Joshua 3:1-4a

“Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. ² After three days the officers went throughout the camp, ³ giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. ⁴ Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.”

Forty years.  The past forty years had been building up to this moment.  After wandering through the barren wasteland of the Sinai Peninsula, then traveling around far to the south of the Dead Sea, through more harsh, arid climate, the Israelites were on the doorstep of the land God had promised to them—a land “flowing with milk and honey.”

But it was a new land, a strange land, a dangerous land.  While it would one day be their home, for the time being, they would be unwelcome strangers in unfamiliar surroundings.  Left to their own devices, the world around them would’ve eaten them up.  The Canaanites, who lived in the land, were brutal, aggressive, and depraved people who, among many other sins, practiced child sacrifice.

Once they crossed the floodwaters of the Jordan River, how would the Israelites know where to go?  The answer: The LORD would lead them.  The ark of the covenant was the visible representation of God’s invisible presence.  It was a reminder to Israel that the LORD was with them.  When they weren’t certain where to go, all they had to do was follow the ark.

Here is a good lesson for all of God’s people whenever they enter new and uncertain territory in life: Follow the LORD.  It could be a change of schools, like heading into high school or moving on to college.  It could be moving away from home to a new city.  It could be starting a new job.  It could be a change in life circumstances—declining health, a debilitating injury, the loss of a loved one, etc.

We need this reminder.  It’s easy to forget to follow the LORD when we are busy with entering a new territory of life.  And when we don’t follow, one of two things happens.  Either we ironically forget the one who blesses our success in the new territory of life, or we struggle precisely because we have not remembered our LORD and his commands and promises.

Let us remember God’s promises.  He will never “leave us or forsake us.” (Deuteronomy 31:6—words spoken to Israel just before entering the Promised Land)  He promises that when we follow him, we “will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)  He promises that when we follow him, we are blessed. (Psalm 128:1)

“If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; ²⁴ though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” (Psalm 37:23-24)

Luke 3:1-2

“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.”

As I was preparing for my upcoming sermon on Luke 3:1-6 on December 2nd, 2018, my attention was drawn to these two verses. For a while I seriously considered going into greater depth on them. I even had a good two hundred or so words typed out. But alas, I recognized that it would’ve interrupted the flow of the sermon, and so those words met the delete button. I didn’t even hang on to them for this little devotion.

One of the many accusations leveled against the Christian faith is that the stories we hold to are nothing more than fiction, fairytale, or myth. More often than not, though, these dismissive arguments come from people who may have a strong gut reaction against the Bible, but have not arrived at their conclusions through any serious legwork. Had they done the legwork to investigate the Bible’s claims, they would agree with numerous trial lawyers (Craig Parton being one of them), who have said that both the internal and external evidence for the Bible’s claims passes the bar for reasonable doubt. Some trial lawyers have even gone on to say that they have won convictions with less evidence that what there is for the central truth claim about Christianity: That Jesus rose from the dead.

Legwork…That’s what stands out to me in this reading. At the onset of Luke’s gospel, Luke makes this statement: “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:1-4)

I absolutely LOVE the historian in the person of Luke. In preparing his letter—his account of the life and ministry of Jesus—for Theophilus, he wasn’t content with hearsay or the passing down of stories, the latter of which was common in oral societies. He investigated—i.e. he interviewed eyewitnesses, corroborated stories, got his facts straight.

One of the fruits of that labor was pinpointing the time when John the Baptist began his ministry. It was in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. And then he goes on to list another four local rulers. Taking these statements and pairing them up with other, non-biblical ancient documents that we have, we can say with certainty that John’s ministry began either in the year 28 or 29 A.D.

And here’s the great thing about this. It’s not fairytale. Verse 7 says that crowds came out to be baptized by him. Matthew’s gospel reports that people from all over the region went out to see him. Even the religious leaders of the day, Pharisees and Sadducees—i.e. his enemies—could not deny Luke’s report about John.

This is what I value so much about my faith. It’s rooted in reality, not mere philosophy or speculation. It isn’t something that a small group of people conjured up in their minds for the sake of prosperity and gain. The Christian faith is not divorced from history. It’s a part of the history of God’s people—in the days when Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census (Luke 2:1); in the days when Tiberius was Caesar of Rome (Luke 3:1); in the days when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea (Luke 3:1)—a claim Bible critics disputed for centuries until evidence of Pilate’s existence was unearthed at Caesarea Maritima. It is HIS-story: The history of God becoming also man. The history of his teaching and his miracles, both of which even his enemies couldn’t deny. The history of his crucifixion and resurrection.

What is this SO BIG for me? It gives me confidence: Confidence that my faith is not based on a lie or deception. Confidence that I’m not backing the wrong horse. Confidence that “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…” And so “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.” (CW 382)

Luke 24:50-53

“When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” Luke 24:50-53

Two weeks ago the world waited with bated breath as the British royal family of Prince William—second in line to the throne of England behind his father Prince Charles—and his wife, Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were about to welcome their third child into the world. Even in America, news of the British royal family captivates our attention like no other country’s royalty on earth. Then on Monday, April 23rd, 2018, Kate gave birth to their third child, a son named Louis.

