Either with Jesus or with You

“The mouth of the Lord has spoken it. How many mouths does the Lord put to His use? How many Elijahs? How many Sundays in Advent? How many calls to repent, to turn? As many as your sins that need repentance. The Lord is slow to give up on you. He calls you to repent again and again. But if you insist on holding onto your sins—perhaps just your favorite one or two—and try to run with both Him and your sins, He will finally put an end to that game. He tells you so. He issues a warning call to repent, to turn; Your sins are either with Jesus or with you. It is only the sins you hold and keep away from Him that can damn you. Jesus has already answered for your sins. You have to take them back from Him to be damned by them.”

Selected Sermons of Norman Nagel

CPH 2004, page 22

HT: Steven Anderson

O Come O Come Emmanuel

A beautiful song for this sacred Advent season by The Piano Guys...

The Shepherd Abel

Advent Midweek

“The Shepherds of Advent”

Genesis 4:1-12

Dearly beloved, before you go with haste to Bethlehem and kneel down with the shepherds at the Christ-child’s manger, I invite you to journey with me back into the Old Testament as we ponder the shepherds of Advent.

The time is several thousand years before the birth of Christ. The location is somewhere outside of the Garden of Eden. Take a closer look. Do you see that young man? He is the one we’re interested in this evening. He is not a farmer like his father or older brother, but a shepherd. His life consists of paying careful attention to himself and to all the flock of which he is the overseer. It also happens to be the Sabbath Day. So this shepherd and his brother are at the altar.

Big brother Cain presents his offering to the LORD. As Cain is a farmer, a worker of the ground, he comes to the altar with an offering of the fruit of the ground. But for Cain and his offering the LORD has no regard.

Why not? Because Cain approaches the LORD without the righteousness of Jesus Christ. He brings his offering, not in grateful response to the promised Messiah, but either out of simple ritual or as a good work to earn God’s favor. Either way, Cain refuses to see that God desires “mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). Cain fails to understand that the promised Messiah will not come “to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). In short, Cain comes before God covered not with the righteousness of our Advent King, but with his own self-righteousness. That is why the LORD has no regard for Cain and his offering.

Little brother Abel also presents his offering to the LORD. As Abel is a shepherd, a keeper of sheep, he comes to the altar with the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. For Abel and his offering the LORD has regard.

Why does the LORD have regard for Abel and his offering? Because Abel knows and believes and takes to heart that one is declared righteous before God through the promised Seed of the woman, who will one day crush the serpent’s head by laying down His life for the sheep. With faith in God’s promise, Abel presents his offering. The author of Hebrews confirms this. “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts” (Hebrews 11:4). Notice those words “by faith.” By faith Abel comes before God, covered with the righteousness of our Advent King. That’s why the LORD has regard for Abel and his offering.

As you can imagine, Cain gets angry. So the LORD says to him: “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

Sin crouches at the door of Cain’s heart. Jealousy. Hatred. Rage. Vengeance. Will he rule over it? Will he hold his anger in check? Will the Old Adam in him, by contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires?

You’ve been in Cain’s shoes before. On a daily basis one sin or another lies at the door of your heart and desires you. Greed. Lust. Anger. Resentment. Pride. Covetousness. How have you fared? How many times has sin ruled over you?

Following the Divine Service that Sabbath Day, the two brothers take their leave of the holy place. To the younger, the older speaks deceptive words, something like: “Little brother, I hold no grudge against you, even though the LORD accepted your offering and rejected mine. Come, let us go out to the field, just the two of us.”

Out there, in the field, Cain rises up against his brother Abel and kills him. Faithful Abel is dead. His sheep are without their shepherd. Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, see him lying in the field. His lifeblood pours forth from his veins and soaks the earth beneath him. Then the LORD says to Cain: “Where is Abel your brother?” He answers: “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” To which the LORD replies: “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.”

I bet you didn’t know blood could do that. That blood could cry out to God. It can. In that open field, Abel’s blood cries out to the Maker of heaven and earth. It cries out to the Shepherd who later will allow His blood to be shed—both as punishment for the sin of the world and as life to all who believe on His name.

Like faithful Abel, faithful Jesus would also die. Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, see Him dying on the tree. See His lifeblood pour forth from His veins and soak the earth beneath Him. But remember, blood means life. Even in death. “The life of the flesh is in the blood,” the LORD declared to Moses, “and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life” (Leviticus 17:11).

Abel’s blood had no power to atone for sin. The same is true of the blood of bulls and goats and lambs all throughout the Old Testament. But the blood of Jesus, that blood is full of life—forgiving life, redeeming life, atoning life, everlasting life!

While the voice of Abel’s blood cried out to the LORD for vengeance, the voice of Jesus’ blood continues to cry out—to the end of time—something wonderful.

