The Lutheran Hour

"And Who Else?"

#77-34
Presented on The Lutheran Hour on May 2, 2010
Speaker: Rev. Ken Klaus
Copyright 2025 Lutheran Hour Ministries

Text: Revelation 21:4-7

Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! The words which announce the Savior’s resurrection change time and eternity. The knowledge that the Lord Jesus has faced and conquered death on our behalf is hope and heaven for all who believe. Today we pray the Holy Spirit may extend such faith to all who hear so that all who hear may be brought to the joy in Jesus who alone can wipe away every tear. God grant this blessing to us all. Amen.

Samuel Clemens, whom most of us know as Mark Twain, was a brilliant writer, an insightful humorist, a first-class speaker, and a critical observer of the human condition. Sadly, Mr. Clemens felt his undeniable ability to find our foibles, to point out life’s pathos, to make us smile and laugh at our insecurities, inconsistencies, and contradictions somehow qualified him to be a critic of God; that his keen eye for earthly activities gave him the credentials to pass judgment on the workings of the Deity. Of course, when Clemens was in front of the general public, he felt it wiser to keep such heretical opinions muffled and muzzled; but when he was with his wife, with his beloved Olivia, he was merciless in his criticism of religion in general and Christ, Christians, and Christianity in particular.

Mr. Clemens is quoted as having once said, “I would not interfere with any one’s religion, either to strengthen it or to weaken it. I am not able to believe one’s religion can affect his hereafter one way or the other, no matter what that religion may be.” The truth is, Clemens did interfere with the religion of others. The man who took pride in his ability to accurately observe, record, and share the human condition, somehow managed to miss the mark when it came to examining himself and what his criticisms of Christianity were doing to his wife’s Presbyterian faith. His outspoken opinions, his overstated objections, his endless whining against the Lord, against the faith, and against the elect slowly, and thoroughly, ground down his wife’s beliefs until no faith in a loving Deity was left to her.

According to Clemens’ biographer, in 1876 Olivia underwent a time of psychological and mental bereavement. Genuinely concerned with his wife’s condition, Clemens swallowed his pride, set aside his low opinion of Jesus, and asked his wife if she couldn’t find some kind of comfort in her Christian faith. With sadness in her face and in her words, Olivia replied, “(No) I can’t… I haven’t any.” Looking back on that conversation, Clemens later confessed he felt a great deal of guilt because he was the one who had undermined his wife’s faith; he was the one who had planted the seeds of doubt in her heart; he had been the individual who had robbed his wife of her earthly and heavenly hope. So strong was Clemens’ regret, he reluctantly admitted he would have changed things if he had been given the chance. Of course the chance to put things right never came. It seldom does.

More than a century-and-a-quarter have come and gone since Mark Twain, Samuel Clemens, undermined and destroyed his wife’s faith in the Lord. The passing decades have seen many, many changes. Earthly empires and political philosophies have risen, had their moments of influence, and then faded, fallen, and been forgotten. Dreaded diseases have been conquered and new illnesses have come forth to cut a fresh and murderous swath across the globe.

In the years between then and now, we have passed laws against profiling, but prejudice and discrimination remain powerful and hatred is very much alive and well. There are organizations which vehemently promote and sometimes are willing to violently protect the rights of animals; but the rights of the unborn are set aside and abortion is still ‘on demand.’ The same 1st Amendment, which has been successfully manipulated by the pornographer, is being used to muzzle the priest and pastor when they ascend their parish pulpits. The intervening years have seen the parameters of the word family being defined and redefined so that it now includes every possible permutation of the human relationship. Even so, it is the rare child that can boast his formative years have been spent with his or her original mother and father. The young think they are unappreciated and not taken seriously while the elderly don’t think such things are true when it comes to themselves, they know for a fact that society has decided to disrespect and disregard them.

