Today we commemorate “The Conversion of St. Paul.” This gives us the opportunity to linger over this thing called “conversion.” Just what is “conversion”? “Conversion” is what happens when a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ. The word literally means a “turning around.” A person who has been turned from unbelief to faith in Christ has been “turned around.” They have been converted.
Pastor Jordan Ertl from Peace Lutheran in Sun Prairie lead us in Worship today.
Have you ever noticed how often we find the Son of God in the most unlikely of places? It just happened. We celebrated Christmas and we found the Son of God in a trough, in a feed-box for animals! Not exactly where one would expect to find the Son of God. It happens time and again in his ministry. We find him in the company of society’s “outcasts.” Those known only as “sinners.” We will find the Son of God on a smelly donkey on Palm Sunday. We will find him as a defendant in court. We will find him on a cross. And we will find him temporarily in a tomb. Not exactly places we would expect to find the Son of God.
The historic lesson for this festival and our text for this evening is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew has been called the most “Jewish” of the Gospels. Matthew begins right away in chapter 1 with a genealogy of Jesus that traces Jesus as a descendant of father Abraham, through the proud tribe of Judah, right on through Israel’s great King David. From the outset Matthew wants to present a thoroughly Jewish Messiah!
You’ve got to have the right person with you. That makes all the difference. It is a lesson learned early on in life. Ask the child, “Who do you want to go with you?” Work your way through the list. “You want me to take you?” A little head shakes, “No.” “Do you want Uncle Squirt? He’s fun!” Still shaking “no.” “You want Aunt Deb?” No. “Do you want mommy to go with you?” Now we’re getting somewhere! Now you have mentioned the one who is always there! Now you have mentioned the one who can always be trusted! Now the head goes up and down! “Yes! I will go IF mom goes!”
A couple of weeks ago, we went on a tour of the Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee. The Pabst Mansion is the home Frederic Pabst built back in the 1800’s. It is a grand Victorian mansion typical of what some would call “The Gilded Age.” Upon entering the mansion, one stands in a grand entry area. There is a beautiful grand staircase that ascends three stories. I noticed another set of stairs in the home. This set was around the back of the home, by the back door. It was just an enclosed narrow staircase. It was the servants’ staircase. Only members of the Pabst family and their distinguished guests used the grand staircase; the servants the other.
The Lord many times comes to rescue his people. The entire Old Testament tells story after story of the Lord’s gracious and powerful intervention on behalf of his own. Perhaps the greatest and best-known story in the Old Testament of rescue is the story of how the Lord brought the nation of Israel out of slavery in Egypt.
“Christmas is a little bit of heaven!” Have you ever heard anyone say something along those lines? Some people will say it because it is the time of year when the entire family is able to get together. Children may feel that way because it is a two week vacation from school and teachers may say it because it is a two week vacation from children. For some, maybe seeing the smiles of children make this time of year a little bit of heaven. Whatever it may be, people have their reasons for saying, “Christmas is a little bit of heaven.” But very few, if pressed, would say Christmas is LITERALLY a little bit of heaven.
This Sunday Pastor Luke Werre is leading our worship service. He serves at Peace Lutheran in Sun Prairie.
Last week we heard about John the Baptist. We heard how John the Baptist came on the scene in the spirit and power of Elijah and preached repentance to the people. We heard how he baptized people for the forgiveness of sins in the Jordan River. We heard how he pointed people to the One coming after him, the One whose sandals John felt unworthy to untie.
