. If not, there are many cases which are not able to grasp the meaning of God’s words. Jesus means that we should not treat man’s authority as well as God’s one, for man is created but God is the creator. One of the Ten Commandments is “Honor your father and mother.” And “Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.” (15:4b) Jesus’ message does not mean that we should not call our father as “father.” Jesus criticized the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who did not practice what they told the people to do.

So, Jesus does not prohibit those who teach the things at schools as “teacher.”

Paul says, “It was he who ‘gave gifts to people’; some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers.” (Ephesians 4:11)

Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (11-12)

Before he entered Jerusalem, he said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (20:26-28)

Judging from the context of the Bible, “whoever exalts himself” is the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. “Whoever humbles himself” is Jesus the Lord who is the Son of God in very nature but became man, and became obedient to death.

You Christians who are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, having the Holy Spirit in you are to be humble and to serve God and people. Paul says to us, “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 Corinthians 3:18)

Peter the Apostle says to us, “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:5-6)

Let’s pray. We thank you that you loved God and man, and performed the atonement through the death on the cross. Please lead us to serve Christ and our neighbors. We first of all will seek the kingdom of God and righteousness of God. We pray with the gratitude in the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the living God. Amen

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)

November 12, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

Are pastors of Chirstian churches not to be called, “teacher”? Are those who teach at schools not to be called, “teacher”?

So, Jesus does not prohibit those who teach the things at schools as “teacher.”

Paul says, “It was he who ‘gave gifts to people’; some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers.” (Ephesians 4:11)

Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (11-12)

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

The Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22:34-46)

October 29, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, testified him with this question. “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” (34-36)

Both of the Pharisees and the Sadducees belong to the Jewish highest court. They were on the worst terms one another. The Sadducees said that there was no resurrection, and that there were neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. (Cf. Acts 23:8) But both of them cooperated and tried to kill Jesus.

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (37-39)

It is said that at the time the Jewish people recited this first and greatest commandment every day. (Cf. Deuteronomy 6:5) Jesus exchanged “with your strength” for “with your soul,” but there is no substantial change of the meaning.

It is said that the second commandment is cited from the Leviticus. “The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:34)

Jesus said, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (40)

No response from the expert of the law or other people of the Pharisees and the Sadducees is written in the Gospel of Matthew.

The Pharisees thought that they kept the 613 commandments in the Bible according to the tradition of the elders, and were proud that they were the very people who love God. Exactly speaking, many leaders of the people kept the tradition of the elders, not the foundation of the law—Love God and love man.

Jesus the Lord taught them that love of God necessarily produce love of neighbors.

“While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, ‘What do you think about Christ? Whose son is he?’ ‘The son of David,’ they replied. ‘How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’” (41-44)

Jesus cited Psalm 110. “By the spirit” means “by the Holy Spirit.” The first “Lord” means “God,” and second “Lord” is “Christ.” “My” is “David’s.’ So, this Psalm means “God said to Christ, you shall sit at my side until God makes Christ’s enemies surrender to you.”

“If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” (45) Jesus meant “you cannot call Christ as “the son of David.”

“No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.” (46)

By the way, the Psalm 110 that Jesus cited is most frequently cited in various forms in the New Testament. So, this Psalm should be understood correctly by our Christians.

“But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.” (Hebrews 10:12-13)

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil…” (Hebrews 2:14)

“He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.” (Acts 3:21)

“Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” (1 Corinthians 15:24-25)

“Until the time comes for God to restore everything” means “Until this world is really restored, and is filled with ‘righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’ through missionary and education.” Jesus Christ the Son of God will remain until the righteousness and the kingdom of God is realized all over the world.

The Bible tells us that this world is going forward to its restoration and completion of the kingdom of God, not to its collapse. Therefore, the Bible tells us that we take heart and speak God’s words with great boldness to the people who have not yet known about Jesus the Lord. (Cf. John 16:33, Acts 4:29)

Let’s pray. We are thankful that you have taught us the foundation of the law—love God and love man—and what the Messiah is. Please lead us to be full of the Holy Spirit and faith so that we may work for the kingdom of God.

I pray in the name of Jesus Christ the Son of living God. Amen

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

Paying Taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:15-22)

October 22, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

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 deals with the last message and argument a few days before Jesus was arrested by the authority.

“Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.” (15)

The Pharisees arranged with the Herodians about arresting and killing Jesus. “The Herodians” were the people supporting the royal house of Herod. The Pharisees separated the people keeping the tradition from the people not doing. So, they saw the Herodians as an enemy. But both of them at the time considered Jesus an enemy and tried together to trap Jesus who entered into Jerusalem as “the king of the Jews.” Jesus the Lord taught the true law—love God and love man. But the Pharisees keeping “the conventional rule” gave heavy burden to the people. The Herodians supporting the Herod family thought Jesus as endangering their circumstances.

So, they laid plan to trap Jesus. “They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caeser or not?’” (16-17)

“But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, ‘You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?’” (18) This question was really malicious. If the Lord would say, “It is proper to pay taxes to the emperor Caeser,” Jesus would be considered as a sympathizer for the Herodians. The inconsistent crowds who wanted Jesus to restore the kingdom to Israel would go away from Jesus. If Jesus would say, ‘It is not proper to pay taxes to the emperor,’ Jesus would be considered as a betrayer to the Roman Empire. He could be killed.

“‘Show me the coin used for the tax.’ They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, ‘Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?’” (19-20)

The Roman Empire ruled the world of Mediterranean Sea. A silver denarius was the most popular coin at the time. The portrait and inscription of the Roman Emperor was inscribed on the coin.

“Then he said to them, ‘Give to Caeser what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’” (21)

Even if they pay taxes to the emperor, they have their obligation to God still left to be fulfilled. “The world is mine, and all that is in it.” (Cf. Palm 50:12) We human beings, righteous and sinners, are created by God and belong to God. Jesus taught them that they, created beings, have duty to perform to God.

“When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.” (22) The Pharisees and the Herodians heard the words of Jesus, “the light of the world.” They were amazed. But they did not come to the light. (Cf. John 3:20 “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.) The Jewish people held the doubt why the people of Israel must submit to the Roman Empire, though they were chosen people by God. Jesus’ message “Give to Caeser what is Caeser’s, and to God what is God’s” includes the answer to that question.

The reason why the chosen people submit to the rule of the other people was they did not obey the basic rule of the law. The basis of the law is to love God and man. So, Jesus must have taught if the people of Israel kept the law-to love God and man-, they could get out of the rule of the Roman Empire and the king Herod.

As the matter of fact, Peter the apostle who must have heard Jesus’ message directly on that day said, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as freemen, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” (Cf. 1 Peter 2:13-17)

We human beings by nature are not able to carry out Jesus’ message “Give to Caeser what is Caeser, and to God what is God’s.” But those who are saved by the faith of the cross and resurrection are given the Holy Spirit. We “are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Let’s pray. Jesus the Lord teaches us that all the authority are established by God. We who live with faith seek first of all the kingdom of God and righteousness of God. We pray that all the people in the world be saved through our work and be given eternal life. We pray with thanks in the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the living God. Amen

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:1-14)

October 15, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

Jesus talked about the parable of two sons and the parable of the tenants to the chief priests and the elders of the people on the temple of Jerusalem.

“Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come but they refused to come.’” (1-3)

The chief priests and the elders looked for a way to arrest Jesus. Then, Jesus spoke in reply the parable of the wedding banquet.

“The kingdom of heaven” is the kingdom of God which means the dominance of Jesus Christ. “A king” is God the father and “son” is Jesus the Son of God. “Servants” are the prophets. “Those who had been invited” are the leaders of the Jewish people.

“Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’” (4) God the Father invited the leaders of the people again with tolerance and patience, sending apostles or other disciples to them.

“But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.” (5-6) Briefly speaking, the leaders of the Jewish people were thinking about nothing except their own affairs. They refused God’s call, and persecuted and killed God’s servants.

“The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.” (7) Israel continued to refuse or ignore the invitation to the kingdom of God, and rebelled against God. So, God passed judgement on Israel. Historically, God sent the army of the Roman Empire to Israel in AD 70. It destroyed part of Israel including the leaders of people and ruined Jerusalem and the temple. (Cf. Romans 11:25)

We Christians should understand the solemn truth exactly. Because those who will continue God’s call will never fail to ruin. The Lord says, “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Cf. Luke 13:3,5)

God the Lord, who loves us, leads us daily with grace to repent of our sins. So, we Christians are able to live with the Lord.

“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.” (8-10)

The Israel people who God the Father invited were not worthy of God’s call.

So, God the Father gathered all the people, good and bad, including Gentiles who did not know God.

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.” (11)

“Friend” is used, when Judas, one of the twelve, betrayed Jesus who was going to be arrested, came near Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.” (Cf. Luke 26: 48-51) So, this word “Friend” might be the message to Judas who was going to betray Jesus.

It is said that when a king or the master holds the wedding ceremony, he makes it a rule to prepare the clothes. (Cf. Genesis 45:22) The man who was not wearing wedding clothes refused it intentionally. So, he was speechless against a king’s call.

“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (13)

Why is wedding clothes worthy of the kingdom of God necessary? Paul the apostle says in the Letter to Galatians, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27)

Wedding clothes stands for Jesus Christ the Son of God who died for remission of our sins. So, no one can enter into the dominion of Jesus Christ without the wedding clothes.

When sinners put on wedding clothes, God’s forgiveness of sins is applied to them. That is to say, their sins are hidden before God. Therefore, sinners are made righteous through clothing Jesus Christ.

Jesus the Lord concludes the parable by “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” (14)

This message teaches us that everyone is invited to the salvation by Jesus Christ of the cross and resurrection, but those who do not wear the wedding clothes, are not able to enter into the kingdom of God. Namely, no one except those who are baptized and clothe themselves with Christ can enter the kingdom of God.

Let’s pray. We are grateful that you have invited us sinners at the corners of the streets, have made us believe the remission of our sins by the cross, and now we are clothed with Christ. Please lead us not to live for ourselves but for Jesus Christ who died for us and was raised again. (Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:15) Please help us to work for the people in the world so that they may be received into the kingdom of God.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Amen.

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

The Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21:33-46)

October 8, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders questioned him, “By what authority are you doing these things?” Then discussion between them and Jesus began. At the time, Jesus talked about the parable of the two sons. Through the discussion, the chief priests and the elders tried to arrest Jesus. His crucifixion was near at hand.

At the same time Jesus told them, “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey.” (33)

The first half of the parable is very similar to “the Song of the Vineyard” of Isaiah 5th chapter. “I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with choice vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.” (Isaiah 5:1-2) The farmer the Lord devoted to bring up the vine, but the crop was bad vine. “What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?” The Lord blamed the Israelite, with whom God the Lord contacted, for the bad vine.

Jesus must have talked about the parable with a mind to “the Song of the Vineyard.” Those who heard the parable also understood Jesus’ intention.

In the parable “the landowner” is God the Father, “the vineyard” is Israel, “the farmers” are the leaders of the people, “servants” are the prophets, “the son” is Jesus the Lord, “other tenants” are Gentiles.

