- Apr 4, 2025
- 5 min read
The House of God, the Gate of Heaven
There is a saying, “Home is where the heart is” – Which might mean home is that place my heart is most set on. Others may say, “Home is wherever my family is.”
Jacob, in our Old Testament reading today, was fleeing from home. Home was where danger was.
Jacob was not, in big ways, a great guy. His ways fit his name. When Jacob was born, he came out of the womb grasping the heal of his older, firstborn twin, Esau. So, he was named “Jacob”, which means, “He takes by the heal”, or, in other words, “He cheats.”
And cheat Jacob did. Jacob cheated Esau out of his firstborn-birthright. He cheated Esau of their father’s blessing, acquiring the first-born blessing for himself.
God actually used these events to carry out His will – which would’ve inevitably been done. Jacob, however, was acting according to his nature, with no thought of God nor his brother’s best interest. Jacob cheats. And Jacob is now fleeing for his life away from an angry Esau who was overheard plotting to kill him.
That’s the background. Now here’s the first part of today’s reading, in which Jacob does finally encounter the Lord:
I.
Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! [Genesis 28:10-12]
Sleeping, his head on a rock, and Jacob dreams. He sees a ladder – or, the Hebrew could mean a ‘staircase’. Either way, Jacob sees this ladder which is set up on the earth and reaches heaven. Angels of God are going up and down on it, between heaven and earth.
Next, Jacob encounters the Lord: “And behold, the Lord stood above it – or, in the Hebrew, that can mean that the Lord stood ‘next to him’, next to Jacob. It’s ambiguous, it can mean either thing. When Scripture does that, we often can probably assume that it means both things. The Lord of heaven, who is atop this ladder, is also standing next to Jacob, speaking to him on the ground.
And the Lord says to Jacob, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring…” – your offspring will multiply and spread; the nations of the earth will be blessed through your offspring – And, “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Jacob, on this journey, was doing an entirely different thing – his own thing – with no thought of the Lord or the Lord’s plans. But the Lord was thinking of Jacob. Jacob did not know it or think of it, but the Lord was with him on that journey, doing His will and fulfilling His promises to Jacob.
“Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it”, Jacob says when he wakes from sleep. “And he was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’” Jacob then set up a stone in that place as a memorial, because that is the place where the Lord came to him, the place where heaven and earth met together.
II.
What is our ladder, our staircase, bridging, for our sake, earth to heaven and heaven to earth? In this evening’s Gospel, Jesus says to Nathaniel that this ladder is He Himself, Jesus: “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” [John 1:51]
Jesus on the cross is that ladder set up on earth, reaching to heaven. His enemies, who nailed Jesus to the cross and set it up on earth, were doing an entirely different thing. But Jesus, the Lord, was doing His will, fulfilling His promises to you, by giving His life for your salvation. He was thinking of you.
Jesus was crucified on earth but was offering Himself as the one perfect final offering in heaven: “He entered once for all into the holy places… by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” [Hebrews 9:12]. “There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all”, and “who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” [1 Timothy 2:4-6]
Jesus is the one who is in heaven at His Father’s side, yet is with you always at your side – everywhere you go – who has united us fallen sinners back to heaven. He is that ladder.
III.
Jesus accomplished this on the cross 2,000 years ago. He brings this all into your life through the means which He has set up on earth for you today. Jesus remains your ladder through what we call His ‘Means of Grace’ – the means, or ways, through which He brings heaven’s grace down to you – Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the Word of God.
Baptism, by water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is baptism into the body of Christ – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” [Galatians 3:27]. The Lord’s Supper is the body and blood of Christ [Matthew 26:26-28].
And the Word of God – the Word breathed out by God [2 Timothy 3:16] and spoken in the Scriptures – is Jesus Himself: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” [John 1:1,14]
The Word of God in your ears at Church – the Word of God in front of your eyes at home, in your Bible, or in your daily Portals of Prayer reading – and the Word of God remaining in your heart, believed. [Romans 10:8-9]
Rejoice, be glad, and be positive – “How awesome is this place!” Jesus is still set up on earth in your Baptism, in the Supper, and in the Word of God.
