Posted on by Fred Scragg 5

Heaven and Hell

Luke 16.19-31

Abraham Lincoln ran for Congress in 1846, and he faced a formidable opponent: Peter Cartwright. Cartwright, a raw-boned, circuit-riding Methodist preacher, was known throughout Illinois. During his sixty-five years of riding the circuit, he would baptize nearly ten thousand converts.

During the intense 1846 Congressional campaign, some of Cartwright’s followers accused Lincoln of being an “infidel.” In response, Lincoln decided to meet Cartwright on his own ground and attend one of his evangelistic rallies.

Carl Sandburg, in Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years, tells the story this way:

In due time Cartwright said “All who desire to lead a new life, to give their hearts to God, and go to heaven, will stand,” and a sprinkling of men, women, and children stood up. Then the preacher exhorted, “All who do not wish to go to hell will stand.” All stood up–except Lincoln. Then said Cartwright in his gravest voice, “I observe that many responded to the first invitation to give their hearts to God and go to heaven. And I further observe that all of you save one indicated that you did not desire to go to hell. The sole exception is Mr. Lincoln, who did not respond to either invitation. May I inquire of you, Mr. Lincoln, where are you going?”

And Lincoln slowly rose and slowly spoke. “I came here as a respectful listener. I did not know that I was to be singled out by Brother Cartwright. I believe in treating religious matters with due solemnity. I admit that the questions propounded by Brother Cartwright are of great importance. I did not feel called upon to answer as the rest did. Brother Cartwright asks me directly where I am going. I desire to reply with equal directness: I am going to Congress.”

Lincoln did just that. He went to Congress.

In this morning’s Biblical text chosen for us by the lectionary, Jesus tells us a story of Heaven and Hell.  Just like the Civil War politician and evangelist did with the crowd before him, Jesus asks you to answer similar questions this morning.  Do you desire to avoid the punishment of God in Hell?  And, do you desire to receive the comfort of God in Heaven.

Let’s hear from Jesus’ teaching this morning.

Luke 16:19–31 has Jesus telling this story:

[19] “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. [20] And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, [21] who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, [23] and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. [24] And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ [25] But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. [26] And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ [27] And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—[28] for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ [29] But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ [30] And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ [31] He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” (ESV)

What we see clearly in this text is that Jesus is acknowledging the presence of a real Heaven and a real Hell in everyone’s eternal life after death.

This is very important because they are many, both outside and inside the Church, that deny the presence of Hell.

The argument goes like this:

“If God is truly loving, He would never send anyone to Hell where they would suffer torment forever.”

This argument even made it to the forefront of Christianity about 20 years ago while I was in seminary.

At that time, there was a movement inside Christianity called The Emergent Church.  The Emergent Church removed the Bible from it’s proper place at the center of Christ’s Church.  In place of the Bible, The Emergent Church put the individual’s emotions, feelings, and experiences, at the center of their so-called Christian faith. This heretical teaching led people to believe that they needed to feel warm and fuzzy when they were sitting in Church in order to know that they were a spiritual person and God was real.  In many ways, this led to the popular methods used by Mega-Churches. These “churches” are more like concerts at Madison Square Garden—darkened sanctuaries so that you can’t see your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ which is telling you that you are all alone in your relationship with God; emotionally manipulative light shows paired with and a perfectly curated set of songs performed by paid musicians to create an atmospherically ambient environment to provoke your clapping, dancing, and crying at just the right moments.  It is in this place of “good vibes” that you are ready to receive the Christ-less, sin-less, gospel-less, motivational talk that parallels the Saturday Night Live skit mantra, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!”

Coming out of this movement that promoted the idea that “Christianity is about feeling good about God,” and a dangerously incorrect and damning understanding of “love,” two celebrity pastors of the day both authored books denying the existence of Hell.  Both false teachers, Rob Bell and Francis Chan, masquerading as pastors for millions of people around the world, used the emotionally manipulative Emergent Church moment to remove the doctrine of Hell from it’s home in the Bible.

Another important truth that we need to takeaway from this morning’s Biblical teaching from Jesus is that once we leave this world, and we all will because everyone dies regardless of what you have in this world or what you lack in this world, our destination is final.

Again, there are many false teachings about the presence of after death waiting rooms, some call it purgatory, some call it limbo.  These teaching about people left behind on earth being able to light candles, make monetary donations, and say prayers for those that have already died, are are completely made up and not Biblical at all.  

