When we read the story of Matthew’s Gospel as it’s written, we feel the tension mounting here in the temple. In the first verse of the book Jesus is called “the Son of David”; on the way into Jerusalem the multitudes cry out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”; now He ends the debates by asking questions about the Son of David. The crowds are listening. Who is charge here? How will Jesus and His kingdom fulfill God’s law and justice? And how can we be part of it?

Emmanuel Church

The Power & Love of God

Sermon from Erik Day, Emmanuel Church Elder.

Brotherly Love

Sermon from guest preacher Eric Letsche, Elder at Trinity Church and Elder Pro Tem at Emmanuel Church.

Courage

On January 7, 2022 Bill C-4 became law in Canada. This bill prohibits “conversion therapy”, which sounds like a coercive treatment designed to force heterosexuality upon someone. But it defines conversion therapy as any “practice, treatment or service” that would help or challenge homosexuality or transgenderism. The language is so broad that it effectively criminalizes any speech or action that goes against these forms of sexual immorality with the penalty of up to five years in jail for “Everyone who knowingly causes another person to undergo conversion therapy” and up to two years for “Everyone who knowingly promotes or advertises conversion therapy.” In solidarity with our Canadian brothers and sisters, and driven by love for God and man, we join pulpits across the continent today for Biblical Sexuality Sunday.

God Reigns

The tension between the freedom and duty of an individual and coercive power of the state is not new. Jesus’ enemies unite to try to make Him sound like an enemy of the state or a traitor to God so they can get rid of Him. Instead He reveals the way to freedom and faithfulness by rendering to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.

God & Government

The Parable of the Wedding Feast

Now that Jesus has tossed tables in the temple, the chief priests and elders want to know why. Who does He think He is, and what is going on? They try to trap and end Him, but He confounds them with riddles and parables. Fig trees and vineyards are symbols of blessing and prosperity in Israel. Micah prophesies when Yahweh’s house is established on the top of the mountains and nations study war no more, “everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid” (Mic. 4:4). But in these parables of judgment the fig tree withers, and the vinedressers are destroyed. Having wept over Jerusalem, Jesus predicts what will happen, and as shocking as it seems, it’s good news for God’s people and kingdom.

Figs & Vines

At the birth of Jesus, magi from the East saw His star and came to worship the King of the Jews. When they found Him, they presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Although the baby Jesus didn’t know about these events, his parents, and soon Herod, certainly did. He was recognized as a King and therefore considered a threat. Because of this, Jesus did most of His ministry in northern Israel away from Judea where the ruling class dealt with threats like Him. Now He comes deliberately and triumphantly into Jerusalem for the final week of His life, to take His throne and save His people.

King Jesus

At the incarnation, the Word of God took on flesh and dwelt among us. He did not become less God, and He did not remain fully God while only appearing to be a man. Jesus is one hundred percent God and one hundred percent man. This union of the divine and human natures in the person of Jesus is not obscure theological trivia, but truth that determines the rise and fall of nations.

The God-Man

Jesus made Himself of no reputation, took on the form of a servant, lived without sin, and died on the cross in order to redeem us from sin and death so that we would reign with Him now. James and John want the crown without the cross, but sometimes we don’t even want the crown. We want the couch until Christ comes back. But the way of Christ is cross and then crown, humility and then greatness. Even though our final glorification will occur at the resurrection, Jesus shows us how to follow Him now.

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Emmanuel Church

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