Wherever His Word is, there is the House of God and the Gate of Heaven.
So have your heart set on this home, your church. Value this house as the very House of God and Gate of Heaven – because Jesus is set up for you here as your ladder down from heaven.
And make your home a house of God and gate of heaven by valuing and spending your time in His Word and prayer. Amen.
- Apr 4, 2025
- 6 min read
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
I. [Luke 15:1-3,11-24]
The son in today’s Gospel, by the time he came to his senses, must’ve been in ragged clothing – worn and filthy from toiling in the pig pens – must’ve had none of the family rings, jewelry, or ornaments left, having spent it all. His shoes must’ve been worn from work and from the journey. And he was hungry – “longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.”
Upon his return, his father puts on him the best robe, a ring on his finger, shoes on his feet, and kills the fattened calf to eat. Yet, these gifts were about more than food and clothing. His son “was dead, and is alive again… was lost, and is found.”
Let’s back up, briefly, and remind ourselves of what we read. Jesus was teaching. The sinners and tax collectors were all gathering around Him to hear His words. The Pharisees and scribes – religious leaders and experts – grumbled and complained, “This man, Jesus, receives sinners and eats with them!”
Jesus then tells a series of parables – stories which make a point about the kingdom of God – ending with this parable, which is often called the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
The dad in the parable has two sons, an older and a younger. The younger son, as we heard, asked for his share of his inheritance early, his share of the family wealth – which, in my understanding, sons could do at the time.
The father agrees. The son departs. In a far country, he lives lavishly and recklessly – which is what prodigal means, “a lavish spender”. He squanders, wastes as if it were meaningless, all that he had received from his family. And, worse yet, he spent it on things, perhaps, that were not good – “devoured your property with prostitutes”, according to the older son.
That this younger son, hungry and poor because of his bad decisions, is reduced to hiring himself out to work in the pig pens – and desires even to eat pig’s food – probably does point to him having gotten wrapped up in morally unclean things, since pigs, to them, were unclean animals. He has dropped to unmentionable lows.
For a time, it’s like he’s blinded to the wrongness of what he’s been doing, but then he realizes it – “When he came to himself” – when he came to his senses – “he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’
This younger son is starting to understand his wrongs – or at least he is getting tired of the effects – but he doesn’t yet understand his father’s love. Will this father receive him back as only a servant? Will his father knock him down a peg?
The son is returning, “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion” – and before the son has a chance to come near and say any of the things he had planned to say, his father “ran and embraced him and kissed him.”
The son starts to speak, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son” – but before he can try to make his deal about becoming a servant, his father is already lifting him back up to the heights of sonship – “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet” – “bring the fattened calf and kill it” – “let us eat and celebrate” – “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”
A robe, a ring, shoes, and food. Dressed in his father’s nobility; a ring symbolizing his father’s authority, which a son has, a prince; shoes to relieve him from the journey, and food – to nourish him – but, more than that – food to celebrate. A feast of honor. The son is a son again. All is forgotten. Where that son has been goes unmentioned. The son is forgiven and loved.
The father in this parable is God the Father. You all have a father like this. Whether you have one like this on earth or not, you do have one forever – God your Father in heaven, your Creator, who gave His Son as your Redeemer. God who is with you always as true Father.
