A, The Resurrection of our Lord, Easter Sunday - Colossians 3:1–4 "Living in Transitory Times"

Colossians 3:1–4 (ESV) If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

The Early Church referred to Easter Sunday or the Day of Jesus’ Resurrection as the “Eighth Day”!  The resurrection of our Lord on the first day of the week, is a new eternal day, the eighth day for those who believe in him. Many were baptised on the Easter Resurrection anniversary, celebrating the rebirth of an eternal re-creation through Jesus Christ’s resurrection.  Therefore, many baptismal fonts and pools were eight-sided, as a reminder of the eternal eighth day.   Holy Baptism  into Jesus’ death and resurrection is the eternal dawn through which the old seven days of creation have been reborn.

The symbol is simple: turn the number eight on its side and you see the sign of eternity “∞”. Every Sunday is a weekly Easter, a weekly eighth day, a weekly reminder that through Christ’s holy and precious blood the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, and enlightens God’s children. In Christ’s sinless perfection, the angel of eternal death passes over us. Jesus’ victory over sin and death shields us, and the Spirit continues to sanctify us in that holiness.

But, like all those who’ve gone before us we also live in the old seven day week.  We live in transitory times between Eden and Paradise—we stand between what was broken and what will be restored.  Today, Easter Sunday, we celebrate the Resurrection, the freedom from death, the forgiveness of sin, the “Cross-road” and rebirth of creation through Christ, who was pushed through death so we might be reborn into his eternal creation.

Yet, creation still groans under the old seven day week.  Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans that, “we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:22–23 ESV)

We who believe in Christ and not in ourselves look forward with eternal reassurance trusting in things above.  Yet, we wait for the full adoption and  redemption of our bodies. These are bodies burdened with being built in the old seven day week on earth. 

On this first day of what seems to be another  burdensome week, it’s hard to see that our life is hidden with Christ in God, as God goes with us into the next seven days of suspense and uncertainty.

What appears for us in Christ is a paradox, a seeming contradiction between the worldly reality of the old repetitive seven day week and the new eighth day that points us to Christ, his resurrection, and patiently waiting for our resurrection to finally occur!  But it’s not the only paradox, or contradiction that has occurred.  And the signs of this are all around us if we take into consideration what’s been going on over the last century!

A parishioner who lived nearly a century once reflected that each generation, shaped by the Depression and two world wars, tried to give the next “a better life”. But in seeking comfort, we often turned from the eighth‑day paradox of resurrection to the pleasure paradox of this world. In seeking something “better”, we set our minds on earthly things rather than on Christ above. In this paradox of pleasure humanity continues to seek its glory in the darkness and sin of the seven-day week.  The shift from Christ to comfort is not without consequence.

This shift has been growing for more than a century. When we abandon this Christ‑centred teaching, when any part of Christendom trades the eighth day for the seven‑day pursuit of pleasure, something vital is lost.

If we truly believe that the Lutheran confession of Law and Gospel is the clearest expression of God’s Word and his will, then it is not only a blessing for Lutherans — it’s a gift for Christendom and for the world.  If we believe this, this Christ-centred teaching must be necessary for the survival of a broken fragile worldly ecosystem.

So, we must ask ourselves:

What does the world lose when the church seeks earthly glory?

What happens to the world when the life raised with Christ is pushed aside by us individually or as a community?

What occurs when the Holy Spirit’s calling, gathering, and enlightening is resisted in favour of worldly pressures?

A third paradox has been steadily snowballing since we’ve turned from the eighth day paradox of the Resurrection back to the pleasure paradox of seeking something apparently “better” in this life.

History shows the pattern, so too does the bible! When humanity seeks freedom apart from God, a third paradox appears! God withdraws his presence from his people and without his protection the world grows darker. The twentieth century saw this paradox under Hitler and Stalin.

Today we see similar patterns in the messianic politics of Trump and Putin, and in the retaliatory disobedience of individuals and nations across the globe. These are not merely unconnected social or geopolitical problems. They are symptoms of a deeper spiritual disobedience — a world chasing the seven‑day cycle while rejecting the eighth‑day Christ.

Today we can stand, look, and learn from the past.  We can see and learn from our sins now forgiven in the past, to direct us in the future.  We can see the escalating fever, within us, in the world, and in the deep groaning of creation to learn that while we seek greater freedoms in and from this life, God withdraws! Rather than becoming better, everything gets worse!  Such is this third paradox!

So again, we ask ourselves:

How is our world suffering at the hands of Christianity’s disobedience? 

What about the Lutheran Church’s disobedience towards its Christ-centred teaching? 

What are the consequences for the Lutheran Church and the communities in which it lives when seeking the seven-day week for the self rather than seeking the kingdom of God and his eternal eighth day?

If we hold that our Lutheran teaching is true, what happens when the calling, gathering, and enlightening work of the Holy Spirit is rejected?

