Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Luke 18:31-43
In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
David was anointed to be king of Israel. Jesus was anointed to be the saviour of the world. David was anointed by the prophet and priest Samuel. Jesus was anointed by John the Baptizer, the last and greatest prophet of the Old Testament. David was anointed with oil and then the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus was anointed with the greater anointing of water and the Spirit. David was of the tribe of Judah. Jesus was of David’s own line. David was the eighth son of Jesse. Jesus rose on the eighth day of Holy Week. By the Ark eight souls were saved through the waters of the Flood. By the water and blood shed from Jesus’ side all humanity can be saved from the Coming Judgement.
In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
David was anointed to be king of Israel. Jesus was anointed to be the saviour of the world. David was anointed by the prophet and priest Samuel. Jesus was anointed by John the Baptizer, the last and greatest prophet of the Old Testament. David was anointed with oil and then the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus was anointed with the greater anointing of water and the Spirit. David was of the tribe of Judah. Jesus was of David’s own line. David was the eighth son of Jesse. Jesus rose on the eighth day of Holy Week. By the Ark eight souls were saved through the waters of the Flood. By the water and blood shed from Jesus’ side all humanity can be saved from the Coming Judgement.
For Jesus, this anointed saviour, is not merely an anointed prophet to proclaim God’s Word. He is God’s Word made flesh. He is not merely an anointed priest to offer sacrifices for Himself and others according to the Old Testament laws. He is the High Priest of an entirely New Testament who offered Himself once and for all as a propitiation for the sins of all humanity. Salvation for all comes from Him. He is not merely an anointed king sent to govern and save a worldly kingdom. He is the king and saviour of all mankind sent to save all who will believe on Him, who rules a kingdom not of this world, for it is not limited to geography or time. It has citizens in all countries, in all times of this world’s history and future.
David was his great ancestor anointed by God, chosen by God for His purposes, equipped by God for His tasks. All David’s failings were due to his own inborn sin. All David’s triumphs were due to God’s anointing of David with His Holy Spirit. You see, God saves from beginning to end. God does it all.
David was his great ancestor anointed by God, chosen by God for His purposes, equipped by God for His tasks. All David’s failings were due to his own inborn sin. All David’s triumphs were due to God’s anointing of David with His Holy Spirit. You see, God saves from beginning to end. God does it all.
This is called divine monergism. Divine = God. Mono = one. Ergon = work or power. God is the one power that works your salvation. Not you. Not your actions. Not your good heart. Not your good looks, great abilities, superior breeding, or good choices. For God looks at the heart, not at the outward appearance, which is to say, He sees a person on the basis of His own grace and mercy and not on the basis of your works or merit.
He thinks about you and loves you on the basis of His mercy, not on basis of your actions, good or bad. He is all merciful. To come to Him is to trust in His mercy. It is to cry out for His mercy. It is to demand mercy of Him, not on the basis of who you are, but on the basis of who He is. On the basis of His Son. Jesus. His anointed one who saves.
He thinks about you and loves you on the basis of His mercy, not on basis of your actions, good or bad. He is all merciful. To come to Him is to trust in His mercy. It is to cry out for His mercy. It is to demand mercy of Him, not on the basis of who you are, but on the basis of who He is. On the basis of His Son. Jesus. His anointed one who saves.
Let’s compare these two anointed ones a little more. Where was David when He was chosen by God? Tending sheep. Being ignored by His father who thought him too insignificant to be included with his seven older brothers. He was doing what he ought. The task his father assigned him. He is an image for us, if ever there was one, of Jesus. God chooses a shepherd to shepherd the lost sheep of His nation. Jesus, David’s greater son, is the Good Shepherd who shepherds people by doing the task assigned by His Father and laying down His life for them.
David was a man after God’s own heart. He trusted in the Lord. He loved His Word. Jesus is the Word of God sent from God’s heart to save His people from their sins.
David was anointed in connection to a sacrifice of cleansing. You have been anointed and cleansed with water and the Holy Spirit to connect you to Jesus’ sacrifice, so that His life and salvation might pour forth into you. That’s what “Christ” means--anointed one. That’s what “christen” means--to anoint. To anoint you with the Spirit of the Lord by the water and Word of Holy Baptism. To christen you with the name of the Triune God so that you are made holy by that holy name. That’s what “Christ-ian” means--the anointed one's one. Anointed with the Holy Spirit in the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. With such great power on you and in you what can stand against you? Can death or hell prevail against you? Are you not more than a conqueror of those feeble things through Christ the anointed conqueror of sin, Satan, hell, the world, and all the fear that accompanies them? If God is for you, who can be against you? He has chosen you. He has anointed you with His Spirit. You belong to Him eternally.