“Prone to wander, Lord I feel it; Prone to leave the God I love” – yet, before you even get back, God your Father is already running to you. In fact, all He has done for you is already done in the work of His Son Jesus Christ on the cross:
II. [2 Corinthians 5:18-21]
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself… that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them… We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
On the cross, Jesus became your sin – “for our sake God made Him to be sin Who knew no sin” – Jesus wore the sins of your flesh as His robe and was clothed in the muck of your heart’s pigsty – so that, in Him, you are clothed in the clean robe of His righteousness which covers all your sin – “so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered me with the robe of righteousness” [Isaiah 61:10] – “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” [Romans 4:7-8; Psalm 32:1-2]
The invisible robe of Jesus’ righteousness was laid over you in your Baptism – and, more than a ring, He put His name on you – and, more than shoes, He has given you the beautiful feet of those who can proclaim this good news [Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15].
Good news which is a priceless comfort to those who see their sins and their need for a Savior. But news which frustrates the hardened heart:
III. [Luke 15:25-32]
The father’s older son was in the field, heard the celebration, and grew angry – “Father, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me such a celebration – but for this other son of yours, who squandered your property, you celebrate and throw a feast.”
Remember what prompted this parable – the Pharisees grumbling that Jesus receives sinners and eats with them. In the parable, these Pharisees are the older son - those who “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.” [Luke 18:9]
Now, it can be helpful to understand, first, what God’s forgiveness does not mean. God’s forgiveness does not mean that He doesn’t right wrongs or bring justice to evil.
God does care about righting wrongs – because He loves our neighbor, and us, and all those who are sinned against. We can ask God that wrongs against us be righted. And we can serve Him in callings or causes which right wrongs and bring justice.
But the knowledge of God’s patience and forgiveness toward sinners – including toward the chief of sinners; “Chief of sinners though I be” – does put a new heart into the situation.
However, what’s going on with this older son? It’s personal. He’s saying what I’m sure you sometimes say: “I did everything right growing up. And still, I follow the rules. But God wants to be just as good to this person who hasn’t done what I’ve done.”
Well, let’s not be mad at God’s generosity. His generosity in grace toward another does not rob any of His grace from you. And all of His grace is undeserved, including in you.
But the father in this parable is patient toward both sons. He speaks peace to the older son, “You are always with me and all that is mine is yours.” Be glad and celebrate. Your brother lives.
Rest assured that Jesus, the Son of God, has died upon the cross for both the younger-son in you and the older-son in you – for both the prodigal and the pharisee, which are in us all. You were once dead and now are alive. You were lost and now are found. Thanks be to God. Amen.
- Mar 27, 2025
- 6 min read
[Genesis 22:1-19; Hebrews 11:1-3,17-19]
The Lamb Instead of Me
Was it his great obedience? Is the point of the sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22:1-19 that Abraham was so obedient that he would do anything, even kill his own son? And we hope we’re never asked to do anything so severe. And our kids hope so!
As is often the case, we get in the New Testament a clearer and fuller understanding of what we see first in the Old Testament. The New fulfills the Old and gives us the understanding.
In Genesis 22, God did test Abraham and called him to this very strange task. “Abraham!” God said. “Here I am”, said Abraham. “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”
Is God now commanding Abraham to engage in a form of sacrifice which was practiced by the nations surrounding Abraham in that land, but which God strictly forbids? Had God suddenly changed his mind? Or is something far different happening? Something which, in some way, to some degree, Abraham understood?
Abraham rose early the next morning, saddled his donkey, took two of his men with him, and his son Isaac. He cut the wood for the offering. On the third day, they arrive at the mountain God indicated to Abraham.
Abraham takes the fire and the knife, lays the wood on Isaac’s shoulders, and says to his men, “Stay here… I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”
As they walk up the mountain, Isaac speaks up: “My father!” “Here I am, my son”, says Abraham. Isaac says, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham answers, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”
Abraham proceeds. As does Isaac. Isaac is bound. Abraham raises the knife. And in the last moment, at just the right time, God provides the substitute. “Abraham, Abraham, don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him,” shouts the angel of the Lord.
And there is a ram. A ram, its head caught in thorns, to be offered in place of Abraham’s son. Just as Abraham had told his son, “God will provide for Himself the lamb.” In this case, a ram.
