We must begin today with a warning. Some of what you hear in this sermon may be jolting. Kids, you are going to be told to do something today that you may have been told you should never do. You are going to be told to fight! Now, we should be clear on the fighting we should do. You are not going to be told to fight with your brother or sister. You are NOT going to be told to be a bully! That’s not okay. But there is a fight we can fight; a fight we Christians MUST fight. It’s a fight we must Fight to the Finish!

Erdmann Neumeister. Ever hear of him? Erdmann Neumeister was actually Pastor Neumeister. He was a pastor in Germany around 1700. He is also the writer of a hymn that in the last few years has become kind of popular in our circles. Erdmann Neumeister wrote the hymn “God’s Own Child I Gladly Say It.” Remember that one? It is a beautiful and very memorable baptism hymn. The third verse contains some of my favorite poetry in a hymn: “Satan, hear this proclamation: I am baptized into Christ! Drop your ugly accusation; I am not so soon enticed. Now that to the font I’ve traveled, all your might has come unraveled, and against your tyranny, God, my Lord, unites with me!” That’s good poetry…and good theology!

On the last and most important day of the festival. (v. 37) Thus begins our text. The “festival” referred to was the Feast of Ingathering, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. On the Jewish calendar, this was the final of the three great festivals that required every male to be in Jerusalem. This festival celebrated the fruit harvest and was also a remembrance of the way the Lord took care of the Israelites when they wandered in the desert those 40 years before entering the Promised Land. It was the most joyous of all the festivals. It lasted a full week. It was a “biggie”!

“Who’s in charge?” That’s an important question. There are many times and places in life where we need to know the answer to that! Children in school need to know who is in charge of the classroom. Players on a team need to know who is in charge and gets to choose the plays and the players. In your place of work you need to know who is in charge. Soldiers going to battle need to know who’s in charge. And if you’ve ever had to have surgery, you sure want to know who’s in charge and calling the shots in the operating room!

A couple weeks ago Sue and I flew to Wichita to see kids and grandkids. As we were preparing to board the plane in Milwaukee, I obsessively checked that I had everything I needed. Phone, money clip, carry-on bag, glasses. Yup, had it all. So we board the plane and are making our way down the center aisle to our seats. I tapped my jacket pocket. Uh-oh! Can’t feel my reading glasses! They’re gone. At some point, in that short distance from the gate to the plane they fell out. And I really need my glasses to function! Fortunately, the problem was easily remedied. A trip to Walgreens in Wichita and I had new readers. Why do I tell you this very boring story? To make the point: it’s not fun to travel and discover that you don’t have everything you need.