Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Today, we rejoice that a living Christ, a risen Christ, continues to keep His promise of being with His people always, even to the end of the age.
Where is Jesus? Years ago, when the family was still young, we went to the Minnesota State Fair. Although I have forgotten many of the details of that day, one part remains in my memory. As we were driving, we came across a small country church that was having a revival. We didn’t stop, but I do remember thinking, “They’ve really pulled out the stops for this celebration.” The church had a great, colorful tent set up, filled with folding chairs. The thing I remember most was the large, rented sign that the church had put out front. The sign read, “Repent, Jesus is coming soon!!!” There were three exclamation marks at the end of the sentence. My wife, Pam, who sees things from a better and clearer perspective than I do, took it all in – in silence. About five minutes and five miles later she asked, “I wonder how long they’ve rented that sign for?”
Jesus is coming. No question about it. I know that’s so because, in the inerrant, inspired Word of God, He told me so. As the sinless Son of God, He cannot lie. That’s why, when He promises to come again, I believe Him. But when? When is Jesus coming? When will He return? Where is He now? The first of those questions, “When is Jesus coming and when will He return?” I can answer very quickly: I don’t know; nobody does. Yes, I know there have been all kinds of authorities who have gotten out their calculators and done the math. I am fully aware that there are some brilliant people, who are trying to match up some of what they believe to be hidden messages in Scripture, to arrive at a date. The bottom line is, “They’re guessing. They don’t know.”
Yes, I know that you’ve read some books. I know you’ve watched TV and heard the predictions. Yes, I know that there are wars and rumors of wars. It doesn’t make any difference. Jesus hasn’t told us. Think about it for a minute. If He said, “I’m coming back on April 16, 2007, at 6:15 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time,” what would happen? Go ahead, take a guess. I can tell you what would happen: people would party until April 16, 2007. They would commit every sin imaginable until 6:14 p.m. I know that’s what they’ll do, because that’s what they do every year. Go to New Orleans, take a look. People think, “Lent is coming. We’re going to have to give things up and repent of our sins. How shall we get ready for Lent? Let’s party!” Jesus knows what we would do, so He doesn’t tell us when He’s coming. He would prefer His people thankful for the sacrifice of His life; forgiven through His death; rejoicing in the victory that is theirs through His resurrection, be ready for His arrival.
But there is another question that needs to be answered: “Where is Jesus now?” I wasn’t in the ministry too long before I heard that question asked. The occasion was the motorcycle death of one of the young adult members of my congregation. No drugs. No booze. No speeding. He was a good kid. One day as he was on his bike, a driver didn’t see him, and in a second it was all over. Understandably, mother and father were heartbroken. He was their only son. But in the days following his death, I noticed an amazing difference. The mother’s opinion, and I heard her say it many times, was, “I don’t understand why the Lord took my boy home. Why can’t my son be alive and with us still?” Then she added, “No, I don’t understand, but I trust the Lord to do what is right. Jesus was with my boy, and because of Jesus, we will meet in heaven. Pastor, what do people do at times like this, if they don’t have faith?” That’s what the mother said.
The father felt something quite different. Outraged that God would dare do such a thing to his boy, he said, “Jesus is supposed to be a God of love. Jesus is supposed to be all powerful.” From those two very basic statements of faith, both of which are quite right, the father concluded, quite wrongly, “If God loved my boy, and He can do whatever He wants, then something’s wrong. Jesus should have saved my son. Jesus should have made my son a second or two later or earlier at that intersection. Then the accident wouldn’t have happened. Jesus could have forced the other driver to see my son. Jesus could have made my son react faster. Jesus could have done a lot of things. He didn’t. All Jesus did was watch my son die.” Then the father concluded, “Where was Jesus? I can tell you where Jesus wasn’t. He wasn’t with my boy. And if Jesus wasn’t with my boy when my boy needed Him, then I don’t need Jesus.”
The father wasn’t ready to listen to me or anyone else. He didn’t want to hear how God had protected His boy through countless other possible accidents that never had happened. He didn’t want to hear how the Savior who lived and died and rose to save his son, would never, could never, do anything hurtful or wrong. He didn’t want to hear how the Lord may have, by taking his boy home, done something only God’s eye could see; something which in heaven, he would understand to be unbelievably kind. Dad didn’t want to hear. His mind was made up, “If Jesus is a fair-weather Savior who asks me to worship Him, but doesn’t come through when I need Him, I’m simply not going to believe on Him. Period.” When I left that church and community, that was still the father’s attitude. I pray he has changed because the truth is, Jesus loved his boy, and Jesus still loves that father as well.