What does the word of God say when Jews or Gentiles resisted and rejected God’s word?

So, we cry out to the Lord, “Lord Jesus, save us from being eternally wounded!”

All are called to repentance through Christ’s suffering and death.  All individuals are called to put the old self to death and be raised!  No one is exempt from being called to repentance. No one can be raised up in Christ’s resurrection without the Holy Spirit working repentance within. 

Worldly struggles today are massive.  Neither diplomacy nor bombs will heal what we have broken. The free‑flowing oil through the Strait of Hormuz will not stabilise the world any more than the end of Covid lockdowns healed our anxieties. The only remedy is repentance — a return to the things above, where Christ is, our peace.

Jesus himself trusted the Father through his death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit now calls us to the same, and to submit once again to God’s word rather than our own words, opinions, and thoughts, or the thoughts, opinions, and words of someone we’ve allowed to become our messiah on social media! 

Thankfully there is no partiality with God!  All people are called to repentance. All are called to die and rise with Christ. All Christians are called daily to allow the Holy Spirit to put to death the sins of our seven-day cycle and trust in the resurrection on the eighth day.

The Church — Lutheran and otherwise — is called again to stand in the eighth‑day light of Christ, trusting that when he appears, we also will appear with him in glory.

Amen.

 

Sermon Summary: “Living in Transitory Times”

Colossians 3:1–4 proclaims that those who have been raised with Christ now belong to a new reality — the life “hidden with Christ in God.” The Early Church called Easter the Eighth Day, the dawn of God’s eternal new creation breaking into the old seven‑day world. Baptism joins believers to this eternal day, marking them as participants in Christ’s resurrection even as they still live within the burdens and groaning of the old creation.

Yet we inhabit a paradox. We celebrate the Resurrection while still walking through a world marked by decay, sin, and uncertainty. Creation groans, and we groan with it, longing for the redemption of our bodies. The tension between the old seven‑day world and the eternal eighth‑day life is not merely philosophical — it is visible in history, culture, and the spiritual condition of humanity.

Across the last century, generations seeking “a better life” often traded the eighth‑day hope for the seven‑day pursuit of comfort and pleasure. When the Church shifts its gaze from Christ above to earthly glory, something essential is lost. When Law and Gospel — the heart of Lutheran, Christ‑centred teaching — is neglected, the world is deprived of the very truth that sustains it.

History shows that when humanity seeks freedom apart from God, God withdraws His protection and the world darkens. The horrors of the twentieth century and the messianic politics of today are not merely geopolitical crises but symptoms of deeper spiritual disobedience — a world rejecting the eighth‑day Christ for the seven‑day self.

The remedy is not diplomacy, power, or prosperity. The only remedy is repentance — a return to the things above, where Christ is. All are called to die and rise with Christ daily, to let the Spirit put to death the old self, and to stand again in the eighth‑day light of the Resurrection. The Church is called to trust that when Christ appears, we also will appear with Him in glory.

 Reflection Questions for Personal or Group Study

1. The Eighth Day & Our Identity

•      Where in your life do you most feel the tension between the “old seven‑day world” and the “eighth‑day” life you have in Christ?

•      How does remembering your baptism help you live with confidence in this tension?

2. Setting Our Minds on Things Above

•      What are the “earthly things” that most easily distract you from Christ?

•      What practices help you re‑orient your mind toward “things above”?

3. The Paradox of Comfort

•      In what ways has the pursuit of comfort or “a better life” shaped your faith, for good or for ill?

•      How might the Church today be tempted to trade the eighth‑day hope for seven‑day pleasures?

4. The Church’s Calling in a Groaning World

•      What does the world lose when the Church seeks earthly glory instead of Christ’s glory?

•      How can your congregation bear clearer witness to Law and Gospel in a culture chasing self‑made freedom?

5. Repentance as the Only Remedy

•      Where is the Holy Spirit calling you to repentance — personally, communally, or culturally?

•      How does repentance restore your vision of Christ as your life, your peace, and your future?

6. Living Toward the Appearing of Christ

•      What does it mean for you that “your life is hidden with Christ in God”?

•      How does the promise that “you will appear with Him in glory” shape the way you face the coming week? 

C, Christmas Day - The Birth of our Lord - Isaiah 9:2-7 "The Paradox of God"

Isaiah 9:2–7 (ESV) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.  You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.  For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.  For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

A paradox is a contradiction that is true.  A paradox may seem absurd or silly but beneath the contradiction of terms, a paradox is real and very functional.  Because of the inconsistency, a paradox is cloaked in mystery and it either captures one’s intrigue or it is outrightly rejected as nonsense.