Apart from Him you can do nothing. With Him you have everything.
David was a man after God’s own heart. He trusted in the Lord. He loved His Word. Jesus is the Word of God sent from God’s heart to save His people from their sins.
David was anointed in connection to a sacrifice of cleansing. You have been anointed and cleansed with water and the Holy Spirit to connect you to Jesus’ sacrifice, so that His life and salvation might pour forth into you. That’s what “Christ” means--anointed one. That’s what “christen” means--to anoint. To anoint you with the Spirit of the Lord by the water and Word of Holy Baptism. To christen you with the name of the Triune God so that you are made holy by that holy name. That’s what “Christ-ian” means--the anointed one's one. Anointed with the Holy Spirit in the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. With such great power on you and in you what can stand against you? Can death or hell prevail against you? Are you not more than a conqueror of those feeble things through Christ the anointed conqueror of sin, Satan, hell, the world, and all the fear that accompanies them? If God is for you, who can be against you? He has chosen you. He has anointed you with His Spirit. You belong to Him eternally.
Apart from Him you can do nothing. With Him you have everything.
The Anointed One’s love for you is patient and kind. It is not petty in envy or boastful to you about itself so as to puff itself up and make you pay attention to Him. Christ’s love for you is bold to sacrifice itself for you and declare itself to you to build you up in His esteem for you. He does not act in ways that bring shame upon you, seeking His own pleasure by you. He doesn’t get testy with you or tabulate all the times you’ve failed Him. His love doesn’t rejoice in injustice being done to anyone, but rejoices in what is true. He endures all annoyances from you. He believes all things for you. He looks forward for your good in all situations and endured all suffering so that you might be His.
Without Him no matter what abilities you have they accomplish nothing, they give nothing of eternal value, they don’t give you standing in His kingdom, nor do they serve your neighbor or His Church except to temporarily excite the emotions, thereupon letting you down, leaving you with nothing of value. But with Him, through Him, by Him the gifts He gives supply all the Church needs.
This (1 Corinthians 13:1-13) is not a poem in praise of human love. If it is it mocks us, for our “love” is so completely partial as to be utterly false by comparison. No. This is a poem in praise of Christ who is love. He is the complete, perfect, infinite love of God poured out for you on the cross. He already knows you fully and has saved you fully. A day comes when you will know Him face to face as thoroughly as He already knows and loves you.
There are three eternally lasting things: faith, hope and love. Faith in Christ is His necessary gift to you, imparting hope, that sure and certain expectation of His promised salvation, but both of these flow from their source: God’s beloved. God’s love. Jesus. The one anointed to die who in love anoints you with His own Spirit, slaying you and raising you to eternal salvation, doing all that is necessary for you who can not save yourself or even fully understand His love for you so that you need never doubt His love for you.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
—Pastor David Haberstock
Epiphany Lutheran Church
Thunder Bay, ON
Without Him no matter what abilities you have they accomplish nothing, they give nothing of eternal value, they don’t give you standing in His kingdom, nor do they serve your neighbor or His Church except to temporarily excite the emotions, thereupon letting you down, leaving you with nothing of value. But with Him, through Him, by Him the gifts He gives supply all the Church needs.
This (1 Corinthians 13:1-13) is not a poem in praise of human love. If it is it mocks us, for our “love” is so completely partial as to be utterly false by comparison. No. This is a poem in praise of Christ who is love. He is the complete, perfect, infinite love of God poured out for you on the cross. He already knows you fully and has saved you fully. A day comes when you will know Him face to face as thoroughly as He already knows and loves you.
There are three eternally lasting things: faith, hope and love. Faith in Christ is His necessary gift to you, imparting hope, that sure and certain expectation of His promised salvation, but both of these flow from their source: God’s beloved. God’s love. Jesus. The one anointed to die who in love anoints you with His own Spirit, slaying you and raising you to eternal salvation, doing all that is necessary for you who can not save yourself or even fully understand His love for you so that you need never doubt His love for you.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
—Pastor David Haberstock
Epiphany Lutheran Church
Thunder Bay, ON
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