David Bahn – Reflections

I was struck by the mention of the Babylonian captivity in Matthew’s genealogy. It’s as though Matthew is making the point that the line of David to Jesus is not uncluttered by sin and failure. I notice not only the mention of the Babylonian captivity, but also Manasseh who is often remembered as the worst king in Judah’s history—so evil, in fact, that his sins are cited as the tipping point that led to Judah’s eventual destruction. Through these kings – glorious and inglorious – the Savior will be born.

Two things come to mind in regard to this. These genealogical records are not mere historical accounts; they underscore the faithfulness of God in preserving the line through which the promised Messiah would come. Despite the moral failures and challenges faced by many kings in this lineage, God’s providential plan culminated in the birth of Jesus Christ, fulfilling the prophecies and promises made throughout the Old Testament.

There is also no lily gilding when it comes to records of God’s people. These are not flannelgraph cutouts. These are real people, some of them examples of godliness, faithfulness, and justice. But some are evil, unjust, and unfaithful. The Bible is no fairy tale. No airbrushing. No cover-up. No whitewashing. This is us: real and unfiltered. No pretence.

That’s good news for us who must live among sinful leaders in a fallen world. Although we are not likely to be taken into captivity we still have potential threats from sworn enemies and foreign powers. And these threats and terrors are woven into the story of God’s redemption. All these are testimony to God’s sovereign power over all things, and his commitment to restore all things and bring all things under the reign of Christ. What others intend for evil, God can use for good. Even through wicked rulers, unjust systems, or looming threats, God is not absent. He is actively working through the brokenness to accomplish His promises—to reconcile the world to Himself in Jesus, and to bring His people safely into His everlasting Kingdom.

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

² Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, ³ and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, ⁴ and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.

I sometimes joke that I know the names of maybe twelve celebrities – fourteen if you include athletes and news anchors. It’s a bit of an exaggeration, but true enough: I’m not much for celebrity culture. And these days, I’m forgetting names more easily, even the ones I should remember.

But God doesn’t forget names. He saw fit to preserve many in Scripture – some famous (like Moses), and some infamous (like Onan). If you scan chapters like Genesis 46 or Numbers 7, you’ll find lists of names – names that meant something, even when the people behind them failed.

Matthew opens his Gospel with a genealogy, and he names names: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Perez, and others. From Genesis 38, we learn that Judah had a son named Onan, who refused to fulfill his duty to his deceased brother’s wife. The Lord was displeased with him, and Onan died. But Judah’s story didn’t end there. His own actions – deceptive and morally compromised – involved an encounter with his daughter-in-law Tamar, whom he mistook for a prostitute. And yet, from that union came Perez, and from Perez… the line of the Messiah.

God works through sinners – some notorious – to bring about His redemptive plan. The genealogies aren’t just about lineage; they testify to grace. They show that God can bring life out of brokenness and purpose out of sin-stained pasts.

Some mothers proudly point to their sons – like Mary at Cana, nudging Jesus to intervene. But there are also those whose family stories are hidden in shame. I remember when I first realized that Jacob was more of a scoundrel than the flannelgraph figure I’d seen in Sunday school. It was disorienting. And yet, the Bible doesn’t whitewash the heroes of faith. Scripture records not only the good, but also the bad and ugly. Abraham lied about his wife. Isaac played favorites. David committed adultery and murder. The list goes on.

But there is one name that stands above all the rest. The name of Jesus – the only name that is holy, undefiled, and worthy of all praise. At His name every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (cf. Philippians 2:9–11).

Baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we carry the only name that ultimately matters. The name that saves. The people named in these genealogies testify of God’s far-reaching grace. Shown in Jesus. Celebrated by saint and sinner alike.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

⁹ The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

This is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible. I have these verses memorized. It speaks of the reality of God’s love, our salvation, faith, and true religion. The foundations of these are laid out in the Psalms and books of Moses.

The psalmist says,

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹ for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
⁵⁰ And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
⁵² he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

There certainly are times we wish for a bolt of lightning to come from heaven and smite the evil-doers. We see injustice, unfairness, and corruption and we wish for that swift hand of retribution and vengeance to strike, to set things right, to make the wicked fall and the oppressed rise. I think of human traffickers, embezzlers and swindlers preying on widows, and terrorists launching their missiles against the innocent. I think, also of rich people oppressing the poor. Set it right, O Lord!