It cries out: “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

It cries out: “Forgiveness of sins!” (Matthew 26:28).

It cries out: “Eternal redemption!” (Hebrews 9:12).

You need to hear the voice of Jesus’ blood, dear friends, for His blood is exactly what a Cain like you needs! Not that you are a murderer with your hands, but you are certainly a murderer with your thoughts, your words, and your deeds. What’s more, the punishment you deserve because of your sin—the punishment of hell—is greater than you are able to bear.

Repent! Repent of your sin! Repent of allowing sin to rule over you! And then listen to the voice of Abel’s blood, which leads you first to Bethlehem, then to the Jordan River, and ultimately to the foot of the cross on Golgotha. He who was first worshipped by shepherds as a little Baby grew up and became the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for you, His sheep.

Today, in Word and Sacrament, Christ’s blood speaks louder and better than Abel’s blood. For Christ’s blood speaks…

• not vengeance, but absolution;
• not condemnation, but forgiveness;
• not retaliation, but redemption;
• not pay back, but pardon.

As the author of Hebrews writes, in Christ the world now has “the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Hebrews 12:24).

Although Abel’s biography is but a few short verses in Holy Scripture, his legacy, his purpose, his importance, continues to lives on. After all, Abel was the very first shepherd and the very first martyr. Both pointing you forward to Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd of the sheep, the Savior whose blood was shed to save sinners.

Therefore, wait in joyful anticipation and prepare your heart this Advent season for the coming of your Redeemer. After all, the blood He shed in death is the same blood that grants you life—eternal life. Unlike Cain, Jesus is His brother’s keeper. Your keeper. He covers you with His life-giving blood in Holy Baptism and keeps you safe from the devil, the world, and your sinful flesh.

That is what Abel’s blood proclaims to you this evening!

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O Emmanuel

The seventh O Antiphon:

O Emmanuel, our King and our Lord, the anointed for the nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God. Amen.

Emmanuel.  God is with us.  The promise is fulfilled.  The Seed of the woman is here to crush the head of the serpent.  Jesus is born to save His people from their sins.  Emmanuel.  God is with us so that we can be with Him.  Eden is restored.  Paradise is again occupied by humanity.  The Tree of Life is Christ.  Truly that is reason to rejoice with exceedingly great joy!

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. [Isaiah 7:14]

O come, O come, Emmanuel, 

And ransom captive Israel, 

That mourns in lonely exile here 

Until the Son of God appear. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! 

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel! 

[LSB 357, stanza 1]

O King of the Nations

The sixth O Antiphon:

O King of the nations, the Ruler they long for, the Cornerstone uniting all people: Come and save us all, whom You formed out of clay. Amen.

“The Stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes” (Mark 12:10-11). The Church begs God to come and save those whom He has made in His own image, but whose features sin has distorted. We await the coming of the Cornerstone, the foundation upon which the Church, the home of all peoples, is built.

He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. [Isaiah 2:4] 

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [Isaiah 9:6] 

O come, Desire of nations, bind 

In one the hearts of all mankind; 

Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, 

And be Thyself our King of Peace. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to thee, O Israel! 

[LSB 357, stanza 7]

O Dayspring

The fifth O Antiphon:

O Dayspring, Splendor of light everlasting: Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen.

The picture here is that of Christ who will return at the end of time and whose radiant light will completely dispel the darkness of our hearts and souls. We also recall Zechariah’s prophecy concerning Christ: “Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:78-79).

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. [Isaiah 9:2]

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high, 

And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh; 

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, 

And death’s dark shadows put to flight. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to thee, O Israel! 

[LSB 357, stanza 6]

O Key of David

The fourth O Antiphon:

O Key of David and Scepter of the house of Israel, You open and no one can close, You close and no one can open: Come and rescue the prisoners who are in darkness and the shadow of death. Amen.

It is the Messiah’s privilege to open or shut the gate into the Kingdom of God. We cry to Him to come and rescue us who, because of our sins, are prisoners of death, darkness, and the devil.

Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. [Isaiah 9:7]

And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. [Isaiah 22:22]

O come, Thou Key of David, come,

And open wide our heav’nly home;

Make safe the way that leads on high,

And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel!

[LSB 357, stanza 5]

O Root of Jesse

The third O Antiphon:

O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before whom all kings are mute, to whom the nations will do homage: Come quickly to deliver us. Amen.

This antiphon draws its inspiration from Isaiah 11. The prophet there sees the Messiah coming “as a signal for the peoples.” We are also reminded of Jesus’ words: “I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death He was going to die (John 22:32-33).

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. [Isaiah 11:1]

In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of Him shall the nations inquire, and His resting place shall be glorious. [Isaiah 11:10]

O come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree, 

Free them from Satan’s tyranny 

That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save, 

And give them vict’ry o’er the grave. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to thee, O Israel! 