For my entire life—38 years—there has not been a king seated on the throne of England. That position has been vacant since King George VI died on February 6, 1952—66 years, 3 months, 2 days ago and counting (5/8/2018). From that moment on, the monarchy of Britain has been headed by his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. At age 92, she is the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch.

Lord knows how many more years Queen Elizabeth has in her, yet we can be sure that, when the time of her passing comes, following a period of mourning at her death, there will be a very big to-do at the coronation of the next king of Britain. If the birth of the 5th in line to the throne is enough to garner worldwide attention and media obsession, how much more so the return of a king to Britain!

Five months ago, many Christians throughout the world remembered the moment when our holy King of heaven stepped off his throne and came to earth. Normally a king leaving his throne is a cause for mourning. Yet we rejoiced once more at Christmastime as our God become one of us and one with us by taking on human flesh and blood. Then, at the end of March, we celebrated with somber joy his sacrifice for our sins. A few days later, we let loose with Alleluia’s (“Praise the Lord!”’s) at his victory over the grave.

Now, on this Thursday, May 10th, the 40th day after our resurrection celebrations, we remember the completion of Jesus’ earthly ministry. It is a lesser-known festival of the Christian church called Ascension. For it was 40 days after Jesus rose from the dead that he ascended into heaven from the Mt. of Olives. That day was his coronation day.

When Jesus ascended, what do we see the disciples doing? Not weeping at the loss of Jesus, but celebrating his coronation. They returned the short, Sabbath-walk to Jerusalem with great joy. They worshiped him. They frequented the temple, praising God.

Granted, Ascension doesn’t receive much attention these days. Because it’s not commercialized, because our society isn’t built around this holiday, it might easily pass us by without any notice. Will you be texting your friends or calling them to wish them a happy Ascension? And if on the off-shot chance you do, might they be more than a little surprised at your well-wishes?

And yet, this is perfect for us. Here is a sacred holiday that hasn’t been hijacked by American consumerism. It is a day that we can celebrate simply for what it is—Jesus returning to his throne—without the distractions of parties, gifts, or Easter baskets. So if you haven’t made plans already, take some time out to worship Jesus this Ascension. Or maybe incorporate your plans into your worship planning. Praise and celebrate the one who has returned to his throne and rules over all things for the good of his church.

Crown him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon his throne;
Hark how the heav’nly anthem drowns
All music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of him who died for thee,
And hail him as they matchless King
Through all eternity.

Crown him the Lord of heav’n,
Enthroned in worlds above;
Crown him the King to whom is giv’n
The wondrous name of Love.
Crown him with many crowns
As thrones before him fall;
Crown him, ye kings, with many crowns
For he is King of all.
“Crown Him with Many Crowns” vv. 1,4

Nota Bene: In years past, St. Peter’s of Eldorado and St. Luke’s of Oakfield have joined together in a joint celebration of Ascension. Due to a pastoral vacancy at St. Luke’s, there will be no joint Ascension service this year. Those in the Eldorado area wishing to celebrate Ascension at a Divine Service are encouraged to attend a 6:30 pm service at either St. Paul, NFdL or Redeemer FdL.

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. (Luke 24:9)

The day of resurrection!

Earth, tell it out abroad,

The Passover of gladness,

The Passover of God.

From death to life eternal,

From this world to the sky,

Our Christ has brought us over

With hymns of victory. (CW 166:1)

This world has never heard news greater than that of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. News of war outbreak, peace treaties, and scientific discoveries all pale in comparison to the headline that would have been in a Jerusalem newspaper: “Crucified man lives again!”

It’s difficult to squash that news. Unbelief, hatred, and indifference stand in the way of advancing the news of Jesus’ resurrection. The women on Easter Sunday had none of those attitudes. They had faith in Christ, and once they understood the angels’ explanation of the empty tomb, they set out sharing that news with others.

After all, it was “the day of resurrection,” as today’s hymn writer put it. It was the day death met its match. It was the day death took a backseat to life. Those women possessed the greatest news in the history of the world, and they were not about to be selfish with that.

That’s the way God wants it. Jesus told people about the day of resurrection when he lived on earth. He raised the dead. He spoke of his own resurrection. He pointed people ahead to the resurrection of all the dead on the Last Day.

God has given you the news of the day of resurrection for your own good and for the good of others. God wants all people to know and believe that Jesus Christ lived and died for their sins. God wants all people to know about Jesus’ day of resurrection and to look to him in faith as their risen Savior. God wants all people to be confident about the day of their own resurrection to eternal life through faith in Christ.

Like the women, tell someone else about the day of resurrection. Tell someone who is sick; tell someone who is dying; tell someone who is healthy. “Tell it out abroad,” in the words of the hymn writer, that the day of resurrection, judgment day, may be a day of blessing for as many people as possible.

Lord God, thank you for the Passover of gladness. Use me and bless my efforts to tell abroad the news of your Son’s resurrection. Amen.

Devotion taken from Easter Triumph, Easter Joy: Devotions for the Easter Season, compiled and edited by Curtis A. Jahn. ©2017 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Image above by Samuriah