There is no bridge across the chasm that separates eternal suffering from eternal comfort in the arms of God.  

Jesus himself, with many other Biblical texts, make it clear that your faith or unbelief in this current life have already decided your eternal home.  There is no second chance once you breath your last breath.

The rich man had a very strong faith.  However, his faith was in the completely wrong thing.  

The rich man had faith that his wealth and possessions had the ability to provide for all of his needs.  He trusted in his wealth and possessions so much that he greedily hoarded them.  He refused to share them with those around them that needed help.

We know that the rich man lacked mercy and was completely selfish as he walked past Lazarus, the poor and needy invalid, every day and would not even give him the food scraps off of his dinner table to sustain the poor man’s life. 

The rich man’s money and possessions could not guarantee him a place in the comfort of God’s arms in eternal life.  Instead, the rich man’s faith in the things of this earth, and not in the merciful and forgiving God of Creation and Redemption, that was outlined for him in the Holy Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets—our Old Testament, led him to miss out on the eternal comfort that God, the Father in Heaven, desperately desired for him to have.

As we heard from Jesus last week in the Biblical text that immediately precedes this morning’s text, [13] No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16.13, ESV)

And, in a Biblical text that follows this morning’s text, we hear about a conversation that Jesus has with another wealthy ruler. That conversation unfolds like this:

[18] … a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” [19] And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. [20] You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” [21] And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” [22] When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” [23] But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. [24] Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! [25] For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” [26] Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” [27] But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” [28] And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” [29] And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, [30] who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18:18–30,ESV)

The rich man’s Sin was ultimately his unbelief.  He denied God’s existence and God’s commandments as laid out in the Old Testament scriptures that he was well aware of.

However, that ultimate Sin of rejecting God the Father in Heaven who desires nothing more than to cover him with grace and mercy and forgiveness and love, led him to place his trust in something else.  As we have seen, the rich man placed in trust in what he owned.  In his focus on retaining what he had and gaining more, the rich man misused what he had in this life and did not show mercy and care for those around him. The rich man relied on his material goods to meet his needs.  Even though his material goods could meet his earthy needs, they could not meet his eternal needs.  

The rich man refused to provide comfort to Lazarus.  So, the rich man will not be comforted by God.  Instead, he will experience an eternity of separation from God in a place of torment, anguish, and flame.

The good news that this text contains for each one of us this morning is the good news that God will comfort you who place your trust in Him.

God’s comfort isn’t just for your time in Heaven.  God’s comfort is for here and now as well.

As you live in a world broken down by the corruptions of Sin, you can find rest and comfort in the truth that this is not all that there is.

As Christians, we are not nihilists.

As Christians, we do not believe we suffer and then we are snuffed out by death with nothing to follow. 

No, we believe the truth of God’s Word to us, the Holy Bible, that tells us that He is a just and right God.  He tells us that both Heaven and Hell exist.

Hell, Hades, Sheol, the pit, whatever Biblical name you hear for the place of eternal punishment and suffering for those who do not repent of their unbelief, their Sin, their wrong doing, and disobedience to God, should bring you comfort, not because you rejoice in someone else’s punishment, but you should be brought comfort because you know that God will not just brush the suffering and pain, inflicted on us by evil, under the carpet.  No, in God’s justice, evil will be receive it’s right punishment.

The knowledge of that truth should bring comfort because it means that the injustices that we experience and witness in this life will not go on forever.  God will bring an actual end to all wrong-doing.

The knowledge of that truth should also bring comfort because we who find ourselves believing in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our own Sin, we be ushered into God’s eternal presence once we exit this life.

Here is a vision of the Heaven that you who trust in Jesus will experience.

Revelation 21:1–4 says this:

[1] Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. [2] And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. [4] 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.” (ESV)

If you realize that in Sin, you are the rich man placing your trust in what you have and what you can get in this life, while looking past the needs of others selfishly refusing to bring comfort to those around you, even though you have plenty of means to do so, repent and believe in Jesus, who died on the cross to forgive you of that selfishness, self-centeredness, and self-righteousness.  Jesus died on the cross so that you could ultimately be brought back to God where you find comfort in His gracious and merciful arms all of the days of your life and into eternity.