Psalm 10:17–18

“O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.”

But that is not the spirit of Hannah’s prayer or of Mary’s Magnificat. Mary sings:

he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.

I think of Amy Grant singing, “El Shaddai, El Shaddai, … your most awesome work was done in the frailty of your Son.” The readings from 1 Samuel and Ezekiel today chronicle not only Hannah’s prayer, but the corruption of Eli’s sons, and their downfall. Ezekiel records how Egypt who was thought to be powerful would be overcome by yet another power. Nebuchadnezzar will overcome Egypt. The result: “On that day I will cause a horn to spring up for the house of Israel, and I will open your lips among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 29:21).

God doesn’t smite people for fun – an overstatement to be sure. His ways are part of a more sweeping story of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. The rise and fall of Babylon, Egypt, and Israel are part of the cosmic span of history. The manner of setting things right falls on the shoulders of Jesus, who will take the strike of God’s hand of justice so that we may experience the mercy of God. There will be a day. And on that day we who wait, hope, and trust humbly in God’s faithful and gracious love will rejoice in God’s salvation.

And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, ¹⁷ and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

And Mary said [to the angel Gabriel who had announced the coming birth of Jesus], “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Maybe you remember the ad campaign, “I’m Second.” The campaign was a Christian media and outreach movement launched in 2008 by the e3 Partners Ministry, based in Texas. Its central message is that Jesus is first, and individuals—no matter their fame, wealth, or struggles—find purpose and identity when they put themselves second to Christ. It’s a way of saying, “I’m not first,” in other words portraying a spirit of humility.

Years ago I interviewed for the position of assistant to the President of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. I was honored to have been considered. During the interview process, however, it became clear that I was not to be second to the President, but a step removed from that position. I’m not sure I was all that humble about my reaction to that. I thought, I’m willing to play second fiddle to the President, but not third fiddle. For the record the man who eventually took that role was eminently qualified for it – second or third fiddle status.

John was second fiddle to Jesus. John’s mission was to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. This had been promised through the prophet Malachi. He will be born of Zechariah and Elizabeth “to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” Yet as important as he was, and vital to the Redemption Saga of God, his humility factor was extraordinary. When the time came for Jesus to inaugurate his public ministry, he said, “He must increase. I must decrease” (cf. John 3:30). He made no presumptive claim to being anything other than the one preparing the way for Jesus.

Mary responds to Gabriel’s announcement of the coming birth (through her!) of the Savior humbly saying, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” So she was. And she bore the Savior of the Word in her body and brought him into the world. Yet she remained the Lord’s servant.

Most followers of Jesus are willing to play second fiddle to Jesus. But as Christ-followers, we are also to be willing to play second fiddle to one another. Philippians 2:3 says, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” In other words we ought always be willing to be second.

At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of the Lord and his own house, ² Solomon rebuilt the cities that Hiram had given to him, and settled the people of Israel in them.

¹¹ Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the Lord has come are holy.”

¹² Then Solomon…according to the ruling of David his father, appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, and the Levites for their offices of praise and ministry before the priests as the duty of each day required, and the gatekeepers in their divisions at each gate, for so David the man of God had commanded. ¹⁵ And they did not turn aside from what the king had commanded the priests and Levites concerning any matter and concerning the treasuries.

¹⁶ Thus was accomplished all the work of Solomon from the day the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was completed.

To be sure, the Kingdom of God is not a matter of buildings or of things that can be observed. Stephen quotes from Isaiah 66 in his speech before his martyrdom:

“Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,
‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
or what is the place of my rest?’” – Acts 7:48–49

Yet God uses buildings to further the cause of his reign and rule. Sometimes it is a matter of honoring prayers as Solomon prays at the dedication of the Temple, praying, in effect, When someone sins, and turns back to this house and prays, hear their prayers and forgive their sins (cf, 1 Kings 8:33-34). But something much bigger than that is happening as recorded in Luke 1.

Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, ⁹ according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. ¹¹ And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. – Luke 1:8-11

There had to be a temple. There had to be a priesthood. There had to be revelation to Zechariah. For there had to be a Savior, and he had to be announced. So the angel appears to Zechariah. Zechariah will hear the angel say, “Do not be afraid Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”

John will be born. He will go before Jesus to prepare his way. It wasn’t the same temple as Solomon had built. This would have been the second Temple on the site of the Solomon’s Temple – though it had been renovated and expanded by King Herod 20 years prior to Jesus’ birth.

