Shepherd of the Mountains, Reno

The gospel is the most inclusive message in the world. The benefits of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are meant for every man, woman, and child who ever lived. The gospel is also the most exclusive message in the world, for it maintains that salvation can only be found in one place—the person of Jesus Christ. Just listen to how Jesus speaks: “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). There is no other way than through faith in the One who died and rose again. This teaching sounds offensive to many. Yet this is the very truth upon which Christ builds his Church.

For the people of Israel, sheep were an invaluable source of clothing and food. But they could be hard to keep alive. For sheep, food is sparse, but predators are plentiful. The survival of sheep was dependent on their shepherd. You see why Jesus chose the shepherd to illustrate how he cares for us. He feeds us with his word. He protects us from that roaring lion, Satan. Jesus is leading us into the green pasture of eternal life.

There is not much worse than the feeling of hopelessness. Christ’s disciples felt it when he died, and we’ve felt it, too. But we have victory over that feeling. He died, but he is dead no longer. The one who can heal us and give us life to the full lives! He lives to restore our hope.

He had heard Jesus predict his resurrection. Yet, even after hearing the eyewitness testimony of friend, who all saw the resurrected Jesus, Thomas had doubt: “Rising from the dead can’t be possible!” But Jesus did not come to rebuke Thomas’ weak faith. Jesus came to strengthen Thomas’ faith, giving him proof of the reality of the resurrection. Still today, Jesus comes to us in Word and sacrament. He speaks to us. He gives us his true body and blood. When w show weakness of faith, he does not reject us. Jesus give us proof and peace.

Walk through a cemetery at dusk. What do you feel? Is it sadness as you think of loved ones now gone? Is it fear as you sense that it will not be long before you too are buried deep in the ground? Those are natural emotions. For in the normal realm of human existence, a person who is dead is gone. Every day that goes by only brings you one step closer to the end of your life. So, it is natural that mortals would walk through a cemetery with tears and fears. But Jesus lives. And that changes things. When we face death knowing that Christ is risen, we experience a completely different set of emotions—for he lives to dry tears and remove fears.

The British royals live in palaces, not a three-bedroom ranch. The President does not fly coach; he sits in a recliner on Air Force One. These rulers live and operate above us. If a thief is breaking into your home, call 911 and see if your governor shows up. Your governor doesn’t even know your name! He is only human. Jesus is not, though. Jesus is the King of kings, God and man in one person. He knows you intimately. And he is willing to do absolutely anything necessary to serve and protect you. He is the ruler who displays that God loves us.

The author and poet George Eliot once wrote, “Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them.” The Roman philosopher Cicero said much the same. He wrote, “The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.” What second rate comfort! But that is the best the unbelieving world can offer—the sentiment that our dead loved ones somehow “live on” in our memories. Jesus provides a better solution to death. He promises actual eternal life. And he has actually proved that he can keep that promise.

The Old Testament said that restoration of sight to the blind was one of the works of the Messiah. In his ministry, Jesus healed those who were physically blind. But even if our eyes work just fine, we still need Jesus to give us spiritual vision. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” Christ comes to shine his light into our darkened eyes that we might see him and live. He provides sight for the spiritually blind.

Everyone has a deep spiritual thirst. In our heart of hearts, we all long for everlasting life. Some try to satisfy that deep thirst with worldly things, a strategy doomed for failure. Instead, look to the One who has promised, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.” Jesus alone possesses the water that satisfies those who are spiritually parched. He alone grants eternal life.

The perfect peace of Paradise was lost when humanity was defeated and began to follow the devil, rather than following the Creator. That sin was an act of rebellion, and all Adam’s descendants have followed him into that rebellion. God did not let them go, however. In spite of that rebellion, God loved the world and promised a Savior, who came to defeat the devil for humanity.

No one on the face of the earth can make the case that they deserve God’s blessing. Yet, ages ago, God declared that all nations would be blessed. God has declared his love for the world and promised he would save the world. God’s gift of salvation is for all people. And that gift is received by faith. Faith is also God’s gift, given through the gospel. Through God’s promise, we are blessed!

Even though Jesus did astounding things during his ministry, he looked like an ordinary man. Yet on the mountain of transfiguration, that changed. Jesus gave his disciples and us a glimpse at the glory that he set aside so that he could come and be our Savior. It is good for us to be here and to see this, because it is shows us how glorious our Savior truly is! It is good for us to be here to see how much he loves us to set that glory aside and come to live and die for us!

Jesus has made us to be his disciples. That means we have the responsibility to act like his disciples! When God called us to faith, he declared that we were something new: light, salt, his children. Jesus now encourages us to be what God says we are, so that God might bless the world through us.

Jesus calls blessed what others would see as weak or stupid. The weaker you are, the more ready you are to rely on God’s strength. The more difficult your present circumstances, the likelier you are to yearn for future reward. We have no real strength or wisdom of our own. But we don’t need it, because God’s strength is enough to give the kingdom of heaven to the humble and poor in spirit. Jesus calls us to radical faith that trusts in his strength no matter how our circumstances appear.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Jesus’ disciples are blessed, and Jesus’ disciples are a blessing to others. We are those disciples of Jesus, who are blessed and a blessing.

The prophet Isaiah described humanity as “people walking in darkness.” We are surrounded by sin, suffering, and death. We find darkness also in our own minds and hearts. However, the prophet also foretold that within this darkness, a brilliant light would shine. As Jesus began his teaching and preaching ministry, that prophecy was fulfilled. Jesus continues to shine his light by the preaching of repentance and faith. He illuminates our lives. He calls us to walk in the light of love for God and for the brothers and sisters around us. Our Savior is the Light of the world, and so we shine his reflected light onto everyone around us.

For centuries, the priests of Israel offered sacrifices to God for sin, testifying that the penalty of sin was death. But a substitute stood in the place of each sinner, as people brought lambs to offer at the temple. Finally, God himself brought a lamb to the temple. Jesus took our sins, stood in our place, and died as the substitute for sinful mankind. This was the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrifices. Every animal pointed to God’s Lamb who takes away our sin.

For centuries, people of faith had patiently waited for the promised Messiah, the servant of God who would bring the salvation we so desperately need. The time finally came for Jesus to be revealed as the fulfillment of that divine promise. So, Christ our Lord came to the Jordan River to be baptized, that he might be revealed to Israel. At his baptism Jesus was anointed—marked as God's servant and empowered by the Spirit of the Lord.

The holidays are when memories are made. The memories aren’t always good, though. Even though it’s the happiest time of the year, we sin against each other, even against our family members. But Jesus didn’t sin. Jesus was the perfect son, who always kept his Father’s will. Jesus never sinned against anyone else. Rather, he lived for everyone else, even when he was a little baby.