What we have to realize is that each of us is Lazarus in this text.  We are invalids completely unable to help ourselves into a place of comfort.  We can’t buy God’s comfort.  We can’t earn God’s comfort.  We can’t trade what we have in this life for God’s comfort.  

However, God, in Jesus Christ, comes to us as we are laying in the gutter outside of the city and picks us up, holds us in his arms, heals our wounds, feeds us, nourishes us back to perfect health, and comforts us with His love, grace, and mercy forever and ever.  

This morning, you who have heard the good news of Jesus Christ crucified for your Sin of unbelief, your Sin of trusting in the false god of earthy possessions, your Sin of living without mercy for others, and in response find yourself believing in God’s love and forgiveness, can now confidently stand to lead a new life, daily giving your hearts to God, while being comforted today and eternally in heaven. 

This is the Word of God for you today.

This is the Grace of God for you today.

Amen.

Reverend Fred Scragg V.

September 28, 2025.

Posted on by Fred Scragg 5

Key to the Kingdom

Luke 13.22-30

There is a lot of talk out in the world about Jesus and the Bible.

To be more specific, there is a lot of negative talk out in the world about Jesus and the Bible.

The negative talk about Jesus and the Bible goes something like this:

  • The God of the Bible is mean.
  • The God of the Bible is unfair.
  • The God of the Bible is vindictive.
  • The God of the Bible is evil.
  • The God of the Bible is sadistic.  
  • The God of the Bible is arrogant.
  • The God of the Bible is narcissistic.
  • The God of the Bible is oppressive.

However, when we actually open the Bible and read it and when we come face-to-face with a text like this morning’s Biblical text, we can see that every one of those negative statements is false.  

All of those negative views and negative opinions about God the Father, God the Son—Jesus, and the Holy Scriptures (that we colloquially call The Bible), stem from pure ignorance and Biblical illiteracy.

In this morning’s Biblical text, that comes from The Gospel of Luke, or, in other words, Luke’s biography of Jesus, we see a Savior God who overflows with grace, mercy, and compassion by clearly showing you the way to faith, hope, and love.

Let’s hear from our Biblical text chosen for us by the lecitonary now.

Luke 13:22–30 tell us this:

[22] [Jesus] went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. [23] And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, [24] “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. [25] When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ [26] Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ [27] But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ [28] In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. [29] And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. [30] And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (ESV)

Jesus’ compassion for you is present in these words because He tells you the He desires for you to enter God’s Kingdom of Heaven. 

Jesus’ grace toward you is present in these words because He shows you the exact way to enter God’s Kingdom of Heaven.

And, Jesus’ mercy toward you is present in these words because He forgives your Sin with His own death on the cross and makes the opening of the door to Heaven possible for you through His defeating of death in His resurrection. 

We live in a time and place that is defined by pluralism.

Pluralism is the idea that there can be many ultimate sources of authority in the world.

The problem with that theory is that two contradicting beliefs can both be called “right,” or, “correct.”  Pluralism creates logical fallacy. 

However, pluralism has led to the idea that there are many paths to God and many different roads to Heaven.

But, as we hear Jesus tell us today, the theology of pluralism is incorrect.  The road that leads to God is narrow and the door that leads to Heaven is narrow.

To say that in a way that has cultural significance for us today, is to say, 

All roads DO NOT lead to God the Father in Heaven.

And, all doors DO NOT lead you into the eternal presence of your Maker and Creator.

And, there ARE NOT many ways into God’s presence.  

Finding forgiveness for your Sin and receiving eternal life IS NOT a choose-your-own-adventure game. 

But, in our Sin, our selfishness, our self-centeredness, and our self-righteousness, we want to believe that we can do and believe whatever we want and as long as we try our best, God has to accept us.

Let me ask you a question…

When you get home today, how will you get through the front door of your house?

You will use a key.

Will every key on your keychain open the front door to your house?

No!

Only the key specifically designed for the lock on that specific door will provide you a way into your home.

The same is true for the door to God’s Kingdom.

Not everything you try will get you through the door into Heaven.

Only the key specifically designed for the door will provide you a way into your Heavenly eternal home.

Jesus tells you this morning that:

Self-help and self-improvement techniques will not get you through the door into Heaven.

Pop-psychology’s pithy advice will not get you through the door into Heaven.