Since then I’ve heard the father’s philosophy repeated by others. I’ve heard it tossed out after the terrorist attacks on September 11. Critics of the Christ demanded to know, “Where is Jesus? How could He let this happen?” They concluded, “Any God who could let such a tragedy occur is cruel and uncaring, callous and cold.”
Where is Jesus? Where is He when we want His help; when we need Him the most? Where is Jesus? Many of you, even if those words have never passed your lips, may have had your hearts scream out that same question. It’s a fair question, it’s an honest one.
And here is an honest answer: He is there with you, right now. The fact that you may not feel Him, or see Him, or agree with Him, does not change the fact Jesus is with you, loving you, no matter how you feel about Him. He is caring for you, no matter how much you may disagree. He is there, protecting you from dangers you cannot imagine. At those moments when you feel singularly alone; when you feel there is nobody you could count on; when you think everyone has deserted you; He is there. How do I know? I know because He said He would be there. Before His ascension into heaven, in His last talk with His disciples, He told them, “I am with you always”; and they knew that He was.
With faith given them by the Holy Spirit, they believed that Jesus was a very real, albeit invisible part of their lives. When they were beaten, stoned, when they were murdered, they did not doubt His ongoing presence or the depth of His love. Languishing in prison, knowing he was soon to die, St. Paul could say, “The time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8) Was St. Paul alone in that prison? Hardly. Jesus, His Savior, was with him, as Jesus is with all who acknowledge Him as their Savior from sin; who call Him “Lord of their life.” Paul knew, as you should know, the best way to prepare for the coming of Christ is never to forget the ongoing presence of Christ. There are, among the many listeners of the Lutheran Hour message today, quite a few people who are not able to say with Paul, “Jesus is my Lord.” Maybe you have walked away from Him; maybe you have never known Him. Whatever the cause, whatever your circumstance, you should know that Jesus wishes to be with you. He wants to be your best and most faithful Friend and Savior.
Even if things, right now without a Savior, seem to be going well for you right now you can be sure, it will not always be that way. Many years ago, people used to believe that if you fell from a great height, the speed would render you unconscious. According to a story, the theory was put to the test when a man who wanted to end it all, after considerable conversation with those who wished to rescue him, ended up jumping from a 50 story building. As he passed the 30th floor, an individual who had been following the events taking place on the rooftop, called out, “How are you doing?” The man replied, “So far so good.” Well, maybe in your life, up to this point in time you feel fine, “So far, so good.” Maybe, but the end is coming with some degree of speed. Today is the day the Lord wishes to turn you to faith and salvation which comes through Jesus. Today is the day our ever-living, ever-loving Savior wishes to give you the assurance that you will never be alone.
You will never be alone. In the few minutes left in this message, I would like to tell you about a family I know. It’s the Cohrs family. Most of you don’t know them. That’s OK. I will, with their permission, tell you a small part of their story. The father of the family, his name is Rich, was for a number of years, one of my coworkers. The mother of the family was named Arlene, but everybody called her Bunny. Rich and Bunny were in love. I’m not talking about the newlywed kind of love, although they still had that. Theirs was a love that had been tested by time. The Lord brought them together in marriage in 1969. Being Christian teachers, they never accumulated wealth. Working faithfully for the Lord, they never had the accolades of the world. But they did have each other, and they also had a Savior.
You couldn’t spend five minutes with either of them without knowing that they loved each other. They wore each other like a person might wear a favorite flannel shirt. When they were apart, they thought of each other, talked to each other, and looked forward to getting back with each other. After more than 35 years of marriage, they were still fun to watch. They were cute. If you asked them how they managed to stay so in love, they would start talking about Jesus. About the only thing they talked about more than each other was their Lord Jesus. Jesus, you see, was not a passing acquaintance to them. He was their ever-present Friend.
When most people say, “Come, Lord Jesus, be our Guest” before they eat a meal, Rich and Bunny believed Jesus heard their prayer and sat down at the table with them. Where was Jesus in their lives? He was with them when they woke up, and when they went to bed. He was simply there. When Rich and Bunny, with their four children, went on vacation, Jesus wasn’t left behind, looking out the living room window as they pulled away. Jesus went with them. When good times came, Jesus was there, laughing with them. When tough times knocked at the door, Jesus answered that knock right by their side.