As the matter of fact, God the Lord had sent many messengers to the people of Israel in its history, but the ancestors of the Pharisees had persecuted them, and even killed them. For example, Ahab and his wife Jezebel inflicted pain on Elijah the prophet. The prophets of Baar also caused pain on him. (Cf. 1Kings 5th chapter) Amaziah, the priest of Bethel expelled Amos the prophet. (Amos 7:12-13) Zechariah was stoned to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple. (2 Chronicles 24:21) And, according to the context of Mathew 21st chapter, John the Baptist and Jesus the Lord were not recognized. Really, the history of Israel was the one of persecution, humiliation and blood as well as the history of the glory under God the Lord.

“Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.” (37-39) This means that though Jesus Christ the Son of God was sent to the world, the leaders of the people hated him, and killed him. Briefly speaking, Jesus the Lord talked about his own suffering and death on the cross.

“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” Jesus made the leaders of the people answer the conclusion. “‘he will bring those wretches to a wretched end,’ they replied, ‘and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.’” (41) The leaders of the people had gradually become aware that Jesus hinted that those wretches were their own. Jesus cited Psalm 118:22-23. “Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” (42) “Builders” meant the leaders of the people. “The stone” meant the Messiah, Jesus Christ. (Cf. Acts 4:10-11)

The leaders of the people were going to kill Jesus on the cross. But the death of Jesus on the cross became the most important basis of the faith for the people. Namely, the kingdom of God was also given to the Gentile who had not known God.

“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. “A people” means Gentile in the Greek text. The leaders of the people at the time thought that Gentile had nothing to do with the kingdom of God.

We have already known Jesus’ message in Matthew 13th chapter. “Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: ‘I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.’” (13:34-35)

We also know that while the good news had been delivered all over the world, the chosen Israelites, the Jewish people rejected the good news and Gentile who did not know God have been called to the kingdom of God. Really, “the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (42) “He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” (44)

“When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.” (45-46)

The world of the Old Testament came to the end. Historically, Jerusalem and the temple of Jerusalem fell into ruin in AD 70. The Jewish who did not believe Jesus Christ ceased to exist. The Jewish who survived scattered in foreign countries, though a few Jewish lived under the grace of God. Paul the apostle said, “As regards the gospel they are enemies of God for your sake, but as regards election they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors; for the gifts and the calling of God irrevocable.” (Romans 11:28-29) In the course of the development of the kingdom of God, all Israel will be saved for the sake of the ancestors. (Cf, Romans 11:26) Thus, the plan of God will be completely realized.

Let’s pray. Today you taught us the kingdom of God. We are grateful for it.

Please lead us to seek the kingdom of God and the righteousness of God for the world. Please lead us so that our family and neighbors may believe in Jesus Christ the Lord and have eternal life. Amen.

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

The Authority of Jesus Questioned (Matthew 21:23-32)

October 1, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

“Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him, ‘By what authority are you doing these things?’ they asked. ‘And who gave you this authority?’” (23) The temple of Jerusalem for the Jew was the center of the world. So, the situation, in which Jesus preached in the region of Galilee and the suburbs of Judea, was different from the situation of preaching in the temple of Jerusalem.

Teaching in the temple of Jerusalem needed permission from the highest court of the Jews.

“Jesus replied, ‘I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism-where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?’” (24-25)

“They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

John the Baptist said, “He (Jesus) is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” (John 1:27) And he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

Therefore, they thought, “if we say ‘from heaven,’ why do you not believe the Savior of the world whom John witnessed?” They thought, “if we say ‘from men,’ we are afraid of the people whom they hold that John is a prophet.” If so, the people must go away from the chief priests and the elders of the people, and they thought that it would be difficult for them to kill Jesus on the cross. “So, they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know.’” (27a) “Then, he said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’” (27b)　Jesus talked about a parable of two sons.

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. ‘Which of the two did what his father wanted?’ ‘The first,’ they answered. Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.” (28-32)

Jesus said, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (15:7-8) But “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord, Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32) After a few days, Jesus the Lord was going to die for our sins.

Jesus told another parable of the tenants. “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people believed that Jesus was a prophet.” (21:45-46) They did not recognize that Jesus had the authority to forgive sins on earth. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed Jesus, repented their sins, and were saved.

Jesus declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6a)

Jesus the Lord completed his redemption on the cross, raised on the third day, ascended to heaven, and God the Father and the Son of God gave the Holy Spirit to the people who believe in the Lord.

Thus, we sinners are made righteous by the grace and love of God, and are saved. The Lord calls us, “Son, go and work today in the vineyard.” “The vineyard” stands for the kingdom of God, the dominance by Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Let’s pray. Today you taught us the importance to repent and work for the kingdom of God. Please lead us to work for our family and neighbors, so that they may have eternal life through the words given for us. I pray with the gratitude and petition in the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the living God. Amen

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)

September 24, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

“The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard.” (1-2) The summary of the parable is written at the last sentence of the section. “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (16) Therefore, the parable teaches us how the salvation is fulfilled. Jesus said, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’” (21:42)

Paul the apostle says, “Surely you have heard about the commission of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has been now revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and shares together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 3:2-5)

Therefore, we are able to understand that the mystery of God’s grace was preached in advance to Jesus’ disciples through the parable of the workers in the vineyard.

“A landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.” (1-2)

In addition to them, about the third hour (nine o’clock in the morning) he went out and saw others standing in the market place doing nothing. He told them, “You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So, they went. He went out again about the sixth hour (twelve o’clock in the afternoon) and ninth hour (three o’clock in the afternoon), and the eleventh hour (five o’clock in the afternoon) he hired the workers and agreed to pay them a denarius for the day.

“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foremen, ‘Call the workers and pay them wages, beginning the last ones hired and going to the first.’ The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of work and the heat of the day.’” (8-12)

“But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’” (13-15)

God’s criterion of judgement is completely different from human beings’ one. God has complete free will, and he is a supreme ruler. This parable does not treat inequality among workers in the world. It is the parable of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus the Lord made his disciples realize the mystery of the kingdom of heaven.

Then, who are Christians who are saved by the faith in Jesus Christ?

They are “entrusted with the secret things of God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1) And “It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2) Briefly speaking, Christians are those believe in God’s words, and follow Jesus the Lord, not those who believe God’s words at their own discretion. It is the basis that Christians submit themselves to God. God gives us obedient hearts to follow Jesus by the grace and compassion.

Jesus said to one of the workers who grumbled against the owner’s treatment, “Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Pay attention to the word “friend.” It is a singular form in the Greek text. It means the Jewish people not individuals. Abraham, who was the ancestor of Israelite, made a contract with God. The plan of God’s salvation had been entrusted with the Jewish people up to the coming of Jesus. This is very clear in the Old Testament. So, the Jewish people was really God’s colleague. All Jesus’ disciples, including twelve disciples and early Christians, were Jewish at first. At the end of the Old Testament, the evangel was also preached to the Gentiles. They received the evangel, the grace of salvation with the Jewish people.

So, in this parable, those workers who were hired about nine o’clock in the morning, twelve in the afternoon and three in the afternoon, and five in the afternoon were compared to the Gentiles.

This was the message given to Jesus’ disciples.

Let’s pray. Jesus the Lord taught us that we have been given the equal opportunity of receiving the eternal life without making no distinction between the Jewish and gentiles. We are grateful for that. Please lead us to work for the kingdom of God and the righteousness, and our family and neighbors so that they may receive the eternal life. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. Amen.

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)

September 17, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

“Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” (21)

At the time it is said that the teachers of Israel taught the people that when they committed sins against their neighbors, they could ask for forgiveness three times, according to the Job 33:29-30. (Cf. “God does all these things to a man-twice, even three times- to turn back his soul from the pit, that the light of life may shine on him.”)

I think that Peter probably thought two times three and one more might be enough, and also thought that “seven” was used as a perfect number in Israel.

But “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” “Seventy-seven times” is used in the Book of Genesis 4:15, and 4-24. (Cf. “The Lord said to him, ‘Not so, if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over. (4:15) and “If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy -seven times.” (4:24))

Jesus used the symbolized number for vengeance for symbolized number for forgiveness. Here Jesus the Lord would not scold Peter. Jesus did not mean four hundred ninety times forgiveness. He meant his disciples should always forgive their brothers so that they might grow accustomed to forgiveness.

Jesus the Lord referred to the parable of the kingdom of heaven to teach the meaning of what Jesus said. Jesus said, “the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began to settlement, a man who owed him ten talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.” (23-25)

“Ten talents” is said to be three billion yen, though we have many interpretations of the amount of the money. Anyway, the money is so great that an ordinary man can never pay back for his life.

“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.” (26-27)

If the parable had ended here, we would have thought the parable might be a story of a sinner whose sin was canceled by God the king. But the parable does not end here.

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.” A denarius was a wage for one day labor at the time. Very incomparably small amount as compared with ten talents.

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ‘Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.” (32-34)

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” (35)

Jesus said, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” “You” here was Peter the Apostle. Simon Peter was a weaker person than he himself thought. He denied the Lord three times when Jesus was arrested by the authority, as the Lord had predicted. We human beings are really sinners before God. (Cf. “What a retched man I am! Who rescue me from this body of death. (Romans 7:24))

Jesus the Lord died for us. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)) This is the message of the Bible.

Peter the Apostle preached the Jewish people after Pentecost, “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as you did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:17-19)

What the Jewish people did to Jesus was so brutal that Peter would have never forgiven them. But Peter forgave them from his heart. And he preached the good news. Jesus the Lord told his disciples, “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:25-26) This came true on Peter. So, we disciples are able to forgive one another through the cross of Christ. There is no way of salvation except the belief in Christ. Therefore, we should go out to tell the good news to families, neighbors, and the people in the world.

Let’s pray. You have told us forgiveness today. We pray the fifth petition of Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Please lead us to forgive brothers and sisters in Christ one another. Please lead us to seek the kingdom of God and the righteousness of God first of all, and tell the good news to family members, neighbors, and all the people in the world. I offer this prayer and gratitude to God in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

When Someone Sins (Matthew 18:15-20)

September 10, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

“If your brother sins against you, go to him and show his fault. But do it privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother back.” (15) (Cf. Leviticus 19:17 “Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his fault.” Jesus taught his disciples that they should make personal advice to their friend first, when he sins against the disciple.

Fellowship among brothers and sisters share the same destiny. Jesus said, “But if he will not listen, take one or two other persons with you, so that ‘every accusation may be upheld by the testimony of two or more witnesses,’ as the scripture says.” (16) (Cf. “One witness is not enough to convict someone of a crime; at least two witnesses are necessary to prove that someone is guilty.” (Deuteronomy 19:15)

According to the Greek, two or more witnesses must be the same. So, Jesus the Lord commands us against a false accusation.