[LSB 357, stanza 4]

O Adonai

The second O Antiphon:

O Adonai and ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Law on Sinai: Come with an outstretched arm and redeem us. Amen.

The Lord made Himself known to Moses by telling him His name (I AM). The holy name in this antiphon (Adonai) will always remind us of the great deeds God has done for the deliverance of Israel. And, more significantly, it puts us in the context of the paschal mystery, for the coming of the Son who dies on the cross is the ultimate manifestation of God’s redemptive work.

With righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His waist, and faithfulness the belt of His loins. [Isaiah 11:4-5] 

For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; He will save us. [Isaiah 33:22]

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,

Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height

In ancient times didst give the Law

In cloud and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel!

[LSB 357, stanza 3]

O Wisdom

The first O Antiphon:

O Wisdom, proceeding from the mouth of the Most High, pervading and permeating all creation, mightily ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence. Amen.

A dominant theme of the Old Testament is that of “Wisdom” (especially in Proverbs). Wisdom proceeds from God, creates and establishes order, and leads His faithful people in righteousness and holiness. From its beginning, the Church identified Jesus, the Word of God, with the Wisdom of the Old Testament. In this antiphon, we call upon the Son to teach us and lead us in the way of justice and righteousness.

And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. [Isaiah 11:2-3a]

This also comes from the LORD of hosts; He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom. [Isaiah 28:29]

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high

Who ord’rest all things mightily;

To us the path of knowledge show,

And teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel!

[LSB 357, stanza 2]

The O Antiphons

Advent is one of my favorite seasons of the church year. The wreath with its four candles bears more and more light as Christmas is about to dawn. The purple paraments remind us to prepare the royal highway for the King of kings. The midweek services teach us more about “God with us” in the person of Jesus Christ. And the tranquil hymns remind us of the Christ who once came in Bethlehem, still comes in Word and Sacrament, and will come again on the Day of Resurrection.

Here at Divine Shepherd, the common thread that runs through the fabric of this season is the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” [LSB 357]. This hymn is based on the ancient O Antiphons (dating at least as far back as the fifth century) assigned to the seven days preceding the Church’s celebration of Christ’s birth:

• December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
• December 18: O Adonai (O Lord of Might)
• December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
• December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
• December 21: O Oriens (O Dayspring)
• December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
• December 23: O Emmanuel (O Emmanuel)

The first letters of the Latin titles taken backwards form the acrostic “ero cras,” which translates as “tomorrow, I will come.” As will be shown in the days ahead, each of the seven O Antiphons uses a prophetic Messianic title from the Old Testament Scriptures (specifically Isaiah).

I encourage you to pray these during the final week leading up to Christ’s birth!

A Season of Waiting

“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14).

One of the words that best captures the season of Advent is waiting. Now granted, waiting is not something we do very well. No child enjoys waiting until Christmas to open his presents. No adult enjoys waiting in long lines at the store to purchase that last minute gift. No driver enjoys waiting in bumper-to-bumper traffic as the winter snow slows everything down. But when it comes to faith, waiting is an integral part of who we are as children of the heavenly Father.

God’s people of old waited in patience and hope for the coming of the Messiah. Adam and Eve waited. Noah waited. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob waited. Moses waited. King David waited. In fact, every Old Testament saint died waiting for the Messiah. Thus, they died in faith and are even now with Christ in heaven. The One for whom they waited—Jesus, the Christ—was finally welcomed into this world by Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, Simeon and Anna, and the wise men.

We, too, wait. But not for Christ’s first coming. That day has already come and gone. Instead we wait for His second coming. Although we know neither the day nor the hour of His return, we have His sure and certain promise that He is coming again (Matthew 25). Thus, we wait. We are watchful and ready. We wait in patience and hope for the Day when our Lord Jesus will come again in glory to take us bodily to our eternal home. Which is why the Apostle Paul writes:

“Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

And as we wait, we rejoice that Jesus comes to us even here and now. Every time we gather together in His name, He is here in our midst (Matthew 18:20). Every time we hear His Word, He is here in our midst (Romans 10:17). Every time we receive His true body and blood in the Lord’s Supper, He is here in our midst (John 6:56). In short, He is here in Word and Sacrament to forgive our sins, to strengthen our faith, and to enliven our hope in His second coming!

2000 years ago Jesus became our Emmanuel (“God with us”). Today He is still with us in Word and Sacrament. And someday, on the Last Day, we will bodily be with Him in heaven. Advent wraps up all of these mysteries and beckons us to wait, to anticipate, to prepare. Why? Because...

“Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him” (Hebrews 9:28).

Let that be your joy this Advent, this Christmas, and always!