Waving flags and advocating for your rights or the rights of others will not get you through the door into Heaven.

Charitable giving will not get you through the door into Heaven.

Volunteer service will not get you through the door into Heaven.

Mixing and matching beliefs from the Bible and/or other sources until you feel good about yourself and your system of virtue will not get you through the door into Heaven.

Having a “God of Your Own Understanding” does not get you through the door into Heaven.

Voting for a specific political party will not get you through the door into Heaven.

John’s biography of Jesus, we hear this:

[7] So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. [8] All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. [9] I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. [10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. [11] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:7-11, ESV).

A little later in The Gospel of John, we hear explicitly clear directions to the door that leads to eternal life when Jesus says:

[1] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. [4] And you know the way to where I am going.” [5] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” [6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14.1-6, ESV)

And, in the Apostle’s Paul letter to the Christians in the city of Rome during the first Century A.D., he preached to them the ONLY way to the door that leads to God the Father in Heaven when he said:

[9] if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. [11] For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:9–11, ESV)

If you are standing at the door today and relying on anything but Jesus to get you through that door into God’s presence, I ask you, in fact, I beg you, to lay down what you are holding onto, that is not Jesus, because you will not fit through the narrow door with anything in your hands except faith in the life, death, and resurrection of your Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Put down your laundry list of good deeds.  

Put down your bank statements and charitable giving receipts.

Put down your log sheet of volunteer service hours.

Put down calendar with markings on all of the days you went to church instead of sleeping late.

Put down your flags and flag poles. 

Put down your voting ballots.

Put down your self-help books and therapeutic techniques.

You cannot work yourself through the door to Heaven.

However, God has opened the door for you and come out to get you and bring you in with Him in the person and work of Jesus Christ.  

In God’s great love for you, He has clearly shown you the door to Heaven and the way that the door is unlocked.

Yes, the door is narrow.

But, the door is not hidden!

God has clearly marked the door with the blood of His Son Jesus Christ that cleans you from every unGodly thought, word, and action, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  

This morning, in the Sacrament of Baptism, God has shown not only Martin, but all of us, the way through the narrow door into God’s eternal presence in His Kingdom of Heaven.

We baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, because it is only through the grace and love of God in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ applied to us by the Holy Spirit that we can enter through the narrow door that leads to eternal life.  

The band Stillwell, made up of members of P.O.D. and Korn, sing,

I’m fallen, so broken

Having a come to Jesus moment

This morning, if you are fallen and broken because nothing you have or do brings hope into your life, hear Jesus calling to you and inviting you home into God’s eternal kingdom.

Confess and repent of your Sin that has you trying to unlock the door to the Kingdom of Heaven with everything and anything but Jesus. 

This morning, the work of unlocking and opening the door to God’s Kingdom of Heaven has been completed for you.  The door to God’s Kingdom of Heave is unlocked and opened for you who simply believe in Jesus’ life of perfection, death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead, all completed on this earth in this historical timeline, for the forgiveness of your Sin and the gifting to you eternal life.

This is the Word of God for you today.

This is the Grace of God for you today.

Amen.

Reverend Fred Scragg V.

August 24, 2025.

Posted on by Fred Scragg 5

Jesus Writes Your Name In Heaven

Luke 10.1-2, 16-20

The late Bible scholar John Stott once said, “Pride is your greatest enemy, humility is your greatest friend.”

According to the National Geographic’s kid’s website, the Pufferfish can inflate into a ball shape to evade predators. Also known as blowfish, these clumsy swimmers fill their elastic stomachs with huge amounts of water (and sometimes air) and blow themselves up to several times their normal size … But these blow-up fish aren’t just cute. Most pufferfish contain a toxic substance that makes them foul tasting and potentially deadly to other fish. The toxin is deadly to humans—1,200 times more deadly than cyanide. There is enough poison in one pufferfish to kill 30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote.

Like Pufferfish, human beings can blow themselves up with pride and arrogance to make themselves look bigger than they are. And this pride can become toxic to a marriage, a church, a friendship, and your faith.

In this morning’s Biblical text, chosen for us by the lectionary, we are going to be hearing from Luke 10.1-12 and 10.16-20.  