Jesus the Lord says it considerately so that every disciple may not be perished. Furtherly, Jesus the Lord said, “And if he will not listen to them, then tell the whole thing to the church. Finally, if he will not listen to the church, treat him as though he were a pagan of a tax collector.” (17)

“The church” here is not the house with the cross, but the group of Christians who are called by God, namely, the kingdom of God. We know that Simon Peter confessed, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (16:16) Jesus the Lord built the church on his confession. (Cf. “The church is Christ’s body, the completion of him who himself completes all things everywhere.” (Ephesians 1:23)

The words “Treat him as though he were a pagan or a tax collector” should not be considered as “he should be perished.” Those who have lost membership of the church on earth also admit of compromise for entering the kingdom of God. A pagan and a tax collector are also able to enter the kingdom of God when they believe in the Lord by the grace of God. (Cf. “The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.” (2 Peter 2:9))

Jesus the Lord said, “And so I tell all of you: what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” (18) Jesus’ words here are realized after his death and resurrection.

Jesus died on the cross, and raised on the third day, and appeared before his disciples. Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you. Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:21-22)

Jesus said, “And I tell you more; whenever two of you on earth agree about anything you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them.” (19-20)

Here Jesus teaches us that we Christians share the same destiny in our lives. God the Father realizes anything we agree about and pray for. (Cf. “We know that God does not listen to sinners; he does listen to people who respect him and do what he wants them to do.” (John 9:31), and “I assure you that whoever tells this hill to get up and throw itself in the sea and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.” (Mark 11:23)

Lastly Jesus said, “For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them.” You may think that this message means that where two or three people gather for worship, the Lord is surely there. It gives encouragement and consolation to them. This interpretation is not wrong. But this message is rather the grace given to the disciples who are united in the name of the Lord. Really, today we are called together by the faith in Christ who died on the cross and raised. We are united by the work of the Holy Spirit. And we love one another. (Cf. “What he commands is that we believe in his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as Christ commanded us.” (1 John 3:23)

Let’s pray. We pray and praise God the Father and Jesus Christ. We have learnt that we are members of the church of Christ, the kingdom of God. If we happen to go astray from the road, we may admit of repentance and go back to you. We are thankful for your grace, and love one another.

Please lead each of us to glorify God through our work. (Cf. “You do not belong to yourselves but to God; he bought you for a price. So use your bodies for God’s glory.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)) Let us to follow your word, and let our families and neighbors believe in Jesus Christ. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

Peter’s Confession of Christ (Matthew 16:13-20)

August 27, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Phillipi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

“The region of Caesarea Phillipi” is a town on foot of Mount Hermon and its surrounding area. The lake of Galilee is located due north of Mount Hermon. So, the region has rich spring water with deep forest unlike the Middle East. “Phillip” comes from the name of one of the sons of Herod the Great who ordered to kill all the boys under two-year- old in Bethlehem. King Phillip expanded the town and named the area at the foot of Mount Hermon as “Caesarea” showing his respect for the Emperor Tiberius of the Roman Empire. There had been areas called as “Caesarea,” and the area was called “Caesarea Phillipi.” In the town there were two temples. One was “the god of Pan, and the other was the temple to worship the Roman emperors. So, the Jewish people at the time recognized the town as the town of idol worship. They did never enter the town except for the particular reasons. Therefore, Jesus and his disciples did not enter the town. So, the Gospel of Matthew says, they “came to the region of Caesarea Phillipi.

Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” “The Son of Man” means the ruler of “the kingdom of God,” when Jesus uses the word. (Cf. Daniel the seventh chapter)

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah, and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Through the four answers we can know how the Jewish people understood the Son of Man, the ruler of the kingdom of God.

Why did they call John the Baptist as the ruler of the kingdom of God?

“At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, ‘This is John the Baptist; he has risen form the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’” (Matthew 14:2) So, there were people, like Herod, who were under the false impression that John the Baptist was the ruler of the kingdom of God.

The idea that Jesus was Elijah came from the prophesy of Messiah “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.” (Malachi 4:5) The people at the time regarded him as the ruler of kingdom of God. The idea is wrong, because Jesus himself recognized John the Baptist as Elijah who was to come. (Matthew 11:14)

How about the idea that Jesus was Jeremiah? The common points concerning Jeremiah and Jesus are that the Jeremiah is called “the weeping prophet,” and Jesus also “wept.” (Luke 19:41, John 11:35) So, the people maybe associated weeping Jesus with Jeremiah.

Lastly, how about the idea that Jesus is one of the prophets? There had been the popular belief at the time that the great prophet would appear in advance of the end of the world, and he would become the ruler of the kingdom of God. The prophet was considered as the leader like Moses. (Deuteronomy 18:15-22)

Through these four kinds of answers the people at the time knew that Jesus was the prophet, to say the least of it. But the concept of the ruler of the kingdom of God was different among the people.

Do we know rightly the Son of Man, the ruler of the kingdom of God? Jesus also asks us, “What about you?” Jesus did not use the difficult word “the Son of Man.” Jesus asked his disciples whom he chose about this question. Peter, who usually stood for the disciples, said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but my Father in heaven.

God the Father revealed “Jesus, the Son of the living God,” and we human beings know Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God. We are also blessed to confess “You are the Christ, the living God.” Peter’s confession is owing to the grace and truth of God. Paul the apostle witnessed clearly, “Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Holy Spirit of God says, … ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3) And Jesus says, “I tell you that you are Peter (meaning rock), and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” His words also spoken not only to Peter and the disciples but also to us. “My church” is ecclesia in Greek. It means the chosen people of God. Namely, it means all the Christians. “Hades” is the country of the dead. The gate of Hades is for locking the dead within the gate. “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’” (1 Corinthians 15:54)

Jesus Christ the Son of God completed his work of salvation for our sins on his death on the cross. The evidence of the redemption was his resurrection on the third day. And he revealed himself before his disciples, and ascended into heaven, and was seated on the right side of God the Father. God the Father and the Son give the Holy Spirit to the believers in Jesus Christ.

Jesus said to Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven.” As this message showed, Peter the apostle worked for the Israelite people, Samaritans, and gentiles, and the door for salvation of all human beings were opened. Jesus shows us that not only Peter but also the disciples of Christ are given the authority of inviting people into the kingdom of God. Namely the church is given the key of the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, the mission of the church is to develop the kingdom of God through evangelical preaching.

Then Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, but the other disciples did not fully understand Peter’s confession. They fully understood his message only after Jesus the Lord resurrected on the third day, and the Holy Spirit was descended on Pentecost. So, Jesus’ message meant that till the time the disciples should devote themselves to learn God’s words to work for the evangel for the people in the world.

Let’s pray. Peter confessed to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. We are grateful for your grace. “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:10)

Please help us to develop the kingdom of God which is the righteousness, peace, and joy given by the Holy Spirit in this world. We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. Amen

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

Reflection on My Faith --How Does a Man enter into the World of Faith

August 13, 2023

Toshiyuki Masujima

A member of Hongo Evangelical Lutheran Church

[The Faith which has Supported my Life]

I had abnormal pressure on my bowels on the end of last December. I called an ambulance, and was hospitalized for emergency treatment in Hachioji Hospital. I suffered from an intestinal obstruction. While I was looking up at the ceiling of a private ward, I continued to give a thought to my faith.

There is a book titled, “Is Religion unnecessary? --- the Thought and Faith of Shigeru Nanbara---” edited by Mr. Shigehiko Kamoshita, who was once the dean of the medical department of Tokyo University. Shigeru Nanbara was the first president of Tokyo University after the Second World War. He was a Christian. He had Kanzo Uchimura for his teacher throughout all his life.

In that book Nanbara reflected on his faith, saying “The power which has supported my life until today is faith. This belief will never change from now on. This is my experience and experiment.” (p17)

I think his reflection on his faith is applicable to me.

I came to Hongo Church for the first time in 1956 and was baptized in 1959 and became a member of Hongo Church. Since that time Hongo Church has been my mother church for 67 years, though I belonged to other churches for a short time in Osaka and Yokohama. My job had been worthy of my effort, though I had hard and trying experiences. I can also say “The power which has supported my life until today is faith.” So, I would like to reflect on my faith and talk about it. I was going to give my mind to those who are not familiar with Christianity. But my speech may be difficult for such an audience. So, I have delivered to you a paper on the main points of my talk.

[Religion has no part to play for those who are thoroughly rational thinking]

We put much importance to rational and scientific thinking in school education. If a teacher in junior high school of compulsory education would say seriously, “a man ascended into heaven,” or “an Angel and a Satan appeared,” he could never stay in the school.

The world of religion or faith goes over beyond rational and scientific world. I had a close friend, Dr. Kenji Mori, in Hongo Church. He was a famous chemist all over the world. He successfully created gibberellin for the first time in his chemical laboratory of Tokyo University. It is used for producing a seedless watermelon or grape. He received the Japan Academy Prize, when he was young. He had the world of faith clearly in his heart.

[Self-consciousness of a sinner]

When I was a sophomore of Tokyo University, I got a leaflet in front of the main gate of the University. A tall foreigner delivered a leaflet to each of the students who were entering the gate. It said, “Please come to the Hongo Student Center. I will teach you English conversation.” As I was a poor speaker of English, I wanted to attend the center. He was a missionary sent to Japan by the American Lutheran Church. His name was Rev. Morris A. Sorenson Jr. I attended the center once a week. After English conversation hour he spoke about the Bible. I was interested in the Bible too.

Most surprisingly, all the people in the Bible had something foolish, fragile, impure or dirty. David, Solomon, and Jesus’ disciples are no exceptions. I was surprised why the Bible clearly tells that. Gradually I found something foolish, fragile, impure, or dirty in human beings is called as “sin.” I knew “sin” in Greek means “off the mark.”

I was deeply aware of “off the mark” in my heart and mind. I had always a sense of rivalry. I was always selfish. I was always self-centered. Yet I was not satisfied with myself, and became self-loathing. I was strongly conscious of “off the mark” through reading the Bible. So, I did not have a feeling out of place about this concept, “A man is sinful.” This idea is one of the basic concepts of Christianity.

[Some matters in the world cannot be explained rationally—Disease, Death and Human relations]

We have in our lives some matters in the world which cannot be explained rationally.

One is disease or illness. “Why do I suffer from this difficult disease.” “Why cannot I restore my health for a long time?” and so on. We are never convinced when we live in such situations.

The second is death. “One is aware that he is at death’ s door.” “One’s dearest child has died.” “My wife (or husband) has died.” “My close and reliable friend has died.” and so on. We are never convinced of such situations in our lives, whatever explanations we may receive from others.

The third is related to fact that all of us live in human relations.

Almost all the problems reported in everyday news come from the human relations. The relationship between parents and children, between teachers and students, between among friends, between lovers, human relations in offices etc. Human relations are main themes of literature at home and abroad. Human relations are basic needs but they are easily broken down. Do you have such an experience?

Those of you, who experience each of these three and suffer from mental anguish, have your turn to go on the stage of faith. In such situations we are troubled, suffered, depressed, withdraw into your shell, addicted etc. Nevertheless, when you cannot escape from your agony, you cry “Help me!” to a being of the outer world. In such a situation, someone knocks the door of church.

Some of you may say, “I have never experienced such crying.” But when you go to the temple or shrine in the New Year, you may seriously pray what you desire to be realized to the being beyond the world.