There was a time when the vast majority of our country’s citizenry believed their children would live out their days in a better world, a brighter world, a more peaceful and more positive world. Sadly that is no longer the situation. Soaring debts, unsteady stocks, shortages of key commodities, fluctuating taxes, floundering job markets, terrorism troubles, rabid religions, drought, earthquake, volcano, and tsunami have shaken our faith in the future. All of these evils, when they are coupled to the knowledge that every petty political potentate, every desperate despot, every pompous, pretentious dictator is desperately hoping that next Christmas, Santa will place a shiny, new atomic bomb…under his tree. Well, it is confusing. Understandably, all of these items when grouped together put a tarnish on the gleam which should have been tomorrow’s arrival.

So, let me ask: does this picture I have described; that this sinful world has created; does all of this seem pretty dark and dismal? Does it seem hopeless? Do you feel helpless? If that is so, then I encourage you to hear what the inspired Apostle John has written in the book of Revelation; hear the words of hope which the Holy Spirit wishes to convey to every people in every place. Listen to God’s good news of promise. He says, ‘He will wipe away every tear from (our) eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things (will) have passed away.” And (the living Lord Jesus Christ) he who was seated on the throne (of heaven) said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Jesus) also said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “… To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son”.

Did you hear that? Did you get the drift of what the Lord is saying to all of us who have been overwhelmed by life? God has promised that He is going to change things, make things better, make all things new. The nasty stuff, the negative stuff, the dark, the discouraging, the dismal, the sinful stuff is going to be eliminated and it is going to be replaced by God’s gracious good news. Those who long for something better; those who are parched, thirsty for the living, spiritual water of life will find the Lord is willing to provide, absolutely free, and in great abundance, exactly what we need. So we might have what we need; so we might drink of this living water is the reason Jesus entered this sorry, sinful world.

With His birth in Bethlehem, Jesus became One of us. As a real Man the Savior was tempted by Satan and the world as we are; as God’s sinless Son He successfully resisted these temptations. As a real Man Jesus was confronted by the laws of God; but where we have all failed to keep the Lord’s Commandments, Jesus succeeded in living His life in perfect obedience and making the Father’s will His own. Every day, without a stumble, without a slip. Jesus lived the perfect life; and He did what He did so all things might become new for you. As a real Man, Jesus knew He would have to face death. He was not surprised that those who hated Him eventually managed to manipulate the events, falsify the evidence, bring about the circumstances so the Son of God might be condemned and crucified upon Calvary’s cross. On the darkest day of human history the Son of God died. Jesus died the death we sinners had coming to us. He became the Human Sacrifice which was needed so the Father might make all things new.

Then, three days after Jesus died; the entire world was given a glimpse into what the newness of God might look like. The women who had been among Jesus’ closest friends and relatives went to His grave to anoint His dead body. They went in mourning and in sadness, in tears and in sorrow. That is how they went to the grave, but that is not how they left that empty sepulcher. Having been told Jesus had risen from the dead, they left a little confused, a little afraid, and filled with a great deal of joy. In a flash the living Lord Jesus wiped away their tears; He ended their mourning, their crying, their pain.

The risen Redeemer had made things new. Two of Jesus’ disciples, Peter and John, were told that Jesus was alive, but the idea was simply too radical, too impossible for them to believe. Wishing to see for themselves, they ran to Jesus’ grave. There, in the folded grave clothes they were given proof that Jesus was alive. Even so, it took a
Personal appearance by the living Lord before they could believe the risen Redeemer
had made all things new. But when they believed, nothing held them back and empowered by the Holy Spirit, they turned the world upside down.

The risen Redeemer made things new. The night of His resurrection, two unnamed disciples were walking along a dusty road toward the small Judean town of Emmaus. Night was coming and the growing evening shadows complimented the darkness of their conversation; a conversation which, in spite of the rumors, still centered around a dead Jesus. ‘We HAD thought He was going to do great things; We HAD thought He would restore Israel.’ These are the kinds of things they said. Their deep, dark, discussion about death was cut short by the presence of the risen Redeemer who wiped away their tears and showed them His new way of life. Their doubt and distrust were replaced by certainty and sureness in the love of God.