In this piece of history, we are going to hear Jesus sending out 72 of his followers to do the work of God in the world.  However, while doing God’s work, these disciples slipped back into the sin of pride and self-righteousness, finding purpose and meaning in their good deeds instead of remaining focused on God’s good deeds toward them in saving them and allowing them to be part of His mission of loving others into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Let’s hear from our text now.

Luke 10:1–20 tells us this:

[1] After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. [2] And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. [3] Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. [4] Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. [5] Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ [6] And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. [7] And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. [8] Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. [9] Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ [10] But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, [11] ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ [12] I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

[16] “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

[17] The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” [18] And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. [19] Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. [20] Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (ESV)

Last week, we heard that Jesus was on a mission from God.  

Jesus’ mission from God was to deliver forgiveness for Sin and eternal life in Heaven to those who repented and believed in His sufficiency to do those promised things.

This week, we hear that as believers, as Christians, as disciples of Jesus, we are commanded to go out into our homes, work places, schools, and towns, to be active participants in Jesus’ mission on earth.  We are given the blessing of doing the same work that Jesus’ was doing on His mission from God.

As a Christian, Jesus’ mission supernaturally becomes your mission.

Can you believe that?  Through faith, God considers us to be worthy of partnering with Jesus in this world to verbally share the Good News of salvation, while loving others with grace and mercy so that they ultimately know and understand and find comfort in the love, grace, and mercy of God toward them!

In our Biblical text for this morning, we are told that Jesus sends out 72 of his disciples—in teams of two so that they are not alone and will have support, encouragement, and a prayer partner along the way.  Jesus sends them into the surrounding towns, villages, and cities to preach the Good News of Jesus come to them as God’s Savior.  

As they travel from place to place, they will be proclaiming the same message that Jesus proclaimed.  They will be proclaiming, “Repent and Believe for the forgiveness of your Sin.”

This mission was not only an active mission while Jesus was alive with them, the mission is an active mission for Jesus’ followers until the day He returns and brings us home into God’s Kingdom of Heaven.  That is why after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, which defeats the power of Sin and death for you, Jesus’ final words were words of command and blessing to you, reminding you of the active mission that you are on while waiting to be brought home into God’s arms.

In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus says this to His followers before He leaves them and ascends back to His throne in Heaven:

[18] …“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV)

Let’s be honest.  Being saved from our Sin and being daily empowered by God to choose the good part of every hour, we get to do some really cool things.  We get to love God and love others.  

However, while doing that Godly stuff, we can easily and quickly slip back into Sin and become conceited and prideful.  

That’s what happened to Jesus’ disciples as He empowered them to heal the sick and preach the Gospel.

When Jesus’ disciples did those things, seeing the power of God, the Creator and Redeemer, flowing out from them, pride creeped in and they became more excited about the awesome things they were doing than they were about the awesome thing that God had done for them in sending Jesus to save them.

When the disciples return to Jesus after being out in the mission field, they are overwhelmingly excited because they saw miraculous things happen.  They were celebrating because when they preached and exalted Jesus alone for salvation, they saw demons run away and Satan fall from power.  They saw people turn from their Sin and find forgiveness and life.  

Even though those were great things that they were seeing done through their words and actions, the disciples were taking the credit for making all of that happen instead of giving the credit to God, the Father in Heaven, and Jesus, the Son, who were the actual power behind the miracle of saved and transformed lives.

So, even though good things were happening for the Kingdom of God through the disciples work in the world, they forgot that they were doing these things for God’s glory and began glorifying themselves and each other.

So, Jesus graciously and gently rebukes and corrects His disciples, pointing them back to the real Good News in their lives.

Jesus says to them:

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. [20] Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Jesus points out their sins of pride, conceit, and self-righteousness, showing them that they have returned to finding comfort in their good deeds instead of Jesus their Savior.

In other words, Jesus was retelling them what was said by God in Proverbs 16:17–20.

Proverbs 16.17-20 says:

[17] The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;

whoever guards his way preserves his life.

[18] Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

[19] It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor

than to divide the spoil with the proud.

[20] Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,

and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. (ESV)

Let’s be honest once again.  It is easy to get lost in the amazing good deeds that God lets us do and lose sight of the greatest good—God’s saving of us in the person and work of Jesus Christ in His life, death on the cross for our sin—sins like pride, conceit, and self-righteousness.

Let me give you and example from my week.  

This week, I got to do one of my favorite things that I get to do as a pastor.  This week, I got to stand alongside a family that lost a loved one.  