Tough times did come to the Cohrs family. Bunny developed cancer. Surgery, treatments, prayers; she beat the cancer. The doctors used the word remission. But she beat the cancer. She was well enough for them to make plans to come with me to Israel this month. She was well enough for Rich to take a call, a new position as principal and teacher at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Sebewaing, Mich. Then the cancer came back. In force. Just when they were ready to travel, and to start a new job and make new friends in a new community, the cancer came back. I’m not Rich’s pastor. I have never been to his home; he has never been to mine. Nevertheless, when I heard about the cancer, I visited with him. We talked of many things. Richard talked of cancer, his plans, his new job, his beautiful bride of many years, and his Savior. We talked about Jesus. Where was Jesus? For Rich, there wasn’t any doubt. Jesus was right there, as real and as close as I was. Jesus was there, helping him look into an uncertain and possibly, very dark future.
I was, of course, not the only person who heard about Bunny’s cancer. Christ the King, the church where Rich was to go and work, got the news as well. It was the beginning of the school year; they needed their new teacher and principal. Now, at the last moment, they found out that he was going to stay with his wife during her treatment; they found out that they would have to put their plans on hold, for who knows how long. It was a confusing situation for the leadership of Christ the King. Folks, I know when you pick up the paper it is not unusual to hear about a pastor or a parish that has gone weird. That’s news. What isn’t news, and what you don’t hear about, are places like Christ the King Lutheran Church. When the teachers of that school heard Rich and Bunny’s story, they said, “Don’t worry, Rich, we’ll cover for you.” And they did. When the Board of Education heard the story, they came together and passed a resolution. I don’t know the exact words, but the idea was, “Rich, we need you, but we don’t want you to set foot in this town until your wife is up and walking by your side, or ’til she’s home walking with her Lord.” When the pastor heard that story, he called Rich and said, “I know you’re feeling guilty about not being here. As the Lord’s servant, I absolve you of your guilt.” If you ever want to know where Jesus is, I’m pretty sure you can find Him in Sebewaing, Mich. You’ll find Jesus a lot of other places, of course, but I know He’s there.
Where is Jesus? Bunny went in for tests. The cancer was worse than they had first thought. It was in the bone. It was in the liver. It doesn’t get much worse than that. Rich and Bunny did not shake their fists at heaven and rant at the unfairness of it all. No, Rich and Bunny sent a prayer to Jesus. The prayer didn’t have far to go; He was right there with them. The doctor said, “If you want, we can put you in the hospital. We have a treatment. It is a nasty treatment. It can kill you. It may give you some time. It’s your choice. What do you want to do?” Rich and Bunny thought having some time would not be bad. They elected to take the treatment that would cure or kill.
When the children heard, they came home. It was like the old days. Everybody, including a little granddaughter, was there. So was Jesus. Rich and Bunny looked around and said, “Mom goes into the hospital tomorrow, let’s celebrate Christmas today.” And they did. In August, they recalled the Savior who is good news of great joy for all people who believe on Him.” That night, before getting the treatment that could kill or cure, the family celebrated Jesus who is the cure of all of our sins, pains, and problems. The next day Bunny went into the hospital. She took the treatment that can cure or kill. Where was Jesus? He was there. Bunny asked them to sing Christmas hymns. They did. Here’s one; I won’t sing it, I’ll read: “Now sing we, now rejoice, Now raise to heaven our voice; He from whom joy streameth Poor in a manger lies.” The hymn goes on: “Cheer my wearied spirit, O pure and holy Child; Through Thy grace and merit, Blest Jesus, Lord most mild.” Strange words for a person who has taken a treatment that can kill or cure? Not when that person knows Jesus.
The last verse of that Christmas hymn is: “Now through His Son doth shine The Father’s grace divine. Death o’er us had reigned Through sin and vanity; He for us obtained Eternal joy on high. May we praise Him there! May we praise Him there!” Three days later, the treatment that could kill or cure, killed. The hymn became real. Bunny was praising her Savior there, in heaven. Where was Jesus when she needed Him the most? He was in Bunny’s hospital room. When the doctors could do no more, Jesus took Bunny by the hand and brought her home to heaven. When I found out, I called Rich. Having just said farewell to the love of his life, these were the opening words of the conversation, “Pastor, this is a great day. Bunny and I were going to Jerusalem with you. We have a change in plans. I’m still going with you to the old Jerusalem, but she has gone to see her Savior in the New Jerusalem. Pastor, I envy her.” Where was Jesus? He was there.