These people, whose stories I tell, were among the first to understand; the first to have the Holy Spirit replace their fear with faith. Soon there would be others. There would be those who remembered how Jesus had foretold His death and promised His third-day resurrection. There would be those who were privileged to see Jesus in the flesh; the select ones who were encouraged to touch Him and see God’s new reality. Soon the old darkness of black Friday was replaced by the bright brilliance of the resurrection dawn. Jesus Christ had risen and all who believed on Him as their heaven-sent Substitute; all who by the Holy Spirit’s calling were given faith in Jesus as the Bridge-Builder whose sacrifice had spanned the gulf separating earth and heaven, were transformed. They drank from the waters of life and they were transformed. Their tears were wiped away and mourning was brought to an end. Crying, gone. Pain, gone. Death, gone. Jesus made all things, especially the important things, new.

And how has the world received God’s great and gracious, His transforming, blood¬bought news of death’s defeat? Has the world spent the last 20 centuries giving thanks that parents who have helplessly watched their beloved child die, can have their tears wiped away because they know the Father has sacrificed His Son so that their son, their daughter, might live; so they might enjoy an eternal reunion which sickness cannot spoil. Has the world praised God for making sure the sadness a spouse feels at the gravesite of a beloved helpmeet is temporary? Has the world humbled itself in grateful thanksgiving for a God who has rescued them from their sins and freely provided them with everlasting hope?

You know the answer. The world has done everything possible to stomp out the story of the Savior and the salvation His sacrifice has won. Look to ancient Rome and see the horrible persecutions which were unjustly inflicted upon God’s people for believing in a Redeemer who made all things new. How much different is that from today’s Islamic nations of the far-and-mid East who make it a crime, sometimes a capital crime, if one of their citizens converts to the Christ. Listen to the lies which, centuries ago, were spread about the Savior’s new church. If a congregation offered the Sacrament of Communion, ancient critics claimed Christians were cannibals; if a church baptized someone, they claimed Jesus’ followers were murderers who drowned innocent victims. It’s not much different today when books manage to make the best seller lists because they claim Christianity has, for 2,000 years, been keeping heretical secrets and fostering lies upon a gullible public.

Pick a time in history. I challenge you to find a single moment when the faith of God’s people has not been challenged, charged, and condemned. Governments still try to muzzle the message; learned scholars try to make their reputation by explaining away every detail of the Lord’s plan of salvation. Scripture is correct when it says: (John 3:19b) “the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.”

And most amazing thing of all … the world does these things without having anything, without offering anything to take the place of the peace and the hope and the forgiveness which the risen Lord Jesus gives. Mark Twain might have tried to laugh off heaven by describing it as a place where all you have to do is “go around all day long with a harp and sing, forever and ever.” But that’s Twain’s idea of heaven, and not God’s. The world may laugh at the Savior; they may try to dismiss the Savior; ignore the Savior, but He still is the only One who can wipe away every tear from our eyes. He is the only One who can banish death; the only One who can eliminate mourning, crying, and pain. He is the only One who makes all things new.

Those of you who already know the Savior, you understand what I am saying. You have experienced His handiwork and His peace. But right now I’m speaking to those of you who have been laughing at Jesus; who have dismissed Him and ignored Him. In this message I’ve quoted Sam Clemens, Mark Twain. I’d like to offer you one more quote. He said, “In religion and politics people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from other non-examiners, whose opinions about them were not worth a brass farthing.”

On this I agree with Clemens. Please, do not take my word for things … nor the word of someone who opposes the Savior. Instead, I encourage you to investigate things for yourself. Search the Scriptures. Read through the Gospels. Learn of the Savior … You may be surprised at the Man you meet there; you may be moved by the things He does and saved by the sacrifice He has made for you. Please, don’t take my word of encouragement; and don’t listen to the voices of discouragement. Look to the Bible and see the Savior. To that end, if we can provide any assistance, please call us at The
Lutheran Hour. Amen.

LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers)
May 2, 2010
Topic: I’ll Sue

Announcer: Now, Pastor Ken Klaus responds to questions from listeners. I’m Mark Eischer.

Klaus: Hi, Mark.

Announcer: Here’s a topic VIIe’ve not discussed before. What about Christians who take legal action against fellow believers?