Abraham’s obedience to God’s test was not cold or austere. It was the obedience of faith. Abraham loved his son, had waited a long time for him, and believed God’s promises about him. Abraham is not called, in Scripture, the man of obedience but “the man of faith” [Galatians 3:9]
If you remember, Isaac is the son promised to Abraham in his old age. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, was barren. Yet, in their old age, at age ninety for her and one hundred for him, God provided Abraham with a son, an heir – a son about whom God made a promise.
Back in Genesis 15, before Sarah had ever conceived, yet in their old age, God said to Abraham, “Your very own son shall be your heir…” “Look toward heaven, Abraham, and number the stars, if you are able to number them…” “So shall your offspring be.” “And Abraham believed the Lord, and God counted his faith as righteousness.” [Genesis 15:4-6]
“You will have a son from Sarah [see also Gen. 17:17; 21:2]. Through that very son, your descendants, your offspring – your grandkids and great great great grandkids – will become nations, tribes, a great and numerous people.”
If God’s promise to Abraham about Isaac is true, then Isaac will live. Even though God has given this strange command, somehow, in some way or another, Isaac will live. Even if Isaac dies, Isaac will live. Because God promised descents through Isaac.
Though God had commanded Abraham to offer his son, Abraham nevertheless believed that Isaac would, somehow, be coming down the mountain alive with him that day. He said to his two men, “Stay here; I and the boy will go over there and then come again to you.”
It was based on this faith that Abraham did not withhold his only son [Gen. 22:12,16]. This is not my own interpretation. This is what the New Testament Scripture tells us, as we read: “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.” [Hebrews 11:17-19]
And, as Abraham told his son, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for an offering.” And now, in these days, God has provided the Lamb for an offering. The “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” [John 1:29]. Jesus.
In your place – instead of you – instead of your sons or daughters – that we need not die for our sins, God gave His one-and-only Son, whom He loves, to die for sin in our place as the offering that ends all offerings – the sacrifice, in full, which atones for the sins of the world. The Lamb sacrificed instead of me, which saves me, forever, from sin, death, and the devil. God’s Son, the Lamb of God, in our stead on the cross.
Father Abraham offering his son, Isaac, in Genesis points us to the Father of us all offering His beloved Son, Jesus, for our sake. Jesus, the one righteous one, the only spotless lamb, offered Himself for sinners – ending the need for sacrifice as the way to make us right with God. Once-for-all. “It is finished”, He said.
Abraham is “the man of of faith”. Abraham “believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness” [Gen. 15:6; Galatians 3:6; Romans 4:3]. You also are alive to God, and are counted righteous to Him, not by your works, but by faith – “So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” [Galatians 3:9]
“Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.’” [Romans 4:4-8]
All because the perfect Lamb of God was offered for your sins, shortcomings, and failures instead of you.
What does this mean in life? God will not call you to the task He called Abraham. That was a one-time thing, and it is finished. But you are called to many tasks and callings in life for God and for your neighbor.
That God no longer looks at your daily shortcomings, failures, and sins – because your life is washed in the blood of the Lamb – means that you can always approach what God has given you to do with confidence.
You are not condemned. You are not on the run. God is not against you. Because of the Lamb, God is for you. He is now your dear Father, not your scrutinizing Judge. He is not holding yesterday’s failure over your head. He is there for you.
We might be, in some ways, C- people called to A+ tasks. Serving our neighbor. Serving His people. Serving our children. God forgives the ‘minuses’ and gives the ‘pluses’.
All that is wrong in me, the Lamb has carried to the cross in Himself. Therefore, we can approach the many things God has called us to do with confidence – confidence in Him — that He is willing to give the success in me, even in me, that He desires.
And because of the Lamb, you can now also approach God’s throne with confidence. And His altar with confidence. And pray with confidence. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” [Hebrews 4:16] – because of the Lamb who went to the cross instead of us. Amen.
