Emmanuel Lutheran Church

The Lord appeared to Moses in the light of the burning bush (Ex. 3:1-

14). Later Moses' face would shine with the light of God's glory when he came down from Mount Sinai (Ex. 34:29-35). At the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared with the One who is the Light of Light Himself (Matt. 17:1-9). Jesus' glory as God shines with brilliant splendor in and through His human nature. By this epiphany, our Lord confirmed the prophetic word (2 Pet. 1:16-21), revealing that He is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. He manifested His majesty as the eternal Son of the Father, and He wonderfully foreshowed our adoption as sons (Collect). We who have been baptized into Christ's body are given a glimpse of the glory that we will share with Him in the resurrection on the Last Day.

The coming of the Messianic kingdom means the restoration of creation. The sign of this restoration is that "the mountains shall drip sweet wine" (Amos 9:11-15). When the elements of a fallen creation fail and run short at a wedding feast, our Lord Jesus steps in to restore creation and miraculously changes water into an abundance of the very best wine (John 2:1-11). With this sign, Christ manifests His glory.

The "back" of God (Ex. 33:12-23) is revealed to those who believe.

“To fulfill all righteousness” MATTHEW 3:13-17.

A Rod has come forth from the stem of Jesse (Is. 11:1-5) the Seed of David whose kingdom shall be established forever (2 Sam. 7:1-16).

In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son Jesus to redeem us from the judgment of the Law (Gal. 4:1-7). Now He is presented in the temple in fulfillment of the Law and revealed to be "a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel" (Luke

2:22-40). Christ has enlightened us in baptism, giving us to be adopted as sons of God and heirs of eternal life. Receiving the Holy Sacrament of His body and blood, we are prepared to depart this world in peace, for our eyes have seen the salvation of God in Him.

God joins creation

Scripture readings and Christmas Carols in celebration of Jesus’ birth.

The coming of God in all His unveiled power at Mount Sinai was terrifying to the people of Israel. The thundering voice of the Lord puts sinners in fear of death (Deut. 18:15-19). God, therefore, raised up a prophet like Moses the Messiah, the Christ. God came to His people veiled in human flesh. The skies poured down the Righteous One from heaven; the earth opened her womb and brought forth Salvation (Introit) through the blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of the Lord (Luke 1:39-56). The fruit of her womb is the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the One whose sandal strap John was not worthy to loose (John 1:19-28). In Jesus we are delivered from fear and anxiety. In Him alone we have the peace of God which surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:4-7).

The voice of the Baptizer cried out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord

" (Isa. 40:1). John called the people to be made ready

for the Messiah's coming through repentance, for "all flesh is grass" (Isa. 40:6). Now He asks from prison, "Are you the one who is to come .?" (Matt. 11:2). Jesus' works bear witness that He is. The sick are made well; the dead are raised, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. Their iniquity is pardoned; they have received from the Lord's hand double forgiveness for all their sins. The "stewards of the mysteries of God' (1 Cor. 4:1) still deliver Christ's overflowing forgiveness to the poor in spirit, comforting God's people with the word of the Gospel which stands forever. This Gospel produces rejoicing among all those who believe.

The day on which our Lord returns will be a "great and awesome day" (Mal. 4:5). For He will come in a cloud with great power and glory.

To the wicked and the proud, it will be a Day of judgment that will

"set them ablaze" (Mal. 4:1). The signs preceding this Day will bring them fear and fainting. But to those who believe, who fear the name of the Lord, this Day is one to look forward to and rejoice in: ". straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:28). Christ our Redeemer is coming; the Sun of Righteousness will bring healing in His wings. Let us, then, give attention to the words of the Lord, which do not pass away. Let us

"through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures" (Rom. 15:4) be strengthened in our hope by the Holy Spirit and watch diligently for Jesus' coming. Then, by God's grace, we shall escape all these things that will come to pass and stand before the Son of Man.

The new Church Year begins by focusing on the humble coming of our Lord. "Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey" (Matt. 21:5). Even as He was born in a lowly manger, so Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a beast of burden. For He bears the sin of the world. He is the Son of David riding to His enthronement on the cross, where He shows Himself to be "The LORD is our Righteousness" (Jer. 23:5-6). Our Lord still comes in great humility to deliver His righteousness to us in the Word and Sacraments. Before receiving Christ's body and blood, we also sing, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Matt. 21:9) And as we receive the Sacrament, we set our hearts on His return in glory, for "our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed' (Rom. 13:11).