I got to send notes of condolence.  

I got to pray for a family who was grieving and mourning.

I got to offer my unconditional availability for any of their needs or wants during this time of loss.

I got to attend the funeral of the lost loved one.

I got to attend the burial of the lost loved one.

I got to attend the family lunch in remembrance of the lost loved one.

Not just as a Pastor, but as a brother in Christ, as a Christian, as a disciple of Christ, I got to be an ambassador of Christ, and a reminder and example of Jesus’ presence with them as they walked through the valley of the shadow of death.

But, in order to do all of these good Godly things that I am called to do, I had to give up a full day of my normal church work.  That meant no studying, no sermon writing, no contact with the other sheep in the flock, no administrative work.

After the church service, as we were doing the slow caravan-like drive along the Southern State Parkway from the funeral in Patchogue to the burial in Farmingdale, going 25 miles on the highway, attempting to stay connected to the processional of cars in front of me, I began to think about all of the good deeds that I didn’t have to do, but that I got to do as a Pastor and Christian when it came to this family’s loss.

And, as I said a few minutes ago, it is very easy to get lost in the amazing good deeds that God lets us do after we come to a saving faith and lose sight of the greatest good—God’s saving of us despite our inability to earn His love through good deeds.

So, that is what happened to me.

In my thoughts, while driving in the processional, I very easily and quickly began to pat myself on the back for all of the good deeds that I was doing for this family.  I was feeling really good about myself and all of the sacrifices I made during the week to support this grieving family.  

Pride rushed in.

Conceit rushed in.

Self-righteousness rushed in.

And, I began to think about how thankful the family should be for my sacrifices and how pleased God should be with me because of my sacrifices.

But, thanks be to God for His grace in using His Holy Spirit to bring to remembrance what I read and learned in preparation for this morning’s sermon.  As I was detouring back onto the road of pride, conceit, and self-righteousness, I remembered the last line of today’s Biblical text which says, 

“…do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Again, only by the grace of God in my struggle with Sin, was I led in that moment to confess my Sin, ask for forgiveness, and rejoice in my forgiveness secured for be my Jesus, while also thanking God that my name is written in heaven.

You may be wondering about that phrase, “your names are written in heaven.”  And, you may be asking, “Is there a literal place that my name is written in Heaven?”

Well, the answer is, “Yes! There is a book in Heaven that your name is written in if you repent of your Sin, your disobedience to God’s rules for life and love, and place your trust in Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the only path to God, the Father in Heaven.”

In Revelation 20:11–15, the Apostle John describes this book containing the names of the saved when God graciously allowed him a peek into Heaven.

John tells us this:

[11] Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. [12] And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. [13] And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. [14] Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. [15] And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (ESV)

If you are sitting here this morning, knowing that your name is not written in the book of Heaven, this is the day of forgiveness and salvation for you.  Hear Jesus’ words, “Repent of your Sin and believe.” Jesus is calling you! Respond with faith in His sufficiency to forgive your Sin and write your name in God’s book of life in Heaven.

This morning, take your responsibility seriously and be an ambassador of Christ every day in every place that you go.  Always pray for the fruits of the Spirit to overflow out of you and rely on the Spirit to give you the words to say in all situations.  These things are promises from God to you.

However, along the way of living in a manner worthy of Christ out in the broken and fallen world, as a sheep among wolves, prayerfully ask God to guard you from falling back into the sin of pride, conceit, and self-righteousness where you find joy and hope in your good deeds.  And ask that instead, you would keep focused on Jesus’ good deeds of living, dying, and rising from the grave in order to ensure your name is written in the book of life in Heaven.

This is the Word o God for you today.

This is the Grace of God for you today.

Amen.

Reverend Fred Scragg V.

July 6, 2025.

Posted on by Fred Scragg 5

Providing Wine

John 2.1-11

Have you ever committed a faux pa?

A faux pa, is a fancy way of saying that you did something embarrassing or culturally insensitive.

Have you ever done something so embarrassing that you still think about it today and cringe when you relive that moment in your mind?

Well, there are many ways to be involved in faux pas, especially if you take your ingrained Western ways to another country.

In China, if you keep your shoes on inside someone’s home, you are disrespecting their family.