Biblical examples of paradox are —

FINDING and LOSING – Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  (Matthew 10:39 ESV)

LIVING and DYING – Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  (John 12:24 ESV)

GAINING and LOSING – But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ… (Philippians 3:7–8 ESV)

FREEDOM and SLAVERY – …and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.  (Romans 6:18 ESV)

RECEIVING and GIVING – …remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”(Acts 20:35b ESV)

STRENGTH and WEAKNESS – For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.  (2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV)

EXALTATION and HUMILITY – Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.  (James 4:10 ESV)

On the other hand, our generation is teaching the next generation three things that seem good and wholesome but are actually very damaging to our ability to cope and survive in the world.

First, instead of being taught, “whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”.  What is being taught is, “damage is permanent, and it doesn’t make one stronger”.  By wrapping ourselves and those we love in cotton wool, we are becoming less resilient and durable, mentally, physically, and socially. 

The cliché, “if you don’t use it, you lose it” is especially true of our bones and muscles, and if your immune system is not bashed around and tested it becomes less protected.  That is why getting sick or being immunised against sickness with a safely treated dose of the sickness are two ways of becoming immune against the sickness.

The second damaging truth we are taught is to trust our feelings.  When we do this, we end up trusting our perception of the world and not the reality of the world.  This happens on two levels.  Either, humanly, as a psychological reality, or spiritually, as God sees the world and us.  The more humanity trusts its feelings the more depressed it becomes!  The doctrine to trust one’s feelings is damaging us, and mental health illnesses are skyrocketing, for Christians and non-Christians alike!

The third thing we are taught as truth that isn’t, is there are good people and bad people.  Psychologists, and Christians living under the theology of the cross, agree this is wrong, but for different reasons.  Unbelieving psychologists say we evolved as tribal people to compete for survival, and in a positive way we are drawn to competition in things like sport and fun activities, but negatively humanity seeks to dominate and exterminate those they deem inferior, or unevolved and sub-human.

Unfortunately, the church has been very damaging on furthering “the good people, bad people” myth too.  Either we are indoctrinated with the absurdity that I am good, and they are bad.  Or, I am bad, and they are good.  Or even a third unreality that we are all good. 

The problem here is, “who decides on what the benchmark is for what is good and what is bad?”  The reality of God is he created humanity for holiness, but we all have chosen evil instead.  At the heart of the matter, this evil occurs when we dictate what is good and what is bad, instead of God!

Jesus was born into our “good people, bad people, strength and feelings obsessed” so-called reality!  He gave up his divinity and became enfleshed in the mess of human confusion and chaos.  Jesus Christ is the Paradox of God sent to show what humanity trusts, what you and I trust, to be far from healthy.  He is the goodness and holiness of God born to mop up the mess of our badness and evil that causes death.

Jesus was sent by God to be the way, the truth, and the life for humanity.  For Jesus’ birth and life to make any sense in our lives, his life must be held together with his death, so we can have hope, peace, joy, and to know and receive love, in our life and death. The paradox of God takes death and through Jesus’ death gives believers life.

The church and those who hold onto the teaching of the cross, hold onto the Paradox of God. 

The weakness of the manger used to hold a baby who is God Almighty and the prince of peace. 

The Author of Life is born as the written Word of God in flesh. 

In the darkness of night and before the impossibility of the Shepherds to have an audience with God, God’s heavenly choir sings glory to God in the highest on earth peace amongst those with whom he is please.  And the Shepherds witness the Lamb of God, who would take away the sin of the world, and rise to be the Shepherd of Humanity.

Jesus is the Paradox of God!  And he is the paradoxical God who was born for you!  He was born for those whose way has been twisted by the ways of the world.  His truth is the only truth that’s victorious over the reality of death.  And his life of perfection, is the life of holiness in which you are called to clothe yourself, to cover your sinful nature and the sinful things you do.   

In Isaiah chapter nine we hear, “For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.”  (Isaiah 9:4 ESV)  And yet the yoke of burden was broken by him bearing the yoke of the cross.  Our yoke of burden was broken by him taking our yoke upon himself.

Even the reference to Midian is a reference to paradox.  Gideon who saw himself as weak but through the Lord was a great judge of Israel.  He was a man of doubt testing God not just once but twice through putting out a fleece for God to cover with due when there was not due on the ground and then the next evening to keep it dry when the night air was thick with due.  And Gideon was the Judge who overcame Midian, when God reduced the power of his army to three hundred men who overcame them with trumpets and smashing clay jars.

The throne of David has long ended, the temple in Jerusalem was torn down in 70 AD.  But in this child God is with us, the whole divinity of God dwells and temples in us.  God wins through the Christ child! 

Hear Isaiah’s “victory of God” prophecy, in this child who is Mighty God, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.  The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”  (Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV)

Let Jesus Christ, of the manger and the cross, continue winning for you, making you his holy saints, confessing sinners, forgiven humans, being covered with the robes of Jesus righteousness, in his eternal winning kingdom forevermore. 

Let the zeal of God do this for you!  Amen.