Jesus was there with this family, His family. He was with many other families that day, at the same time. We do have a great God! He is there giving hope and help when nobody else can. Jesus was there for them, as He wishes to be there for you. Where is Jesus? You should know He wants to be with you. If you’d like that, give us a call. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for November 14, 2004
Topic: Miracles – Part 2
ANNOUNCER: We’re back with Pastor Ken Klaus continuing last week’s discussion about miracles. I’m Mark Eischer. Pastor, we started with a listener’s question about whether, in this day and age, we should still believe in miracles. We said, if you believe in God, if you accept what the Bible says, you also have to believe in miracles.
KLAUS: You have to believe in miracles. The fact that our Holy God has loved people who were sinners; that He still wishes to save us; that He implants faith within us; that He can hear the prayers of countless Christians, these are all miracles.
ANNOUNCER: But our listener also wants to know about some of these more spectacular, physical and financial healings that we see taking place on television. What about those?
KLAUS: The first point we need to make is this – God is omnipotent, all-powerful; He is all-knowing, omniscient. I’m not either one of those. For that reason I don’t presume to second-guess God, what He’s going to do, and why He’s going to do it. I’m not going to make any rules for God. In fact, Scripture is pretty clear that I and everybody else should know our place. Inspired by the Lord, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.
‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thought” (Is. 55:8-9).
ANNOUNCER: In other words, God is in control, we’re not, especially when it comes to miracles.
KLAUS: Right. Which means, I have to accept the idea that God can insert Himself into the life of an individual, a nation, the world, if He chooses to do so. I think we can make a pretty good case for God having done that kind of thing in the past.
ANNOUNCER: But I’m picking up that there’s more you’d like to say about this.
KLAUS: There are a number of things I see being said by various religious leaders that kind of disturb me.
ANNOUNCER: Could you give us an example?
KLAUS: I’d be glad to. The first thing that bothers me is the idea, which I’ve heard promoted in a lot of places, is that we are in control of miracles, not God. If you have faith strong enough, if you send in a sacrificial gift, if you have some holy anointing water, if you buy a special blessed prayer handkerchief, if you say certain words, then God absolutely has to give you what you want. Now, although the Bible records Jesus performing some miracles for people who have faith in Him, He also occasionally performs healings for people who don’t know who He is, let alone have a deep faith in Him. The entire chapter of John 9 is dedicated to such a situation. In that chapter, Jesus says that a miracle is taking place to show the power of God.
ANNOUNCER: Anything else that bothers you about these miracles?
KLAUS: A couple of things. When Jesus performed miracles, they were designed to point to Him as being the Savior. All too often today I see services where the performance of miracles seems to be the beginning and the end of worship. I never saw Jesus doing that. Here’s another problem – I hear of people being told that God will give them a miracle of wealth if they do the right things.
ANNOUNCER: What’s the problem there?
KLAUS: I never see Jesus giving a gift of wealth in any of His miracles. The disciples were hardly wealthy men. The early church was marked by the fact that people held everything in common, not that they got filthy rich. The same thing could be said about physical healing. Jesus didn’t always heal people who had faith in Him. He didn’t always rescue them from trouble. If He had, the disciples would still be alive today.
ANNOUNCER: And there’s more?
KLAUS: I’m on a roll – there’s more. Many of Jesus’ miracles, His spokesmen’s miracles, were easily identifiable. When the Red Sea split so the children of Israel could pass through, it’s pretty obvious. When Jesus puts the servant’s severed ear back on, that’s verifiable. Jesus told the 10 lepers that He healed to get themselves checked out by the priests.
ANNOUNCER: What’s the problem here?
KLAUS: I don’t see that kind of verifiable miracle happening in many of the healing services that I’ve seen. I’ve been told someone with arthritis is healed, but I don’t usually see a severed ear growing back, or a hand being reattached. Not ever.
ANNOUNCER: What would you conclude from that?
KLAUS: If somebody’s doing wholesale miracles in Jesus’ name, they should be doing them the same way and of the same type that Jesus did – verifiable, visible miracles that point first and foremost to Him as Savior. Anything else is going to be questionable or doubtful.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Pastor Klaus. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.