In the United Arab Emirates, it is disrespectful to wear revealing clothes.  Women are to wear clothing that covers their body from their shoulder to their toes.  And, men are not to wear tight fitting clothes, such as cycling shorts or under armor, unless you are on a sports team participating in that sport.

In the U.K., the peace sign that you make with your hand here in America is the equivalent of flipping someone the middle finger and asking them to fight you.

In Brazil, raising a fist in the air, as you would do at a sporting event or concert in America, is a signal that a man’s wife is cheating on him.

In Iran and Irag, giving the thumb’s up, that commonly shows someone that they did a good job in America, is actually one of the worst non-verbal insults you can give another human being.

I am no stranger to faux pas.

A few years ago, I did one of the most embarrassing things that I think you could ever do.  I congregated a woman on being pregnant when in fact she was not pregnant.

In this morning’s text, we are going to hear about a wedding party, a wedding celebration, a wedding feast, where the groom who was responsible for providing for the needs of his guest ends up in the middle of a faux pa, doing the most embarrassing thing that a groom can do at a wedding he is hosting.

Let’s hear about this wedding and this faux pa as recorded for us in John 2.1-11.

John 2:1–11 tells us this:

[1] On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. [2] Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. [3] When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” [4] And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” [5] His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

[6] Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. [7] Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. [8] And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. [9] When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom [10] and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” [11] This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. (ESV)

This text begins the public ministry of Jesus when he is somewhere around the age of 30.

What a strange beginning to Jesus’ ministry!

Jesus goes to a wedding.

The wine runs out.

Jesus’ mother puts Jesus on the spot.

Jesus somewhat reluctantly listens to his mother and helps out the one throwing the party by miraculously changing jars full of water into jars full of wine.

Let’s begin by asking, “What is this text NOT about?”

Well, this text is not about Jesus approving drunkenness.  Even though Jesus served more wine after the initial batch of wine ran out, no where in the text does it say people were over drinking or were drunk.  Drunkenness is an assumption made by many who approach this text.

How do we know that the people were not being over served alcohol? We know that because drunkenness is a sin and Jesus would never lead anyone into sin.

The Apostle Paul, gave this command in Ephesians 5:18–21:

[18] And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, [19] addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, [20] giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, [21] submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (ESV)

And, the Apostle Paul lists a life of continual unrepentant drunkenness as something that separates you from God the Father in Heaven.

Writing to the Christians gathered in the city of Galatia during the 1st Century A.D., Paul said:

[19] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5.19-24, ESV)

This morning’s Biblical text has also been used to prove that Jesus simply supports the drinking of alcohol.  Although that is not what this text is about, drinking in moderation that does not lead to drunkenness is allowed.  That allowance is for you who are not what Alcoholics Anonymous would label one of the “hopeless variety” (meaning you can have one drink and be done).

Instead of being a treatise on alcohol, this is an amazing text that tells us about God’s goodness and God’s grace in our lives.

So, this morning, we have to set all of our preconceived thoughts about drinking, serving, and making alcohol aside to receive the good news that God wants to give us.

At this wedding, the wine is just a means by which Jesus reveals a great truth about who He is and what He is here on earth to say and do.

So, with all of that said, I now give you the message that this text gives you, and that message is this:

Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus is the One Anointed by God to forgive your sins, give you His righteousness, and give you eternal life in Heaven.

The message is that here, in His first public miracle, Jesus proves that he is both fully man and fully God by doing what is impossible for man to do.

And, in addition to do for you what you can’t do for yourself—provide the forgiveness of sins, righteousness before the throne of God, and eternal life in Heaven—God enters into your life in the person and work of Jesus Christ to meet your daily needs.

Let’s briefly examine our text.

In the ancient Hebraic world, the marriage celebration lasted seven days.  During that week, the groom was responsible for providing enough food and wine for all of those in attendance.  The groom’s responsibility was taken seriously by all and there were even laws set up to protect the invited guests.  If the groom failed to meet their party needs, the bride’s family could sue to groom for reparations.   

In addition to the legal regulations weighing down upon the groom, he also lived in a shame based culture.  Running out of wine was a major social faux pa and could ruin his reputation in the small village which he lived and worked.  

Cana was a small village approximately 10 miles from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth.  Due to the closeness of the village and the guest list which included Mary, Jesus’ mother, Jesus, and his associates, the disciples, we can deduce that this celebration was for a close family relative or friend.  Therefore, when the wine runs out, Mary feels a responsibility to help remedy the situation.  

