As we paralleled the stories of Judah & Tamar [Gen38] along with David & Bathsheba [2Sm12] in bible study this week, the fog continued to be the prevailing theme. Whether it was Judah quietly avoiding to uphold the levirate marriage laws or David concealing the sins of adultery and murder, the fog continued to surround them. Though Judah and David would hide in the fog, this would soon be wiped away. As the signet, cord and staff were presented [Gen38:25] and after Nathan saying to David, “You are the man!”, they were exposed of their sin.

After every warm shower, we are always met with a foggy covered mirror. Our first reaction is to wipe the mirror in order to see our reflection. How foolish it would be if we did not! And so it is with the 2 nd use of the Law [mirror]. For the chief use of the law is to show us the reflection of our sins.

“Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet of the law had not said, “you shall not covet”.[Rm7:7]

However, the greatest temptation is to hide in the fog. Initially, it seems pleasant to hide in our sin, yet it is not so.

“For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away though my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer” [Ps 32:3-4]

Indeed, to hide in the fog is to see our bones wasting away, therefore it is the Lord’s hand tthat is heavy on us [by the Word] to the call of repentance. For the Lord wipes away the fog and reveals our true reflection according to the law. Luther writes based on Psalm 32,

“First, for one who keeps silent (that is, who does not confess), his bones quickly grow old, that is, his powers in which he formerly stood in good things are always reduced more and more by sins. For sin which is not washed away by repentance soon draws another sin by its own weight, as is clear in the case of David…But this can be understood in another way: the bones, which are the firmness of faith and hope, are reduced in their capacity to trust in God by the fact that he puts off confessing. And for that reason he roars, because he feels and fears the vengeance and the hand of God”. Luther’s Works AE 10:147

I asked Eliott the other day, “if you saw a foggy mirror, what would you do?” He said, “I would make a smiley face on it”. Of course, he would. Yet Christ, in the midst of our foggy filled sinful mirror, calls us to repentance and writes on this mirror, “You are forgiven”. For in these words of absolution, your bones are not wasting away, as the fog has been wiped away by the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And though the fog continues to be the great battle for us all, come to church, hear and receive God’s Word, and rest upon the gifts that He has graciously given to you.

Have a blessed June

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2024/2024-06-Newsletter.pdf

“And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” Acts 1:10-11

After Jesus taught for 40 days after His resurrection, Christ ascended bodily to the right hand of God. A significant moment this was as our Lord who, in His ascension, would fully exercise His divine power over all things. Therefore the comfort of Christ’s ascension abounds!

From Luther’s Small Catechism

“What comfort do we get from Christ’s ascension to the right hand of God?” 

A. Christ as our Prophet sends people to proclaim the saving Gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit [see Acts 1:8]

B. Christ as our Priest pleads and prays for us before the Father; [see Romans 8:34] 

C. Christ as our King rules and protects His church and governs over all the world especially for the benefit of His church [see Psalm 110:1]

Indeed, because of His ascension our Lord fully exercises His power. And thus when our Lord said, in Matthew 28 “…and behold I am with you always, to the end of the age”, He is. Or as it reads in Ephesians 4:10, “He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things” and He does. Therefore until the Last Day when our Lord returns, we take comfort by the fact that, in His Ascension, He reigns, rules and is closer to us than ever before. A comforting reality this is yet we also know the trials and struggles that are before us. And in this great strife, we begin to wonder and doubt whether God is really there. Yet friends, in light of His Ascension, though the world, the flesh, and the devil will say otherwise, our Lord Christ intercedes and leads you through His Word and Sacrament.

Therefore, at the Altar, we receive the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. Yes, it may seem like ordinary elements of bread and wine, yet by the power of God’s Word, He delivers you the salve for your soul through the eating and drinking of His body and blood. Indeed a gracious mystery this is, yet where our Lord promises to be, there He is for you.

So take comfort in our Lord’s ascension for He not only departs to prepare a place for you but, He shall return on the last day. And when the trumpets sound, and the tombs shake “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” [Rev21:4].

Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!

Pastor Jeong

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2024/2024-05-Newsletter.pdf