David Bahn - Reflections

The devil will attack us in both ways. He will try to lead us away from faith in Jesus and therefore to abandon  the righteousness of Christ that saves. He will also tempt us to behave poorly toward others. Whether it's motivated by or an appeal to selfishness, fear, anger, lust, or greed, Satan delights to lead us to disobey God and harm our neighbor.

I'm a big fan of prayer, worship, giving, and all manner of godly religious practices. That's good. But the true evidence of that is the way I treat my neighbor. I hope that as you and I have any interactions they will testify to God's work in my heart and the presence of Jesus' righteousness - through faith, by grace.

Next time you sit down to open up your Bible, why not take a minute (or 10 or 30) of silence. Think about all the people who invested in you and made you who you are today. Think about God's precious word and the promises and truths that shape your faith. And thank God for them all. For although God may be silent, he has spoken clearly in his word, and is always up to something - no matter how long it's been since you listened for him.

John is the one sent by God to raise the valleys and lower the mountains. He exalts the lowly and brings down those in high places. Jesus is the great leveler. No one has an exclusive hold on his grace and love.

Sometimes we need to be taken down a notch or two. We may be too puffed-up for our own good, and certainly for the good of others. Other times we may need a word of grace, hope, encouragement, and affirmation. Jesus provides that. Whether it is the form of Jesus calling the Jews whitewashed tombs, or  telling Zacchaeus he must go to his house (even before Zacchaeus repented!), that's what Jesus does. And John is paving the way for Jesus' ministry. He did that so that people would see the salvation of God. And we see that best on the level ground at the foot of Jesus' cross.

Baptism was a big deal for the Jews of John's day. God was moving people to a right relationship with himself. It is a big deal today as well, for the blessings of Jesus await us in these waters. And we who have been baptized do well to listen to John. Remembering our baptism daily in repentance we must also "bear fruits in keeping with repentance." It's that big a deal.

We have all manner of leaders and powerful people who care more about their power than their relationship with God. But even if they don't repent we must. And that is the second truth: now is the time for us to repent. Joe Biden is President of the United States. Vladimir Putin is President of Russia. Greg Abbot is governor of Texas. Matthew Harrison is President of the LCMS. Michael Newman is President of the LCMS Texas District.

You might have thoughts about each of these men and their need to repent. But that is for them to deal with. We each must repent and rejoice in knowing that God has prepared a level and straight path to life and salvation: the path of faith that leads us to Jesus.

God has a big-picture view of life. He is writing a saga of redemption, salvation, glory, and blessing for all people through Jesus. And I believe that Mary knew this. I don't think she fully understood it, but she seems to have believed it. So she treasures the good and the bad, because Jesus, her son, is the Son of God. His birth was miraculous. His life would unfold in ways that would defy simple assessments of good or bad moments.

This is good for me to remember. What may seem like a set-back may be a set-up for something profoundly good. What may seem good may become a moment's fleeting joy that dissolves into disappointment. But when we look to God, and see ourselves as part of his grand story of redemption we can hold all manner of things in our hearts. When we do we can look for God's redeeming love to sustain us and work all things for our good.

For God is good and is working for the eternal blessing of all people. And it's all connected to our faith Jesus.

When it comes to presumptuous behavior we human beings have that down to an art. Somehow we get the idea that we can call God into account for his actions toward us. We can question how God is drawing the lines in our lives and the lives of others. We can put God in the dock as C.S. Lewis speaks of. We can act as though God has to answer to us. But he does not.

Jesus would ask questions his whole life and ministry. "What do you think? A man had two sons... What does the Word say? How do you read it? What can a man give in exchange for his soul? Who among you, by worrying, can add even a single hour to your life? Or, "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus, as a 12-year-old boy is just now getting started.

What question would Jesus ask you? Would it be a challenge? Would it lead you to repentance? Would it be an invitation? Would he point you to hope? In either case, his questions might well amaze us too.

Martin Luther famously said, "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ called us to repent, he meant that the entire life of the believer should be one of repentance." And when we repent, we will discover that Jesus has already come to us, is waiting for us, and has open arms (think the cross!) and an open heart. Just like Jesus' parents discovered that he was not lost at all, we will discover that he has never abandoned us. We've abandoned him. Thank God he's ready to be found, and welcomes us back into his heart whenever we repent.

Jesus' actions are all about us. He was where he was because he had to be about his Father's business (or in his Father's house). Most translations have "Father's house." But the Greek says, literally, "about the things of my Father." Jesus shows that he is very clear about two things here. First that he knew there was a necessity to which he must attend if he was to be true to his identity as the Savior. Second, that Joseph as not his true Father. He was the Son of God. He knew where his allegiance lay.