Deo Gloria
Sermonettes for November 21, 2021
Pastor Martin Bentz
Sermonettes for Christ the King Sunday
Advent
The word Advent means “coming.” So during the season of Advent we prepare for the coming of our Savior Jesus. The first two Sundays we tend to focus on his second coming, when he will come again on the Last Day, and being prepared for that day. The third and fourth Sundays we focus on our Savior’s first coming, when he came into this world to be our Savior. And we prepare our hearts for the celebration of his birth in Bethlehem.
There are two colors associated with the season of Advent. The older, more traditional color is purple, the color of kings. It symbolizes the coming of Jesus, our King. Purple is also a color of repentance and reminds of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the coming Savior by preaching repentance. The second, more recent color is royal blue, which again symbolizes the coming of Jesus, our King, and the hope we have of eternal life in heaven.
The most common symbol associated with Advent is the Advent wreath and Advent candles that remind us that Jesus is the Light of the world.
In our Scripture reading from Matthew ch. 24 Jesus warns us to keep watch, because we do not know when he will return.
Christmas
The word Christmas is actually a combination of two words: “Christ’s Mass.” A mass, of course, is a worship service. So Christmas is a worship service, celebrating the birth of Christ, our Savior.
The early Christians did not celebrate Jesus’ birth. The event they celebrated that was connected with Jesus’ birth was the visit of the Wise Men, which they believed took place on January 6th. That’s why some Christians around the world still today celebrate Christmas on January 6th. It was the Christians in the Western Church or Roman Church who chose December 25th as the day to celebrate Jesus’ birth as a an alternative to Roman sun god festival.
The season of Christmas actually lasts for 12 days—from December 25 till January 5th. These days are an opportunity for us to celebrate God’s greatest gift to us: the gift of a Savior.
The color of Christmas is white, a color of joyful celebration and symbolic of the holy child who was born in Bethlehem.
The two most common symbols associated with Christmas are, of course, the Christmas tree and the Christmas wreath. The green in both symbolize eternal life, which our Savior came to bring us. The star at the top of the tree reminds us of the star that appeared to the Wise Men and guided them to the newborn Savior. The angel at the top of the tree reminds us of the angel who appeared to the shepherds and announced to them the good news of the Savior’s birth.
Our Scripture reading is one of the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Savior, a prophecy that describes the Savior as a King who would save his people, a King who would be their righteousness.
Epiphany
The word Epiphany means “manifestation” or “showing.” During the season of Epiphany we look at stories in the Bible that reveal or show us that that baby who was born in Bethlehem is really the Son of God and Savior of the world. So we look at many of Jesus’ miracles, for example, his changing water in wine, his healing the lame and the blind, his feeding the 5,000, and so on. At the end of Epiphany we look at the story of Jesus’ transfiguration, when he revealed his glory to his disciples. And, of course, we start the season of Epiphany with the story of the Wise Men, who were Gentiles. The story reminds us that Jesus is not just the King and Savior of the Jews; he is the Savior and King of all.
The color for Epiphany itself is white. The color for the rest of the season is green, symbolizing the life which Jesus came to give all people.
The symbol most often associated with Epiphany is, of course, the star, reminding us of the star that appeared to the Wise Men and guided them to the newborn Savior.
Our Scripture lesson from Matthew ch. 2 is the familiar story of the visit of the Wise Men.
Lent
After Epiphany comes the season of Lent. The word Lent means “spring.” Out of the cold and darkness of the winter of sin, we—God’s people—are reborn. We spring to life in our Savior’s resurrection on Easter.
Originally Lent was a time of preparation for people being instructed in the Christian faith. Following the example of Jesus who spent 40 days in the wilderness, adult converts were to spend 40 days in fasting and prayer prior to their baptism, confirmation and first communion on the Saturday before Easter. Today Lent is a time of meditation and repentance. We focus our thoughts on our Savior’s passion and the price he paid to redeem us from our sins. That makes us all the more happy to hear the wonderful news on Easter that our Savior has risen.
The color of Lent is the color purple, a color of repentance.
The symbol most commonly associated with Lent is, of course, the cross on which our Savior Jesus suffered and died.
Our Scripture reading is a portion of Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate, the portion in which Pilate questioned Jesus about being a king.
Easter
Of all the Christian festivals, Easter is the oldest. It was mentioned already by name in A.D. 130.
During the season of Easter, which lasts for 7 weeks, all the way until Pentecost, we celebrate our Savior’s resurrection and what it means for our daily lives. In a way you could say that every Sunday is a celebration of Easter. The reason we gather together for worship on Sunday is because that’s the day Jesus rose from the dead.
The color of Easter is white, a color of joyful celebration.
The two most common Easter symbols are the Easter lily, whose flower is shaped like a trumpet, announcing our Savior’s victory over death, and the butterfly, which emerges from its tomb-like cocoon to a new and glorious life.
Our Scripture lesson comes from the great Resurrection Chapter in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 15. In these verses Paul refers to Jesus as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Jesus was the first to rise from the dead. We, his followers, are the rest of the harvest that will rise later.
Pentecost
The word Pentecost means “50.” Pentecost is the 50th day after Easter and marks the birthday of the Christian Church. On that day our ascended Savior poured out the Holy Spirit on his disciples, just as he promised, and empowered them to proclaim God’s Word to the people in Jerusalem. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, 3,000 people were brought to faith that day. Through the working of the Spirit in God’s Word and Holy Baptism, you and I have also been brought to faith and made members of Christ’s Church. And it is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to fulfill our Savior’s great commission: to go and proclaim his Word and make disciples of every nation.
The color for the day of Pentecost is red, reminding us of the tongues of fire that came and rested on the disciples’ heads. The color for the rest of the season of Pentecost is green, reminding us that by the power of the Holy Spirit working through God’s Word and sacraments, we are to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior Jesus.
The Scripture reading is a portion of Peter’s sermon on Pentecost in which Peter boldly proclaims the message of Jesus and his resurrection and urges the people to repent and be baptized so their sins might be forgiven.
End Times
Now we’re back to today, the last Sunday of the church year. During the last Sundays of the church year we focus on the last days, the end of the world, and Judgment Day. Instead of being fearful or apprehensive, you and I can actually look forward to that day, the day Christ, our King, will come again. We look forward to that day because we know that’s the day Jesus will deliver us from the trouble and sadness of this life and take us to live with him in heaven forever.
The color for the first two Sundays of this season, Reformation Sunday and Last Judgment, is red. The color for the second two Sundays, Saints Triumphant and Christ the King, is white, because we once again we are celebrating, celebrating that Jesus Christ is King.
Our Scripture reading is from Matthew ch. 25, where Jesus himself tells us that he will come back one day in all his glory and that he will judge all people.