Sermon Index
August 14, 2022
August in Japan is a time of prayer for peace. Japanese pray as they remember the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Emperor declaring surrender, and the peace accord signing on the battleship Missouri. Here in Okinawa, there is the “Peace Prayer Park.” We join with all the people of Japan to pray for world peace. But will there really be peace? Will our prayers be answered? Jesus does not promise peace. In today’s Gospel reading he said, “51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” And the world truly is divided.
If not world peace, how about peace in our families? Sorry. Fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers have always had problems since the time of Cain and Able. On top of that, Jesus is also speaking of the family divisions that will come when some follow the Gospel and others do not. Jesus said, “52-53 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” This started at the time of Jesus and the Apostles, and today there is discord because of religion. For example, here in Japan, if a son or daughter becomes a Christian, they might be shunned by their Buddhist Parents and might lose their inheritance. There is division because of different Christian denomination, for example, if a nice Lutheran boy wants to marry a nice catholic girl: the father says “Great,” and the mother protests. Even if a nice LC-MS boy wants to marry a nice ELCA girl, conflicts begin. Jesus predicted this, so is there any hope for peace?
If there is no world peace and no peace in the family, can I have peace in my heart? Jesus said to his disciples, Luke 12:22, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.” Jesus said we should consider the lilies of the field and be as free as the birds of air. With all the problems of the world and of our personal lives, worry and anxiety are part of daily life, it seems. And so, we pray in the Lord’s Prayer with faith that he will give us our daily bread and keep us from the sinful temptations of worry and fear. But we continue to worry. Is it time to give up on the hope for peace?
No, do not give up yet. Peace is the Gospel message. The first words spoken in the New Testament are words of peace. Luke 1:13, the Angel Gabriel spoke to Zechariah, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.” Then the Angel spoke similar words to Joseph, Matthew 1:20-21, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” And of course, the Christmas Angels sang, Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” St. Paul begins many of his letters with the greeting of peace, e.g., Galatians 1:3, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
This peace is the love of God and the forgiveness of sin. This peace is knowing that we are in the Hands of the Lord. This peace comes from the faith and trust in our resurrection and eternal life in heaven. And so, we can be secure in the midst of earthly war and conflict and disease and arguments and failure, etc.
This peace comes from Christ, the Prince of Peace. He was at peace, asleep in the boat when there was a great tempest. He was at peace when his enemies confronted him. But there are a couple of places in the New Testament where Jesus is not at peace. One is when he was cleansing the Temple in Jerusalem. Another is when he was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Luke 22:41-44, “He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Jesus was speaking of his suffering and death when he said in today’ Gospel reading, “50, I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!”
His suffering forgives our sin, and so gives us the ultimate peace. Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:14, “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” “He is our peace.”
Now having the promise of this peace in our hearts, we pray for world peace. Jesus said, Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Whether it is peace between nations or between family members or within society, to really make peace, perhaps it is necessary to be a son of God, perhaps a powerful angel, or maybe just a simple Christian who prays, and forgives, and shows love.
And may the peace of God which passes all human understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church