[Self-awareness of the being which rules the world.]

There is the thought of “Heaven” from of old in Japan. “Revere Heaven Love Men” (Kei-Ten Ai-Jin in Japanese) This word was coined to stand for Christianity by Masanao Nakamura in the Meiji period. He was a Confucian scholar and the first prominent Meiji figure to become a Christian.

“Revere Heaven Love Men” was the favorite word of Takamori Saigõ, who was a leader in overthrowing the Tokugawa Shogunate and the establishment of the Meiji government in 1867-68. He is still very popular among Japanese.

We happen to call on “Heaven” or “God” in time of crisis. But we do not know what it really is. Daily newspaper or television sometimes report that God dwells in a mountain or a certain big rock because most Japanese think so. Japanese worshipfully greet the sunrise from a mountain. But nobody knows its substance.

It is written in the Old Testament that “God” often spoke through the leaders but nobody saw “God.”

2000 years ago Jesus appeared on earth, and taught important things in life to people. Philip, one of his disciples asked Jesus, “‘Lord, show us the Father; that is all we need.’ Jesus answered, ‘For a long time I have been with you all; yet you do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Why, then, do you say, ‘Show us the Father.’” (John 14:8-9) The Gospel of John tells us clearly, “No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” (John 1:18)

I am very grateful for the two messages. One is “No one has ever seen God.” The other is “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” For Jesus is clearly shown in the Bible. These two passages are very important for forming my faith.

[The Love in the Bible]

Jesus teaches us what is love. Human beings’ real love is selfish. One theologist (Dr. Kazõ Kitamori) says, “Human love is like Yamanote-line. It goes around and comes back to its starting point. It is two-way or interactive. But God’s love is one-way. Human love is very fragile, but God’s love never falls regardless of the other’s response. God’s love continues to support the relations between parents and children, husband and wife, and between friends. Therefore, Jesus’ love “binds all things together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:14)

Shusaku Endo gives a very good picture of God’s love in his great works like “Silence,” “A Silly Person (O-Baka-San in Japanese)”, and “Deep River.” Ayako Miura describes God’s love in her impressive novels like “The Freezing Point,” and “Shiokari Pass.” You probably know them.

Pastor Yuki Goto often used “Jesus is with you,” or “Jesus is by your side.” This is the expression of Jesus’ love.

Yũ Hayami, former President of Japan Bank, who tackled with epochal revision of the Law of Japan Bank, said, “I always keep Jesus words in mind, ‘Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not give up, for I am with you.’” (Acts 18:9-10). This also stands for Jesus’ love.

[The thought of Reconciliation]

The key to understand the basic framework of Christianity is the thought of reconciliation. When we become aware of sinfulness, what kind of idea do we have? There is a traditional thought: “Heaven will never permit you!” The being which rules the world will give a punishment to those who committed something bad.

In the Old Testament, Jewish people offered up as sacrificial animals like cows, goats and sheep to atone for their sins. This was very important rite for the Jews. But Israel prophets were very critical of this rite. “Prophet” means a man who are entrusted with God’s words, not a predictor. Isaiah the prophet emphasized that confession of sins and repentance was more important than sacrifice of animals.

There is a prophecy in the Book of Isaiah that reconciliation between God and man will be achieved through the death of God’s servant. This is a very mysterious prophecy. But this prophecy is the most important one in the Old Testament. This performance is achieved only once. It is called reconciliation or redemption. The New Testament clearly tells that Jesus is the servant who was prophesied. The concept of reconciliation is the core of Christianity. But it is very difficult for ordinary Japanese to understand this.

Pastor Kohei Narabu often repeats the following passages in his sermons.

“He is not like high priests; he does not need to offer sacrifices every day for his own sins first and then for the sins of the people. He offered one sacrifice, once and for all, when he offered himself.” (Hebrews 7:27)

“Because Jesus Christ did what God wanted him to do, we are all purified from sin by the offering that he made of his own body once and for all.” (Hebrews 10:10)

He maybe wants to implant this concept in our minds.

Jesus Christ took the blame for Man’s sin and was crucified on the cross. He achieved reconciliation between God and Man. This concept is difficult for us. But some people understand it as revelation from above.

[My mother’s episode-Forgiveness of sin]

Let me introduce my mother’s episode.

This goes back more than half-century ago. But the memory is still deeply and clearly impressed on my mind.

My father once caught cold. It got worse and became pneumonia. The doctor immediately hospitalized him. He could not swallow liquid food. About four o’clock in the morning, he continued to call his wife’s name “Nuiko! Nuiko!” My mother came soon and took his hand, saying, “I’m here.” My father began to speak piece by piece. It was his dying words. It was filled with his affection for his wife and children. When he finished speaking, he seemed to recover a little bit. But he again got worse, and passed away three hours later.

His body was placed in a coffin, and carried to our house. It was placed in a Japanese room. About ten o’clock in the evening, my mother took out the futon (quilt) for sleep which my father used. Suddenly, she began to cry with a piercing scream. My brother and I were greatly astounded.

Mother said, “My dear husband was tender! I want to go to him now. I have not been so tender in return. I was no good to him. I nearly killed my husband!”

My brother and I said to her, “Father had been so gentle that he will forgive you.” Suddenly she stopped crying, she stared at us, saying, “How can you say that he will forgive me?” My brother and I were stuck for words. I was in a tremble.

My brother said to her, “What will become of our little sisters, when you continue to cry so much?” She said, “So, I endured but I cannot help crying. Let me cry!” Tears were shedding from my eyes. I passed my hand over her shoulder. All of a sudden, I realized the forgiveness of sin. Sin will never be forgiven by human being who had nothing to do with the sin.

Only my father, who was placed in a coffin, would be raised up and could say, “I will forgive you.” No one else can never forgive her. What would become of her in the final end? Would she be perished after last judgement of her sin by God?

Jesus says, “I will take blame for your sin” and was crucified. He says on the cross, “Don’t worry! I will forgive you.” It is the basis of Christianity that we believe in the forgiveness of sin for our own concern. “How can you say that he will forgive me?” came out from the bottom of her heart. It made me realize the truth of Christianity.

She gradually regained her presence of mind, saying, “Don’t worry any more!” She said, “Let me see his face once more.” She again opened his coffin, shedding tears and gently caressing his cheeks, saying, “Is his face not angry?” Brother and I said, “Not at all. He is smiling.” She was relieved and closed the coffin.

According to my father’s will, the funeral service was held in a Christian manner in a meeting hall near her house. One year later, she was baptized. I believe she accepted Christianity as the grace given by God.

[God dwells in the weakness]

When we become aware of our own weakness, we start to grope for the world of the soul. We have the most impressive passage in Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Paul once persecuted Christians, and later became a leader of Christians. He had a weakness which inflicted pain on himself. It is said that his weakness was a physical illness or mental disease. Paul prayed to God hard. He got Lord’s answer as follows; “I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan’s messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. But his answer was: ‘My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak. I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weakness, in order to feel the protection of Christ’s power over me. I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7b-10)

I am very thankful that this passage is left in the Bible.

[Resurrection]

Jesus’ resurrection is the last element of the framework of Christianity. I could not understand it by any means. Jesus died on the cross.

He began his ministry at about the age of thirty and his heartfelt messages brought him a large following of disciples. Yet, even those disciples did not believe Jesus was the Son of God. As proof of this, when Jesus was arrested on a charge of advocating what the state considered the heretical teachings, all of the disciples cast their teacher aside. Jesus met crucifixion on the cross all alone.

However, shortly after occurred an amazing change among those cowardly disciples. They appeared boldly in public and began professing that Jesus was the Son of God. The leaders of the state persecuted them cruelly. One disciple was run through with a sword and killed. Another disciple was stoned to death. Still another disciple was crucified upside down. But these men who had heretofore behaved so cowardly pressed on with their preaching that Jesus was the Son of God, with not one of them shrinking back.

What happened after Jesus' death on the cross!? There can be no doubt that the disciples witnessed some decisive event. What was this event that brought dramatic change to the disciple's lives and gave them faith that Jesus born of the Mary was the Son of God? That wondrous event is the resurrection of the crucified Jesus.

No one can ever continue to tell a lie with resolution to die. Absolutely not! I thought this strongly. This is the reason of being convinced of the Resurrection of Jesus.

Then, how about the human beings? Paul the apostle does not preach that physically dead will be resurrected. According to Paul, human beings are by nature spiritually dead. Paul accentuates that they are raised when they see the truth of salvation.

[From the truth of God to the faith of Man]

I had a close friend in our church. His name was Osamu Ogawa who became a theologist later. We have pastors who call themselves as Mr. Osamu Ogawa’s disciples. They are pastor Kiyomi Hakoda, pastor Yasuo Takai, pastor Joji Oshiba and pastor Tadahiro Tateyama who have worked well to support the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church. They had been engaged with a big project to publish Osamu Ogawa’s transcripts of lectures on Paul’s letters at Doshisha University and Japan Lutheran College. The transcripts of his lectures have now been published by Litton Company as “Ogawa Osamu’s Lectures on Paul’s Letters” (ten volumes).

I want to introduce one of the themes of his lectures. The first three volumes deal with the Paul’s Letter to the Romans. He dissents against the translation verse 17 of the first chapter of the Letter to the Romans publicized in Japan.

According to the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) and New International Version (NIV), Romans 1:17 is as follows.

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’”

“For in the gospel righteousness from God is revealed, righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”

In Japan, we have Japanese Colloquial Bible (口語訳聖書) and Japanese Interconfessional Bible. (新共同訳聖書) The word “faith” is used in the English translation and in the Japanese one.

But Osamu Ogawa emphasized that the first faith and the second faith are completely different. The first faith should be translated into the “truth of God,” and second faith as the “faith of Man.”

The truth of God means that God sent his Son to the world to atone for Man’ s sin, and the faith of Man is to accept the truth with gratitude.

He says that this concept is the keyword to understanding Paul’s letters.

However easily we may know that all human beings are saved, we are not saved automatically. It is very important for us to firmly believe the truth with gratitude to God.

(Cf. The newest translation of the Bible in Japan has been published by Japan Bible Society. According to its translation, “God’s righteousness is revealed from truth to faith.” Ogawa would have been glad to hear this.)

[John 3:16—The words to support my life]

I believe the Gospel of John 3:16 with all my heart. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” It is the same with “Osamu Ogawa’s “From the truth of God to the faith of Man.”

Martin Luthur called John 3:16 the “Little Bible.” He recited it in his last moments. I pray and wish I will recite this in my last moment too.

[The Holy Spirit]

We see often and hear the word of “the Holy Spirit.” You may probably feel at a loss, when you hear this word. Some Christians think so.

When Jesus was going to leave this world, he said, “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:25-26) I understand the Holy Spirit as “Helper”. His work is to remind me of the words of the Bible.

I have often been confronted with difficulties in my life. But I have always remembered God’s words and could cope with them. I believe that that is owing to the Holy Spirit.

[In Conclusion]

I pray I will continue to have this faith all through my life. Today, I spoke about “Reflection on my faith—How does a man enter into the world of faith?” In the beginning, my talk perhaps was understandable for you. But it gradually may have become difficult. I will be glad that my talk will be some help to understanding Christianity in the future. Thank you for your listening.