When we go to worship in a church building we can thank God for those who built it and who make it available for us even today. Although God is present everywhere. He has promised to be present in a very special way where two or three are gathered in his name, and when we receive the Lord’s Supper where Jesus’ body and blood are present in a mysterious, miraculous, and merciful way.

God delights to be with us. We should delight to be with him as well.

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” ³⁷ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. ³⁸ And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹ And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate before them.

⁴⁴ Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

⁵⁰ And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. ⁵¹ While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, ⁵³ and were continually in the temple blessing God.

If something is in the Bible one time: it is true. If it is twice in the Bible, it is certainly true. If it is recorded three times it is most certainly true. Martin Luther used that latter phrase in his explanations to the three articles of the Apostle’s Creed. The truths confessed there are reliable, certain, and eternal; grounded not in human opinion but in the unchanging Word of God.

But what if something is reference not three or four times in the New Testament, but at least five times in the New Testament? The Great Commission is recorded in some form or another in Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47; John 20:21-23; and Acts 1:8. These words of Jesus reflect at least 10 references in the Old Testament! This is no new commission. It is the Great Commission. Under the authority of the risen Jesus, for all people of all time to hear the Good News of his redemption and invitation into the reign and rule of God.

I notice something here in Luke. The only imperative or command of Jesus is to “stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” The command is to stay. But not permanently. They are to stay until they receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the power of God for faith through the preaching of the gospel. We do best to remember that the command to make disciples and preach the gospel, and witness to Jesus’ death and resurrection, and forgive and retain sins, is not to be undertaken by human whim or strength. It is to be a movement by the Holy Spirit compelling us toward those who are far off and those who are near. All people need to hear this message.

Some evangelists need to learn restraint – not rushing in where fools fear to tread. Others need to learn boldness – going where God is sending them and speaking what God has put on their hearts. But whether waiting for the power of the Holy Spirit or moving with purpose and resolve, we are doing something God deeply desires, and has made clear in his word. We are to proclaim his grace and truth in Jesus to all people. This is definitely, assuredly, importantly, vitally, and most certainly true!

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” ³⁷ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. ³⁸ And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹ And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate before them.

⁴⁴ Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

⁵⁰ And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. ⁵¹ While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, ⁵³ and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Peace,…dvs. That is often the closing of Pastor David Schultz’ messages to me. It’s a great closing. If it has been a challenging message, it’s a reminder that we are still at peace (though there have been very few challenging messages I’ve received from him). If it’s a message of encouragement or request for information, it’s a reminder of Christ’s gift to us of a peace the world cannot give. And the “dvs” are his initials, “David V. Schultz.” I don’t know what the V stands for. The tone is quiet and unassuming.

Jesus greets his disciples with the word peace. And it’s “peace to you.” He means that there is a gift from God to you that he wishes you to receive. John records this greeting of peace in his gospel account of Jesus’ appearance, noting that Jesus offered this greeting three times. Two on the first day of the week, and once again a week later.

Properly understood this is not just a greeting, however. This is God’s gift. It’s not just a wish. It is a bequest of Jesus’ grace. It is a bit surprising: Jesus offers peace to those who had forsaken, disbelieved, and denied him. He gives the gift of peace to those whose hearts deserved to be troubled since they hadn’t believed in the fullness of Jesus faithfulness and trustworthiness. But he gives it. He bestows it. He speaks peace. And when God speaks, things happen. (Cf. Yesterday’s post).

For years I’ve started my sermons directly. I don’t use the traditional Lutheran “Grace and peace to you…”  salutation. But I’m reconsidering that practice. In a sense, if it’s good enough for Jesus, it ought to be good enough for me. On the other hand the gift of peace comes through faith in the words and promises of Jesus. The greeting is good news in and of itself, true. But Jesus had a lifetime of grace, truth, and insight – not to mention his suffering, death, and resurrection(!) to give even greater weight to his greeting and gift of peace.

One of my professors at seminary used to translate Philippians 4:7, “the peace of God that goes beyond all that your human mind can do.” This is God’s gift – a peace beyond understanding, a peace unlike the world gives. A peace that is not just a greeting, salutation or closing. “Peace to you,” he says. Believe it. Receive it!

Peace,
dlb