Rescued by Christ

Rescued by Christ
Ezekiel 34:11-16,20-24
November 26, 2017

Philippians 1:2 (ESV) 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today the Church celebrates that Last Sunday of the Year. It is a day in which the Church is looking forward to coming of Christ. Many however are not looking forward to that final day so to speak, because of fear. Fear that all they know will come to an end. Fear that there will be pain and misery, maybe fear of the unknown. But we need not be given in to fear. Why, because we have been rescued by Christ Jesus.

The prophet Ezekiel while in exile, hears the news that Jerusalem is destroyed. But in the midst of that bad news, comes this Word of God, that is our Old Testament reading for today. Christ Jesus is the shepherd, who rescues us.

Ezekiel 34:11–12 (ESV) 11 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.

Who is doing the work, who is doing the searching, Christ Jesus. Even after the sheep have been scatted, even is a day of clouds and thick darkness, Christ Jesus seeks out the sheep, referring to the people.

Ezekiel 34:16 (ESV) 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.

There is nothing to fear here, we are healed and restored, set in a place of protection and well fed.

But what about those being destroyed, the fat and the strong. Please note that entrance into the kingdom of God is not based upon the Body Mass Index your BMI score. But rather entrance into the Kingdom of God is based upon God’s grace given to you through faith. The Fat and the strong that Ezekiel references is in regards to those who reject God, who reject the grace that comes from your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When the People of Israel wanted a King just like the other countries around them the Prophet Samuel felt rejected, but the Lord notes:
1 Samuel 8:7 (ESV) 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.

Well the last day you can consider as Vindication day. Not that you are going to be vindicated from all the people that did you harm, but God is going to be vindicated. For everyone who denies the grace of God, for everyone who doesn’t fear God,

St. Paul notes this
Philippians 2:10–11 (ESV) 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

On the last day everyone will bow down and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

However while we are waiting for the last day, we can get discouraged.

We see the church in North America declining, like the sun setting in the evening. The dominance and respect that Christians had seems to be waning. We have just celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, will there be a 600th anniversary? My answer to that question is yes. One of the great themes of the reformation was, The Word of the Lord Endures Forever, based upon 1 Peter 1:25 (ESV) 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

It was preached to the people during the time of St. Peter about 2000 years again, it is being proclaimed today in your hearing, and it will be proclaimed until Christ Jesus comes again. As St. Peter would say in his second letter.

2 Peter 3:13 (ESV) 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

For this is what the church is all about. How Christ rescues us, protects us, guides us.
Here Luther’s Explanation to the 3rd Article of the Apostles Creed.

What does this mean?
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, en- lightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.
In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctify es the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.
In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.
On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.

Ezekiel also notes how Christ will rescue:
Ezekiel 34:23–24 (ESV) 23 And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.

By the way, the servant David, is a reference to line of King David

Luke 2:1–5 (ESV) 1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

More about that is the new Church year.
In His name, Amen.

Philippians 4:7 (ESV) 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.