Let’s pray.

I am very thankful that you have given me an opportunity to talk about my testimony in Hongo Church. I am also very thankful that you have supported me and my family for nearly seventy years. I pray that my testimony will be a help to those who are interested in Christianity.

I offer my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

The Reward for Receiving the Disciples of Jesus (Matthew 10:40-42)

July 2, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

Jesus the Lord chose twelve disciples and prepared for sending them out to the world. His instruction included the difficulties and persecution that they would receive. Jesus said to them, “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.” (40:41)

Who is a prophet? A prophet is a man who speaks the word of the Lord. (Cf. 2 Chronicles 36:12 “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord.”)

Moses, the leader of Israel people, once said to them, “I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them.” (Numbers 11:29b) This Moses’ wish was realized by the coming of Jesus the Son of God to the world. (Cf. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17))

Jesus the Son of God died on the cross, was buried, and was raised on the third day. He completed the work of salvation. (Cf. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.” (Matthew 5:17))

We Christians were included in Christ when we heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation. We were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. (Cf. Ephesians 1:13)

Jesus said, “anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.” What does it mean? The Bible tells the answers in its various places.

Paul the apostle gave thanks to the Philippians, saying “It was good of you to share in my troubles.” (Philippians 4:14) He also says to Christians at Corinth, “Our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:7) Jesus the Lord says to the apostles, “those who receive you receive the same reward. The Bible tells us constantly that those who work for the word of God share the same sufferings and comfort with those who support them.

Jesus also says, “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciples, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” (10:42) What does it mean that the disciples are “little ones?”

Jesus the Lord says, “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher. And the servant like his master.” (10:24) Jesus says, “you have one teacher, the Christ.” (23:10) Jewish teachers were called “Rabbi.” Rabbi literally means “big one.” While Jesus’ disciples are “little ones.” So, “little ones” mean the disciples who learn from only one teacher Jesus Christ. “As they work as fellow workers, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.” (2 Corinthians 6:1) God’s grace means receiving the kingdom of God. The Gospel of Matthew tells later “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’” (25:34) And “the king will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” (25:40)

I dare to say in more detail, it is the same thing for doing for Jesus Christ that we do for the disciples with the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit is one of three forms of one God(trinity). Three forms are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, doing for Christians with the Holy Spirit is the same thing with doing for the God the Father. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27) Paul also says, “He who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6;17) Thus, “When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the world of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48)

Who deliver the good news to the world? It is you. You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. (1 Peter 2: 9a) So, “preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage―with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

The world had been reconciliated with God through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is now the kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy given by the Holy Spirit. Paul the apostle says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2) Therefore, it is the mission of the disciples of Christ to realize this world into the real kingdom of God. The kingdom of God will be more expanded by you, the disciples of Christ. When you in Christ deliver the Good News to your family and neighbors, the real world is gradually changed into the world of kingdom with righteousness, peace and joy given by the Holy Spirit.

Let’s pray. You have taught us that those who receive Jesus’ disciples receive Jesus, and those who receive a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. We are greatly thankful for that. I pray the kingdom of God and the righteousness of God be realized and this world be filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.

I pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

Jesus’ Compassion on the Crowds (Matthew 9:35-10:8)

June 18, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

Jesus went around visiting all the towns and villages. He taught in the synagogues, preached the Good News about the Kingdom, and healed peoples with every kind of disease and sickness. He visited not only big and wealthy cities but also inconspicuous and poor villages, and taught the Good News and healed disease. As he saw the crowds,　his heart was filled with compassion for them, because they were worried and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.

In Greek text, “compassion” means “painful bowels.” This word was not used originally in Greek, but used in synagogues. This word is used only in the Synoptic Gospels.

Jesus’ compassion was poured on not only physically diseased but also spiritually helpless people. So, he said to his disciples, “the harvest is plentiful but the workers few. Ask the Lord of harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

Jesus’ coming to the world means coming end of the world of the Old Testament. Matthew, writer of the Gospel of Matthew referred to the coming of its end in the chapter three. John the Baptist said to the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Matthew 3:7-9) And in the Matthew 3:11-12, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Jesus said to his disciples, when he sent out the twelve, “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for the town. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.” (Matthew 10:14-15)

And Jesus said, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34a)

So, the Bible tells us that the end of the world is the end of the world of the Old Testament in most cases.

As these messages tell us, the Lord is merciful and generous and at the same time he has the authority to give eternal judgement on the people.

Jesus the Lord did not come to judge the world, but to save it. He was crucified on the cross to save our sinners. After that he was raised on the third day, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty. “The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.” (Psalm 103:6)

“He (Jesus) called his twelve disciples to him and gave them the authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” (Matthew 10:1) Jesus chose twelve apostles. An “apostle” means a “man who is sent or dispatched.”

Jesus dispatched the apostles in order to train them for world mission. Christians have prayed the Lord’s prayer “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one,” and have worked to develop the kingdom of God, telling the Good News to the people and healing their disease. Now the Good News have given influence to the people all over the world. But we Christians should not satisfy themselves. Because Jesus the Lord ordered us to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Who should play the role now? It is your role. Paul the apostle says to us, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:16-17)

So, you members of church should tell the word of Christ to your family members and neighbors, and the pastor of your church should preach the truth of the word of God clearly so that they may be disciples of Christ.

Let’s pray. Jesus the Lord gave the apostles the mission of the Good News and training of disciples. We are thankful that we are “Christ’s ambassadors.” Please use us so that we may have more numbers of Christians in the world. We pray in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

Living Water Flows Out (John7:37-39)

May 28, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

On the last and most important day of the festival Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice, “Whoever is thirsty should come to me, and whoever believes in me should drink. As the scripture says, ‘Streams of life-giving water will pour out from his side.’” (7:37)

Jesus the Lord was in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Shelters, which is as important as Passover and Harvest Festival.

“All the men of your nation are to come to worship the Lord three times a year at the one place of worship: at Passover, Harvest Festival, and the Festival of Shelters.” (Deuteronomy 16:16-17)

The Jewish people should remember that they once traveled in the wilderness for forty years under the leadership of Moses, and they lived at shelters. After they entered into the Promised land and settled, they had celebrated harvest every autumn as Harvest Festival. The Jewish people had celebrated Feast of Shelters in order to offer thanks to God who emancipated them from Egyptian slavery. And they gave thanks to God for good harvest in the promised land. All such things, however, are only shadow of things in the future; the reality is Christ. (Colossians 2:17)

Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice, “Whoever is thirsty should come to me, and whoever believes in me should drink. “Thirsty” means spiritually not physically thirsty. Jesus the Lord, the source of life, stood in front of religious Jewish people, and declared, “Whoever is thirsty should come to me, and whoever believes in me should drink. As the scripture says, ‘Streams of life-giving water will pour out from his side.’” (7:37)

(Cf. “Listen now, Israel, my servant…I will give water to the thirsty land and make streams flow on the dry ground. I will pour out my spirit on your children and my blessing on your descendants.” (Isaiah 44:1,3); “Wherever the stream flows, there will be all kinds of animals and fish. The stream will make the water of the Dead Sea fresh, and whenever it flows, it will bring life.” (Ezekiel 47:9); “When that time comes,” says the Lord Almighty, “a fountain will be opened to purify the descendants of David and the peoples of Jerusalem from their sin and idolatry.” (Zechariah 13:1))

“At that time the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not been raised to glory.” (7:39) There are many descriptions about life-giving water in the Bible. On the last day of Feast of Shelters, Jesus the Lord talked about life-giving water relating to the work of the Holy Spirit to be poured on those who will keep faith in Jesus.

Jesus the Lord was given glory when the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension took place. We must not forget that Jesus cerebrated the Feast of Shelters lastly on his life on earth. And “some of the peoples in the crowd heard him say Jesus’ message said, ‘This man is really the Prophet!’ Others said, ‘He is the Messiah!’ But others said, ‘The Messiah will not come from Galilee! The scripture says that the Messiah will be a descendant of King David and will be born in Bethlehem, the town where David lived.’ So there was a division in the crowd because of Jesus.” (7:40-43)

However, chief priests and Pharisees denied Jesus thoroughly. They handed him over to Pilate, governor of Judea, and rejected him in Pilate’s presence, even after Pilate had decided to set him free. (Acts 3:13)

Most of Jewish people also sided with their leaders. Thus, Jesus the Lord became the means by which our sins were forgiven, and not our sins only, but also the sins of everyone. (1 John 2:2)

As the Jewish people were dispersed in the world (Diaspora), they must have remained in Jerusalem and its environs. They had been there to celebrate the Feasts which were to come after fifty days. They were to come to worship the Lord three times a year at one place of worship: at Passover, Harvest Festival, and the Festival of Shelters.

Jesus the Lord died on the cross, and raised on the third day, and appeared before his disciples for forty days. When they came together, Jesus gave them this order. “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift I told you about, the gift my Father promised. John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

So, his disciples and the religious Jewish people saw the morning of Pentecost. The Acts describes the coming of the Holy Spirit. “Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak. The house where they were sitting was the temple of Jerusalem. They were sitting to celebrate Pentecost. Jesus’ promise after the resurrection was realized: “I myself will send upon you what my Father has promised. But you must wait in the city until the power from above comes down upon you.” (Luke 24:49)

Then Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles and in a loud voice began to speak to the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all to you who live in Jerusalem, listen to me and let me tell you what this means.” Peter said to them, “Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven: and you will receive God’s gift, the Holy Spirit. For God’s promise was made to you and your children, and to all who are far away---all whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:38-39)　“Many of them believed his message and were baptized, and about three thousand people were added to the group that day.” (Acts 2:41) Thus, the Christian church was born. (Cf. Ephesians 1:10 “This plan which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.”) This is the incident which took place on Pentecost 2000 years ago. Jesus the Lord said, “I am telling you the truth: the time is coming—the time has already come—when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear it will come to life.” (John 5:25)

Human beings by nature are all spiritually dead under the sin, death and Satan. In the past we were spiritually dead because of our disobedience and sins. But now we are different. We have been saved by the faith in Jesus Christ, and have been given eternal life with the Holy Spirit. We also became God’s people when we heard the true message, the Good News that brought us salvation. We believed in Christ, and God put his stamp of ownership on us by giving us the Holy Spirit. (Cf. Ephesians 1:13) So, it is really important for us to delver the words of God rightly.

Jesus referred to life-giving water. The water is the Holy Spirit. In due course of time, the world will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and the kingdom of God and the righteousness of God will be realized.

Let’s pray so that we may send the message of blessings to the people in the world. We will go out to the world to send the good news to the family members and neighbors with the Holy Spirit and faith. Please make the people who hear the message of God from us believe in Jesus Christ, and work with us to realize the kingdom of God which is righteousness, peace and joy given by the Holy Spirit. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit (John14:15-21)

May 14, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

Jesus the Lord gave the farewell sermon to his disciples about the kingdom of God on the previous night before his crucifixion.