Klaus: You know, without a lot of background, I’m going to make some general comments. First, the person isn’t talking about just showing up in court because of a speeding ticket. You shouldn’t speed, but if you do and are ticketed, you may end up in court.

The second assumption, we’re not talking about a Christian who finds them self on the receiving end of a subpoena. My lawyer friends tell me that a person can be sued for just about anything and everything. A person may find himself in court for matters over which he is completely innocent. In such a case, the person might find himself in court.

The last assumption: I assume the writer isn’t talking about Christian lawyers who do their work in court. In spite of all the jokes, I respect some very fine attorneys who are Christians. They are individuals of conscience and high principles.

Announcer: Actually, our question comes to us based upon the opening verses of 1 st Corinthians.

Klaus: Could you give us a synopsis of those verses, Mark?
Announcer: Be glad to. For our purposes, we want to highlight the section that reads: “If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another-and this in front of unbelievers!”

Klaus: Those words, written by st. Paul, are interesting for a number of reasons. First, Paul was a fellow who was trained in the law. Indeed, he often made use of the law and its provisions. As a Roman citizen, he was able to make his appeal to Caesar. He requested a court appearance before the emperor himself. So, saying that, what do you think Paul is trying to get through to us?

Announcer: That if Christians have a gripe with each other, we ought to settle it between ourselves and not call in the outsiders or air our problems in front of secular authorities.

Klaus: I agree, although it bears repeating that Paul was primarily dealing with people and situations that were taking place within the church.
Announcer: Right Brother against brother, so to speak.

Klaus: Exactly. Now the question is then, “Why? Why shouldn’t Christians go to court against each other?”
Announcer: Well, there could be a number of reasons:

Klaus: And amongst them would be?
Announcer: First of all, a non-Christian judge might not be able to understand a theological argument or a dispute. He’d be coming from a different background, have a different set of values and criteria and so that might affect the way he renders the judgment

Klaus: Yeah. If the Judge doesn’t understand Christian teachings, he may not give a proper or acceptable verdict Any other reasons not to go to court?

Announcer: Well, I just don’t think it looks good.

Klaus: And by that you mean?

Announcer: When Christians show up in court bringing all sorts of grievances against each other, it’s sort of telling the world that when Jesus says, “Love as I have loved you” or “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” … our actions are demonstrating that either that doesn’t work or we don’t really believe it

Klaus: Well, it boils down to making a bad impression which really could, quite frankly, compromise our witness with the world.

Announcer: I think, often, people expect Christians to behave better than that Although we should point out that the thing that distinguishes Christians from others is NOT our ability to keep the law. Actually, the thing that distinguishes us is the Gospel-that God forgives us on account of Christ, and we should then forgive each other.

Klaus: But, there are times when an innocent party may have been taken advantage of… in business, let’s say…or in another area where the court is the only way of proceeding. Christians are sinners and will, unfortunately, sin against each other. The church doesn’t have the power to force someone to submit to its rulings, but, the legal system does. If a guilty party will not listen to the church, the legal system does become an alternative. Not a mandatory alternative, but an alternative.

Announcer: Very good. Now, what if the dispute is not between two Christians?

Klaus: Well then, we need to remember, in Romans 13, St Paul warned how God gave us civil rulers and authorities to uphold justice, settle disputes, defend the weak, and punish the guilty. If courts come from God as a gift, then they can be used at such times… although I caution it ought be done with good conscience and for appropriate reasons.

Announcer: Thank you Pastor Klaus. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Music selection for this program:

“A Mighty Fortress” arranged by John Leavitt Concordia Publishing House/SESAC

“Jerusalem, My Happy Home” arr. Henry Gerike. Used by permission.

“Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation” arranged by Timothy Moke & Georg Masanz. From Magnificent Christian Hymns, vol. 3 by Timothy Moke & Georg Masanz (© 2006 T. Moke Recordings)

“Oh, That I Had a Thousand Voices” arr. Jeffrey Blersch. From Resounding Alleluias by Jeffrey Blersch (© Jeffrey Blersch) Concordia Publishing House