Jesus being aware of the needs of this close acquaintance and the consequences of those needs not being met, Jesus steps in to help meet the current needs of the groom.

Jesus cares about the groom and his everyday needs, no matter how big or small that they are.

And, that means that Jesus cares about your everyday needs, no matter how big or small that they are.

I often forget that God cares about the everyday needs that I have—especially those that I deem small and relatively insignificant, like a lost stuffed animal that helps my younger son peacefully sleep at night, or a lost book that helps calm the thoughts of my older son before bedtime so he is able to enter a period of rest.

However, my mother often reminds me that God cares about the needs we have on a daily basis by telling me, “I am glad you found that stuffed animal and that book, I was praying for that.”

Later on in Jesus’ life, he ends up in a conversation with a man who is name in the text as a ruler, and who has become known as the rich young ruler throughout church history.

Luke 18:18–30 records this conversation between the rich young ruler and Jesus.

The conversation goes like this:

[18] And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” [19] And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. [20] You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” [21] And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” [22] When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” [23] But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. [24] Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! [25] For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” [26] Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” [27] But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” [28] And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” [29] And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, [30] who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” (ESV)

What is impossible for man is possible for God.

It was impossible for the groom at the wedding to provide more wine for his guests.  But, for God in Christ, it was possible to rescue the groom from the guilt and shame of running out of provisions for those celebrating with him.

It is impossible for you to provide a way to be forgiven for sin before the throne of God. But, for God, it is possible to provide you with the forgiveness you need through the death of His One and Only Son, Jesus, the perfect, unblemished, sacrificial, once-for-all, Lamb.

It is impossible for you to get to Heaven by yourself.

But, with the help of God, it is possible for you to have eternal life.

Jesus does what is impossible for you.  Did you hear that?  Jesus  does what Jesus does—lives, dies, and resurrects—FOR YOU!!!

Jesus lived a life that perfectly met God’s standards of life and love for you.

Jesus died on the cross to provide forgiveness for your sin, you ungodliness, your faux pas, and your embarrassingly insensitive moments.

Jesus rose from the dead on the first Easter morning to defeat the power of sin and death for you.

Jesus gives you his perfect record of righteousness…

And, Jesus brings you into God’s eternal kingdom of Heaven and gives you eternal life.

In sin, you have performed the ultimate faux pa and you find yourself guilty and embarrassed in front of God due to your failure to think, speak, and act in a godly way.

However, in Jesus Christ, every failure in your life up to this point and every failure in your life after this point has been forgiven and will be forgiven simply through faith in Jesus who can do the impossible and turn water in wine, and who can turn a sinner into a saint.

This is the Word of God for you today.

This is the Grace of God for you today.

Amen.

Reverend Fred Scragg V.

January 19, 2025.

Prayer:

Holy God, 

We are people who cannot wash ourselves or make ourselves clean. Even as your children, we love evil and resist what you have said is good. We demand justice for ourselves, but fail to pursue it vigorously on behalf of others. We are indignant about the oppression we read of in faraway lands, yet blind to the oppression taking place right here before our eyes in our families, homes, and work places. We feel good when we give money to feed orphans in foreign countries, but we often don’t know or care about the widows and orphans who need your love right around us. Father, forgive us. 

Redeeming God, we praise you that you have washed us clean in the blood of your Son. You placed all our evil on him so that it could be removed from your sight forever. Jesus suffered profound injustice for our lukewarm apathy, and was fatally oppressed for our continuing failure to love and help the oppressed, here and abroad. He became fatherless to pay for our careless disregard for the fatherless and widows in our own towns. We crucified your precious Son, and instead of hating us, you have given us his perfect goodness and welcomed us to your feast. We are left undone by your extravagant love and complete salvation. 

We ask you to wash our minds and hearts clean, moment by moment. Make our hearts good so that works of kindness and mercy flow from us to the needy people you have placed in our lives. May we love them as you have loved us in our great need. Cause us to love justice and, like your Son, to suffer joyfully great injustice on behalf of others. Help us to love extravagantly, as we have been loved by you. Amen.

Benediction:

Go, in peace, today.  Jesus has proven that He is the Messiah, God-in-flesh, and saves you from being ashamed and embarrassed before God because of the guilt of your sin.