In the beginning, he said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (1) And he said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (6) He said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (15)

　　“What I command” means two commandments. One is “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (13:34) Second, “Believe me, when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.” (11)

So, “what I command means “love one another” and “believe the Father and the Son.”

Jesus the Lord said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” “Love” means God’s love. In the Greek text, “άγάπη“is used.　So, Jesus’ message means that if his disciples love (άγάπη) the Lord, they will love (άγάπη) one another and continue to trust in God the Father and the Son of God. (Cf. 1 John 3:23 “This is his command; to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”)

Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.” (16) While Jesus was in this world, he was the Counselor. Another Counselor is the Holy Spirit. The Son of God asks and the Father sends, and the Holy Spirit is with you. That is to say, the work of the triune God. Our salvation is secured forever by the work of the triune God. Jesus ordered the disciples, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Mathew 28:19-20)

Jesus said, “The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (17)

He said clearly that the world did not know “another Counselor” nor “the Spirit of truth.” Isaiah the prophet said, “See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” (Isaiah 60:2)

Jesus meant that his disciples would understand the truth of the Holy Spirit by his words. The human beings by nature cannot know the truth nor God the Lord without the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.” (18-19) Jesus Christ went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Eleven disciples lived with Jesus for three years and witnessed his work. So, they knew that Jesus solved any problem among the people and bore their big burdens, and satisfied their need.

But Jesus the Lord was about to be taken away from his disciples, arrested, handed over to the authority, and be crucified. The words in the Gospel of Mathew “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered,” (Mathew 26:31) was about to be fulfilled. But Jesus well knew their worries. So, he said, “I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you.”

He said, “Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.” (18-19) Jesus revealed himself among his disciples for forty days after his resurrection. And as he promised, he poured the Holy Spirit on his disciples on Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is “another Counselor” and “the Spirit of truth.” The Holy Spirit is truly God the Lord, with the Father and the Son. Apostle Paul says, “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3b) Jesus said, “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (20) “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (21) (Cf. “You also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13))

All the people who love the Lord are also loved by God the Father. Because Jesus the Son of God is the triune God. Jesus said, “He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.” (John 5:23b)

The Holy Spirit gives the power to us so that we may live according to his will.

Lastly, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)

Love the Lord and trust in the Lord! Let’s pray!

We are thankful we have heard the truth that we are given “another Counselor”, “the spirit of truth” by the mediation of Jesus the Son of God.

We, who are given the Holy Spirit, love the Lord and obey the Lord’s command, and are sent to the world. All the people be given the eternal life through the words of the Lord we tell them. We ask you and pray with thanks in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord of resurrection. Amen

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

On the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)

April 23, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

Jesus the Lord was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead.　On that day, “two of his disciples were going to a village called Emmaus about 11 km from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.” (24:13-16)

Jesus the Lord “asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along.’ They stood still, their faces downcast.” (24:17) Briefly speaking, they were yet unable to understand the victory of the Lord and the hope of resurrection.

“One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, ‘Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?’” (24:18)

“Jesus the Lord asked, ‘What things?’ ‘About Jesus the of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘He was a prophet powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” (24:19-24)

Jesus the Lord “said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!’ ‘Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’” (24:25-26) “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (24:27)

What matters here?

It is the fact that the whole of the Old Testament places the focus on the Messiah, that is to say, Jesus Christ the Son of God. (Cf. The Gospel of John 5:39 says, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (5:39))

“As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.” (24:28) They arrived Emmaus, but Jesus the Lord himself was going farther. “But they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them.” (24:29) I think they were eager to seek Jesus’ explanation of God words. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

They began to have faith in Jesus through his explanations of the scriptures.

“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.” (24:30-31)

　　They confirmed the resurrection of Jesus by their faith. “They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” (24:32)　“They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, ‘It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread” (24:33-35)

Halleluiah! Jesus Christ the Lord was really raised. Jesus the Lord is still alive. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives in me will never die.” (John 11:25) You are invited to the worship service today and are listening to Jesus’ words. By God’s grace you are saved and you have eternal life.

But there are many people such as your family members, friends, and neighbors whose faces are still downcast like two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They live under the power of sin, death and the evil. They do not know God’s grace, eternal life and the victory of the Lord. You who have heard Jesus’ words are able to help them to realize the truth of resurrection. Jesus said to the people, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) “You were once darkness but now you are the light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)

Let’s pray in the name of Jesus Christ. We are sincerely thankful to God the Lord that you have “rescued us from the domination of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” (Colossians 1:13) Please help us to continue to live in life with faith, and lead us to deliver the good news to our neighbors who are downcast. We offer this prayer with thanks in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord of resurrection. Amen.

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

Peace be with you (John 20:18-31)

April 16, 2023

ELCA J3 Missionarius Ms. Vola Ranaivoson

Missionary of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

Grace, Mercy and peace from God the Father, and Jesus our Lord.

“When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week … ” (20:19)

That day, of course, was a day like no other. After the awful reality of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial on Friday, this Sunday had brought some strange and unsettling events.

Early that morning, Mary Magdalene had come, distressed, to tell the disciples that Jesus’ body was missing from the tomb. Peter and “the other disciple” had run to the tomb and had seen for themselves that it was true. They had seen the linen cloths that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head and body lying there with no corpse to be found. Then, a bit later that day, Mary Magdalene had come to the disciples once again, this time breathless with excitement, and told them, “I have seen the Lord.”

We might expect that the disciples would be celebrating by now. Instead, we find them huddled behind locked doors. John says that the doors were locked for fear of the Jews. (John 20:19). The disciples had almost been arrested with Jesus. They had watched as the Jewish leaders brought charges against Jesus, watched as calls to crucify him rang throughout the crowds, and watched as Jesus was brutally beaten and crucified and was hung on a cross as he gasped for his last breath, until he finally died, and was put in a tomb.

They were still trying process the crucifixion, But now here Mary Magdalene was telling them that She had seen Jesus resurrected.

They were experiencing events that were outside of their control, while having a great impact on their lives and wellbeing. This results in turmoil that affects their hearts and minds, and fear is the natural, human result. Caught in the grip of fear, the disciples and all people need to experience the peace of Christ in their hearts in order to set aside the paralysis that holds them bound. Regardless of the messages brought by Mary Magdalene, the disciples cannot be at ease, but instead cower in hiding, needing desperately to experience a sense of peace to overcome their fear. It is a situation that is common to all of us as human beings, that when fear takes hold of us, we can do little or nothing to overcome it ourselves.

It is in this setting of fear and locked door that Jesus appears to them. His greeting, “Peace be with you,” (John 20:19) carries the sense of the Hebrew greeting “shalom” The word itself has multiple meanings, one of which can reflect a simple hello. However, Jesus’ greeting here is much stronger word of peace, offered in his greeting to the disciples a blessing that means more than tranquility and peace but a deep and holistic sense of well-being — the kind of peace the world cannot give. Into that moment of fear and surprise, Jesus comes with a message of comfort, “Peace be with you.” In fact, he offers that message to them twice. First, when they first see this figure suddenly appear before them. Then, he repeats this message once again after they realize that they, like Mary before them, have finally met the risen Christ. But it is important for us to notice that they neither recognize him nor rejoice until Jesus shows them his hands and his side, so that they can see that it is he, the real, flesh-and-blood, crucified Jesus — not a ghost or apparition — who is before them.

They were filled with joy when they saw the LORD. (20:20). The disciples respond by rejoicing in seeing the Lord, just as Jesus had told them that they would (cf 16:22). What a change from their fear and hopeless that had gripped them before. Again Jesus speaks a blessing of peace and tells them, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (20:21)

Jesus’ words of peace are necessary and critical to the disciples on that Easter evening. This word of peace from the resurrected one is necessary to calm the disciples’ fear, to settle their hearts and minds that are still caught in the grip of doubt and unbelief.

Peace not only brings calm, but it also brings light where darkness once reigned, it helps to restore order when there has been disruption in our lives. This is what Jesus does for the disciples and for Us today. He brings a new resurrection response of Joy.

“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (20:21)

The disciples of Christ are to be his body/his representatives here on Earth. At the last supper, Jesus had assured them earlier that he would bring them comfort and joy (John 17:12-13). He promised that he would give them an advocate, “the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father” (John (Cf 14; 15:26). Now he fulfills that promise. In an act of new creation, he breathes into his disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit (20:22). This Helper or “Spirit of truth” will teach them, remind them of all that Jesus has said to them, and guide them into all truth as they live in this world.

Then Jesus tells his disciples, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you do not forgive the sins of any, they are not forgiven” (20:23).

Jesus is not giving his disciples some special power to decide whose sins will be forgiven and whose will not, because only God is able to forgive and cleanse someone from their sin. The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit so that they would become messengers of the good news of what God had done in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. And they were to proclaim God’s love for the entire world. Strengthened by the Holy Spirit they were to fling open the locked doors of fear.

To Thomas they brought their words of comfort. The same proclamation they heard from Mary Magdalene, They say to him, “We have seen the Lord.” (20:25; cf. 20:18). But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” (20:24-25). Thomas had seen his worst fears realized. The crucifixion has broken his heart. It’s understandable that he is slow to believe the other disciples. He demanded what they had experienced — to see the wounded hands and the pierced side of his Rabbi.

Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

In the same way that he offers a word of peace to the disciples, so too Jesus offers peace to Thomas when unbelief and turmoil takes hold of him as he is told this story from his friends about Jesus being resurrected. The wonder of this moment is Jesus’ willingness to meet Thomas exactly where Thomas names he needs meeting, and allows him to gave him what he had asked for.

Like the disciples before, Thomas only responds with joy to Jesus’ presence after he shows them his hands and his side (20:20, 27). “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (20:26-27).

Jesus’ response to Thomas “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without see me” (20:29) is not a rebuke, but rather a blessing for all those who will come to believe without having had the benefit of a flesh-and-blood encounter with Jesus. Indeed, the author goes on to declare that this is the very purpose of this book, addressing all of us who have not seen but have heard this testimony: “But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name” (20:30-31).

The reality for our lives as Christians is that we live in a world that is rife with turmoil and there are upheavals globally, nationally, socially, in the church, in our homes and in our lives. Many of the challenges that confront us in life cause fear to arise in our hearts and we try to bring order by our own strength. The natural thing to do when we are feeling anxious or threatened is to hunker down and lock the doors, to become focused on our own security rather than the risky mission to which we are called.

Good news does not erase fear. Good news, incredible news, can ignite hope, but even hope does not eliminate genuine fear. So, there they were in a familiar place desperate with unfamiliar fear. An empty tomb isn’t enough to confirm all that Jesus promised is true. What does the resurrection mean? It means God still shows up. The promise of this text is that Jesus cannot be stopped by our locked doors. Jesus comes to us as he came to the first disciples, right in the midst of our fear, pain, doubt, and confusion. He comes speaking peace, and resurrection breathing into our anxious lives the breath of the Holy Spirit.

What is more, he keeps showing up. As he came back a week later for Thomas, Jesus keeps coming back week after week among his gathered disciples — in the word, the water, the bread, and the wine — not wanting any to miss out on the life and peace he gives. And he keeps sending us out of our safe, locked rooms, into a world that, like us, so desperately needs his gifts of life and peace.

Let us pray: God of the resurrection, As you give new life to us and peace, and send us out into the world, Make us an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, forgiveness; where there is doubt, help us to come to you and give us faith. Where there is darkness, light, where there is sadness, joy. Amen.

Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani? (Mathew 27:11-54)

April 2, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

Apostles Creed says, “I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead.

Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, governmental representative of Imperial Rome. He crucified Jesus Christ. Jesus began to preach when he was nearly thirty years old. As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, he resolutely set out for Jerusalem. There, he was arrested by Jewish leaders. And Jesus was crucified. Crucifixion was the most serious and inhuman penalty imposed on those who had no citizenship of Rome. Criminals on the wooden cross were fastened with nails, and they suffered for a long time, sometimes a few days. They were exposed to public view. “Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads.” (27:39) “In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.” (27:41) “In the same way the robbers who were crucified with Jesus also heaped insults on him. The crucifixion penalty was the most miserable one which was to satisfy the cruel and vengeful heart of human beings.

Jesus Christ committed no crime at all. The Jewish leaders and the people made Pontius Pilate execute the crucifixion penalty on Jesus. But his disciples were there behind the people’s shout “Crucify him!” Human beings by nature are worthless and do not good at all, and enemy of God. (Cf. Romans 3:12, James 4:4) So, if we would live in Jesus’ age, we must have cried, “Crucify him!” Or we would have mocked Jesus shaking our heads. Thus, we human beings by nature are spiritually dead and enemy of God. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Therefore, those who look up to the Lord on the cross with faith will know the love of God and be saved.

About 3 pm Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? ―which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” The fact that Jesus the Lord died on the cross means “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’” (Galatians 3:13) Christ abolished the law and redeemed us from the curse of the law by the death on the cross. In addition, Jesus the Lord gives his blessing to Christians. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Isaiah prophesied, “Because of our sins he was wounded, beaten because of the evil we did. We are healed by the punishment he suffered, made whole by the blows he received.” (Isaiah 53:5) This prophecy had been achieved by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.” (27:50-52) (Cf. Ezekiel 37:1-14) “When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’” (27:54)

Is “the cross of Jesus Christ the Lord” standing between the relationship among you? We have many sufferings in our lives. The most serious suffering is that God abandons you. Whatever serious suffering we may have, we can overcome it when the Lord is with us. Jesus the Lord experienced the gravest despair on the cross. Jesus the Lord loved us so far extremely. “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

Let’s love the Lord, trust him, and pray!

We thank that our Lord died on the cross and redeemed us from the curse of the law. Let’s seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and deliver the message of Jesus the Lord without being ashamed of the gospel. We pray that all the people in the world may return to you and have faith in you.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

The Time Comes When the True Worshipers will Worship the Father in Spirit and Truth (John 4:5-42)

March 12, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptized more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus but his disciples baptized. When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to

Galilee. Now he and his disciples had to go through Samaria. It was early summer. They “came to a town in Samaria called Sychar. Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well.” (4:5) It was about the noon. It was the hottest time. His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. “When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Will you give me a drink?’” (4:6) It was said that drawing water was women’ s job. But women did not come usually to the well at the hottest time. She was a person in a particular situation with her own issues. So, she was surprised when Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink?” The Jewish people and Samaritans were hateful to one another. And it was unthinkable that a Jewish man who was a rabbi talked with a Samaritan woman. “The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?’” (4:9) She wanted to refuse his asking. “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’” Jesus the Lord wanted to have something with her and taught her that “everyone who drinks the water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.” (4:14a)

Jesus was thirsty. Though, Jesus the Son of God is the creator of the whole world, he said, “Give me a drink.” We remember that Jesus was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death--his death on the cross. (Cf. Philippians 2: 6-8 “He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God. Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared all the way to death--his death on the cross.”)

We know that Jesus the Lord had been waiting for a Samaritan woman who would be coming to draw water, before he said, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” Jesus the Lord is really Savior, declaring, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29)

The woman said to Jesus, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?” (4:13-14) She heard Jesus’ message, and “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” (4:15)

The Greek word of “Sir” means “the Lord.” So, we are able to know that she begins to have faith within her from her answer to Jesus. He was patient enough to wait till she began to have interest in him. She began to believe the very man before her would save her. The Samaritan is of mixed Israelite and gentile parentage and Samaritans are said to think highly of the Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy), not the 39 volumes of the Old Testament. One of the reasons why Jesus the Lord and the Samaritan woman did not talk smoothly was the difference of understanding of the Bible. The Samaritan woman said to Jesus, “‘I know the Messiah’ (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” (4:25) “Then Jesus declared, ‘I who speak to you am he.’” (4:26) Jesus declared to her, “I AM WHO I AM.” Jesus cited the words of Exodus which the woman knew.　Jesus had never revealed himself as “I AM WHO I AM” so more clearly here than elsewhere in the Bible.

This grace, that man is saved by faith in Jesus Christ the Lord of cross and resurrection, is given to us.

“Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, ‘What do you want?’ or ‘Why are you talking with her?’” (4:27) “Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people. ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could be this Christ?’” (4:29)

“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony “He told me everything I ever did.” When the Samaritans heard this, “They were glad and honored the word to the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48) And the people who were saved would work for the mission in the world.

Anyone who trusts in the Lord will never be put to shame. (Cf. Romans 10:12)

Lastly Jesus said, “A time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (4:23-24)

True worship is not to worship ritually and formally. Those who meet Jesus Christ and believe in him are given the right to become children of God. They receive the spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, and worship God in spirit and truth.

Let’s pray. We are grateful for the living water you have given us. Fill us with the Holy Spirit and faith so that we may send the living water to our family and neighbors.

We pray that the all the people in the world are led to repent and worship the Father in spirit and truth with us. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord of cross and resurrection. Amen

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

The Temptation of Jesus (Mathew 4:1-7)

February 26, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” (3:16)

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” (4:1) “The Spirit” means “The Holy Spirit.” “After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” (4:2) When the Lord was hungry, the tempter came to him. (4:3) We should pay attention to the fact that the writer of the Gospel of Matthew described the devil as “the tempter.”

Paul the apostle writes, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14)

Why was it necessary that Jesus Christ the Son of God was tempted by the devil? What does “Jesus was led by the Spirit” mean?

Paul calls Christ “the last Adam.” “Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12) Therefore, we human beings, descents of Adam, are all spiritually dead. So, the last Adam who should cancel out the failure of Adam was needed. Jesus Christ accomplished the duty. That is to say, “Jesus was led into the desert to be tempted by the devil” was to restore the failure of Adam. So, the temptation of Jesus was to test his obedience to God.

Jesus the Lord received three temptations.

The first one is “if you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (4:3) The devil knew that Jesus was the Son of God. So, the devil tempted him to prove the power of God. It was a plausible proposal. Briefly speaking, the devil tried to prevent Jesus the Lord from the redemption by the crucifixion. The devil intended that people who eat heartily would believe Jesus as the Son of God, and the crucifixion would not be needed. But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (4:4)

Moses, who was decided by the Lord as the leader of the Israel people, rescued them from the Egyptian domination. But, in the wilderness, they did not rely on God and grumbled against Moses. So, they wandered for forty years in the wilderness. They received hardship there. There were no foods in the wilderness. But God gave them manna from heaven, and supported them. We need daily foods to live. God gives them to us. God also told them that it was more important than the foods to love God and rely on him.

The second one is that the devil took Jesus to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God, ‘he said,’ “throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” (4:6) The devil tempted Jesus by using the words of Psalm (91:11-12). But Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Deuteronomy 6:16) This was also told to the Israel people when they were in the wilderness. Jesus teaches that we should not utilize God in our own ways. Man, who was created by God, should not test God the Lord. We should have a firm reliance on God. Today’s text teaches us the principle on which we read the Bible.

The third one was more undisguised. “The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’” (4:8-9) The devil knew that the final purpose of Christ’ coming to the world is the domination of the world. The devil’s intention was to show Jesus that devil’s plan, on which the kingdom should be realized by the use of wealth and power, would be more superior to God’s plan. The devil demanded Jesus to worship the devil in exchange for it. “Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (4:10) Jesus declared the word of Deuteronomy 6:13. Worship and service should be only to God the Lord, excluding any compromise. The devil tried to tempt Jesus to commit sin as the first Adam committed, and had him take the plan of salvation of the human beings without the way to the crucifixion. But Jesus only looked to the way to the cross.

“Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” (4:11) Jesus as “the last Adam” got over the devil’s temptation. Jesus teaches us that God’s words alone can defeat the devil. Today’s text shows that Jesus’ own words just “Away from me, Satan!” This fact shows the power of the Bible.

(Cf. “Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will free from you. (James 4:7))

Let’s pray. Let us get over the darkness and unhappiness in the world by our faith and God’s words. Fill us with the Holy Spirit and faith so that we may expand the kingdom of heaven and righteousness which gives us the righteousness, peace and joy given by the Holy Spirit!

We pray in the name of Jesus the Lord Savior. Amen.

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

Get Up, Don’t Be Afraid (Mathew 17:1-9)

February 19, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James and led them up a high mountain. The reason why Jesus took his three disciples was that they should bear witness to the incident from that time on. (Cf. Matthew 18:16 “Every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”) Peter, James and John were the main disciples of Jesus.

On the high mountain, “Jesus was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” (17:2)

What does his transfiguration mean? Philippians 2:6-7 tells, “He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God. Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness.” Jesus Christ covered his nature of God. But he removed his cover from him. Jesus Christ showed them that he was in very nature God and his glory. (Cf. “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5), “He alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.” (1 Timothy 6:16) etc.)

“Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.” (17:3) You know that Moses stands for the Law and Elijah stands for the Prophets. The two, who represent the Old Testament, talked with Jesus who was transfigured.

Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets: I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.” (5:17) What his transfiguration showed was God’s promise which was realized through the Law and the Prophets. It was that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.

As the matter of fact his disciples had not yet recognized Christ Jesus. He asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Peter said at that time, “You are the Christ, the Son of God.” From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. His disciples began to think that their concept of Messiah might be different from what Jesus Christ said to them.

His disciples had not yet understood his mission, and they might worry about him in the future. At least they began to think that their idea of the Messiah might be different from what Jesus said. So, it was necessary that he taught them the truth. He had come to the world to fulfil the Law or the Prophets, through the transfiguration.

“Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’” (17:4) “Shelter” means “curtained-off booth” in the Greek text. Speaking today, it might be a chapel or church. Peter made a mistake that he put Jesus the Lord in the same category with Moses and Elijah. While he was still speaking, “A voice from the cloud enveloped them, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’” The voice of God the Father corrected Peter’s mistake. The voice from heaven was the same one when Jesus was baptized. (3:17) This time “Listen to him!” was added. The first time was when Jesus the Son of God was about to start to deliver the good news. The second one was at the time of his transfiguration after he notified his suffering. That is to say, his suffering started from the time. (Cf. “He received from honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” (2 Peter 1:17)) “When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.” (17:6) They were terrified not because they watched the mysterious scene but because sinful sinners were not allowed to exist before God except special people like Moses. (Cf. “‘We are doomed to die!’ he said to his wife. We have seen God.” (Judges 13:22)

They were quite prepared to die. But Jesus’ response was surprising. “Jesus came and touched them. ‘Get up,’ he said. ‘Don’t be afraid.’” (17:7)

　　Their fear had just disappeared. They were given peace and consolation. “Get up” means “Be raised” or “Wake up” in the Greek text.

“When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.” (17:8) Moses and Elijah had left, but Jesus the Son of God was there. Please remember “no one except Jesus.” Soon Jesus was crucified because of our sins and achieved eternal redemption. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

“As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, ‘Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” (17:9)

Why did Jesus say to them not to tell what they had seen?” If the incident were widely known among people, many of them might be seized with wrong curiosity. The salvation plan of the Lord was that the disciples should work for the mission after Pentecost by the help of the Holy Spirit, after Jesus was known as the Messiah, Christ.

The salvation work has been also achieved on you who have received Jesus Christ. So, you live as the children of light. (Cf. Ephesians 5:8)

Let’s pray. We praise the name of God the Father of Jesus Christ. Today, we have been able to know Jesus Christ the Lord by your word.

We pray so that we may be full of the Holy Spirit and faith to work for the kingdom of heaven and righteousness. We pray so that our families, friends and all the people in the world may believe in Jesus Christ the Lord of the cross and resurrection. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

Blessed (Mathew 5:1-12)

January 29, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

Jesus Christ the Son of God began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” John the Baptist also preached as the forerunner, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

It means that the people should repent and return to the Lord, because the kingdom of God has begun through Jesus Christ. As the matter of fact, God’s plan of kingdom of God had been achieved by the coming of Jesus Christ. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy given by Jesus Christ.

It is good for you to keep the main theme, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” in mind, when you read the Gospel of Matthew.

The chapter 5 of the Gospel of Matthew is very famous. We often call it “the Sermon on the Mount.”

He saw the crowd and went up a hill, where he sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them. Jesus the Lord preached what is called eight blessings.

“Blessed” is used in the Psalm 1:1. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.” (Psalm 1:1-3) So, his disciples and most of the crowds must have heard his message remembering the Psalm. (Cf. The Psalm 32:1-2 is “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.”) The word “blessed” is essentially different from the meaning of “happy” which we use in our daily lives. The word “blessed” may be understood in terms of the main theme "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven.” “Repent” of the theme has an important meaning. It means the return to the Lord through repentance. So, only those who have returned to the Lord are able to feel “blessed.”

First, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” may be translated nonliterally as follows;

“Blessed are those who have returned to the Lord through repentance and relied on none except the Lord.”

Second, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” It may be translated nonliterally as “Blessed are those who have returned to the Lord through repentance will be comforted by the Lord.”

Third, “Blessed are the meek, for they will be inherit the earth.” It may be translated as “Blessed are those who have returned to the Lord through repentance will inherit the promised land, the kingdom of God.”

Fourth, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled.” It may be translated as “Blessed are those who have returned to the Lord through repentance will be filled.”

Fifth, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” It may be translated as “Blessed who have returned to the Lord through repentance will be given mercy by grace of God.”

Sixth, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” It may be translated as “Blessed are those who have returned to the Lord through repentance for they will see God.”

Seventh, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” It may be translated as “Blessed are those who have returned to the Lord through repentance, for they will be called sons of God.”

Eighth, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” It may be translated as “Blessed are those who have returned to the Lord through repentance, for theirs is always the kingdom of heaven by grace of God.”

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (5:11)

It is clear fact that God the Lord receives the sinners who have returned to the Lord through repentance. The future tense used in the Greek text of six blessings apart from the first and last ones, because the kingdom of God, namely, the dominance of Jesus Christ the Son of God had been only partially realized. Then, when had it been given fully to the disciples and the crowds?

Jesus Christ the Son of God “entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12) The Lord who was buried in the tomb, raised on the third day, appeared before his disciples, was taken up into heaven, and gave the Holy Spirit in Pentecost. Since Pentecost, “God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given.” (Romans 5:5) Paul the apostle says, “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

A series of the incidents concerning the crucifixion of Jesus Christ the Son of God is the gospel on which your faith stands firm. (Cf. 1Corinthians 15:1) So, the blessing of kingdom of God is also given to you by the Holy Spirit. In addition, Jesus Christ promised that no one would take away your joy. (Cf. John 16:22)

Therefore, the Christians in the first century could follow Jesus Christ with their own cross. So, the eighth blessing should be understood from the context. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (5:11-12)

As the matter of fact, Peter, one of the disciples who must have heard the teaching of Jesus Christ says in his letter, “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (1 Peter 4:14) He wrote to encourage Christians who were persecuted at the time.

I would like to say again that Jesus Christ the Son of God “entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.” The Lord who was buried in the tomb, raised on the third day, appeared before his disciples, was taken up into heaven, and gave the Holy Spirit in Pentecost. “Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8)

So, you are always blessed by grace given by the Holy Spirit. “If indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:17)

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

Let’s pray! Today, you have called us “Blessed.” We sometimes are persecuted without cause, but our heart trembles at your word. (Psalm 119:161) Please lead us to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness more than anything else. Please help us to save our neighbors and family members for eternal life through your words. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

Come, Follow Me (Mathew 4:12-23)

January 22, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

John the Baptist criticized King Herod because Herod’s marriage was not allowed by the Law. So, he was put in prison by Herod. When Jesus heard this, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali.

The writer of the Gospel of Matthew wrote to the readers of his Gospel that Jesus came to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah.

Jesus’ coming to Capernaum had been prophesized seven hundred years before, BC 700. From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” According to the Greek text, it means “the kingdom of heaven is near, and it has already been now.” That is to say, the kingdom of heaven had already begun, so the people should repent and return to the Lord. The kingdom of God of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit had begun. Jesus’ coming to the world was decisively important incident. Jesus loved the world. He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. He was buried in the tomb and resurrected on the third day, and is working now. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Cf. Acts 4:12)

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brothers Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.” (4:18) “‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘I will make you fishers of men.’” (4:19) “At once they left their nets and followed him.” (4:20) “Going from there, Jesus saw two brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, preparing their nets. He called them and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” (4:21-22) Blessed those who responded at once to Jesus’ call!

Well, the first four disciples whom Jesus called were two sets of brothers. We have to pay attention to the fact that two sets of brothers were fishermen. Why? The fact that they were brothers means all of their family members were called. The Bible says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)

Why did Jesus the Lord choose fishermen? The book of Jeremiah writes “But now I will send for many fishermen,” declares the Lord, “and they will catch them.” (Jeremiah 16:16) “Them” means Israelites. And the book of Ezekiel writes “Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Great Sea. “The fish of many kinds” means that after salvation comes to the Israelites, it extends to the Gentiles. “From En Gedi to En Eglain” means, according to one of theories, the area from the Dead Sea to the northern part of the Red Sea. These prophets’ words mean that salvation begins from Israel to the Gentiles, all who were appointed for eternal life. (Cf. Acts 4:31,13:48) Briefly speaking, Jesus the Lord, according to his plan, made the fishermen his own disciples first of all, and many Israelites, and further the Gentiles. The accomplishment of these prophesies is the biggest reason for Jesus’ choice of the fishermen as his disciples. Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets but to fulfill them.” (5:17) “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” (Luke 24:44) As the matter of fact, these disciples worked after they received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. They received power when the Holy Spirit came on them, and they became witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

They became fishermen to catch men as the Lord said to them on that day. We can know the fact through the Acts and the Apostles’ witnesses in the New Testament. Each one of the disciples of Christ who were called by the work of the Holy Spirit became another Christ. Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Today we hear the good news of Christ the Son of God filled with grace and truth. The Lord says to us, “Come, follow me.” He calls to us so that we may have a new and happy life. So, you are here now, and you live with Christ who lives in you. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Let’s pray! We thank you that you called to us, “Come, follow me.” Please fill us with the Holy Spirit and faith so that we may work to your call.

Please help us to work for your kingdom and righteousness, and we pray so that our family members and friends may be saved and have eternal life.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)

It is Proper to Fulfil All Righteousness (Mathew 3:13-17)

January 8, 2023

Rev Kohei Narabu

Pastor of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Hongo Church

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

Jesus the Lord was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Today’s text from the Gospel of Mathew tells “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.” (3:13)

What does the incident of Jesus’ baptism, the starting point of Jesus’ public life, teach us?

“But John tried to deter him saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (3:14) The reason why John said so is clear when we read “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (3:11) John recognized that Jesus was the Savior of Israel, incomparably greater than him. So, he was embarrassed by Jesus’s words. Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.” (3:15) “Righteousness” in the Bible means “being right for God.”

But why did Jesus, who was totally sinless, receive baptism? Jesus said that it was proper to fulfil all righteousness. John and Jesus said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” The time of God’s domination, the matter of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, came. John the Baptist worked to make the people prepare for Jesus the Lord. And Jesus the Lord came to the world to make the people righteous so that they might be saved from their sin. (Cf. “He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” < 1 John 3:8>)

Jesus the Lord began to work in his public life from this day. “He did not enter by means of goats and calves; but entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12)

Paul the apostle says, in the Letter to Ephesians, “You also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” (1:13)

Today’s text says, “When Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.”

My understanding of this section is as follows:

① As Jesus the Lord was sinless at all, he just came up from the water as soon as he was baptized.

② “Suddenly the heavens were opened to him” means that Heaven was opened to Jesus and showed the special sign of glory to him, celebrating his baptism.

③ Jesus decided to devote himself to his work and to endure the death on the cross.

④ “The Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him” means that Jesus the Lord is abundantly given the Spirit of God, and Christ is the head of church. The Spirit of God is poured through him on every one of the believers who are the body of Christ.

⑤ “Dove” is the only offering to God redeeming human being’s sins. So, it suggests that Jesus offers himself unblemished to God. (Cf. Levites 1:14, Hebrews 9:14)

Lastly, the voice of God the Father came from heaven as the sign of glory of Jesus’ baptism. “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (3:17)

Jesus the Lord is “the invisible God, the first born over all creation.” (Colossians 1:15) “He has rescued us from the domination of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” (Colossians 1:13)

Jesus the Lord willingly does what God the Father is pleased. He is the only Son of God the Father. Therefore, “the Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.” (John 3:35) “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life―only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” (John 10:17)

So, you, who recognize that Jesus Christ came to the world to save sinners, repent of your sins, and willingly believe in Jesus and never fail to confess your faith. At the time God the Father declares to you, “This is my son with whom I am well pleased.” Each of you is received as the son of God through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Let’s pray!

We thank that God the Father so loved the world that he gave his only Son to accomplish all the righteousness of God through the crucifixion of Jesus the Son of God, and you saved us by his grace, and gave us the Holy Spirit. Please guide us so that we may perform our own duties! We pray with the gratitude in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

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

(Translated by Toshiyuki Masujima)