Live In Joyful Anticipation Luke 12 35 40
January 01, 2026
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
New Year’s Eve 31-December-2025 Sermon Text: Luke 12:35-40 Sermon Theme: “Live In Joyful Anticipation!” I. Our Deliverer Draws Near! (Vs.35-36) II. Our Master Comes To Serve Us! (Vs.37-38) III. The Son of Man Protects Us! (Vs.39-40). by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Episode Notes
New Year’s Eve 31-December-2025
Sermon Text: Luke 12:35-40
Sermon Theme: “Live In Joyful Anticipation!” I. Our Deliverer Draws Near! (Vs.35-36) II. Our Master Comes To Serve Us! (Vs.37-38) III. The Son of Man Protects Us! (Vs.39-40). by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. “Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth!” Familiar words that we sing forth in the best of our Divine Services. Words taken from the 124th Psalm. It is one of the Psalms of assent, sung by the faithful Hebrew pilgrims as they journeyed towards the Temple of the Lord at Jerusalem. The true Israel, the Holy Christian Church, still sings this truth in her liturgy. The “Name of the Lord” is our help.
What is the Name of the Lord? Tomorrow the eighth day of Christmas commemorates the Infant Jesus at eight days old. It is on this day our Infant Lord first sheds His blood for us. St. Luke records, Luk 2:21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. The Name of the Lord who made heaven and earth is Jesus. St. John’s gospel begins confessing this truth, Joh 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (5) And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. The Name of our Creator - Jesus brings salvation. As the angel announced to Joseph, Mat 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." This is the Truth God the Holy Spirit preaches through Christ’s Church from its beginning by Peter, Act 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." The Holy Spirit echos this saving truth of the Name of the Lord through Paul, Php 2:9-11 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Tonight we who bear the Name of the Lord are assembled in the House of the Lord. Baptized into the Name of the Lord our past sins are washed forgiven with Jesus’ blood. Our future is secure for we know our Redeemer lives! As 2025 comes to its close in a few hours - Christians: “Live In Joyful Anticipation!” I. Our Deliverer Draws Near! (Vs.35-36) II. Our Master Comes To Serve Us! (Vs.37-38) III. The Son of Man Protects Us! (Vs.39-40).
I. Did you find rest in 2025? Many stare at screens for rest. The screens isolate enslaving them from their loved ones. The screens blue light glow disrupts their sleep cycle robbing them of true rest. We are bored tired. Where is your rest? What do you look to for security? Your treasures that thieves can steal? Your bountiful crops finally allowing you to build bigger store houses, to eat, drink, and be merry? The approval of the powerful. The likes of the majority. The charade of religiosity that you act out once a week for an hour at church? Where is rest found?
The prophet Isaiah calls the people of Judah to be honest. Face the fact they are rebellious, lying, stubborn children. They plug their ears screaming that they only want to hear smooth things and illusions. They don’t want to hear the Word of the Holy One of Israel. They are a people enslaved again in unbelief. Do you see yourself in them? Enslaved. Wanting to hear smooth words. Unwilling to face the reality of your own sin. To repent. Returning to rest in Jesus alone?
Dear Christian, stop be deluded by Satan’s lies, your fleshly desires, and the world’s empty promises. Hear Jesus alone! (VS.35) The children of Israel cried out to be delivered from slavery in Egypt. When the Deliverer sent Moses to rescue them - things only seemed to get worse. At least for the first nine plagues. Then came Passover, the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn. Death would not claim the first born males of Hebrew families, instead a spotless year old male lamb would be sacrificed for them. Its blood painted on the door posts and its flesh roasted to be a feast. They were to eat the feast with their robes girded up on their waists - read to march forth to freedom for their Deliverer came.
Be like the children of Israel. Live with your robes girded. Ready to walk forward where the Good Shepherd Jesus leads you in the new year. He humbled Himself to be the Lamb of God bearing all your sin, shame, guilt, death, and hell. Now He lives freeing your from all sin, from death, and from Satan’s accusations. Trust Him alone for deliverance. Never look to what you have done or left undone. Then freed from fear of tomorrow pour yourself out in loving service to your neighbor - where you are at home, work, church, or the community.
Let your lamps be burning. The victory is won for you by Jesus alone. In His Name conquer. Remember Gideon the reluctant judge? The army of the Midianites flooded the land of Israel. The Angel of the Lord, Jesus preincarnate, called Gideon to command the army of Israel and deliver the land. Gideon was slow to believe begging the Lord for two signs. The troops were mustered and the Lord orders Gideon to send any fearful soldiers home - 22,000 leave, 10,000 remain. Still too many says the Lord so He commands Gideon to bring them to a stream and see how they drink. Only 300 are chosen. With only 300 men and Gideon the Lord Jesus will defeat the massive army of Midian. Remember how the victory was won? The three hundred were divided into three companies to stand outside of the enemies camp. Each held a burning torch in a clay pot simply standing their ground. They were to stand waiting for the trumpet to sound, then break their clay pot shouting “The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” The Lord Himself would fight and win the victory for them.
Stand! Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. In quietness and trust in Jesus as your Champion shall be your strength. Jesus defeats all the enemies of His Church!
Man up! (Vs.36) Wait don’t fret! Your Master is coming for you! Joyfully receive Him as He comes to you in His Church. Knocking on the doors of your ears with His Word of forgiveness - open, believe, trust in Him! Believe His Word! Cling to His cross! Proclaim His empty tomb!
II. Whose slave are you? We don’t like to hear about the reality of slavery in our world. All people groups have suffered enslavement at the hand of their enemies throughout world history. Slavery was never restricted to one skin shade over another. The chief slave master is the fallen angel the devil. He constantly condemns us, bringing charges against us that we belong to him as he chains us with our sinful desires.
A truth our world will not tolerate is that you are either enslaved to Satan by sin, or you are enslaved to Jesus by forgiveness. Jesus preaches, Joh 8:34-36 ..., "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. (35) And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. (36) Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Abide in Jesus’ Word that the Truth of our sinfulness and of God’s greater grace may set you free as bond-servants of Jesus. Let Jesus alone be your Master in 2026! (Vs.37) Hear this beatitude - you are blessed to enslaved to Christ Jesus’ good and gracious will. You don’t find Him. He comes to free you in His House - His Church. Watch for Him. He draws near not to enslave but to give you rest. He honors you at His table. He draws near to serve you. Washing the filth of your sin away baptizing you into His death and resurrection. Cleansing you from all unrighteousness with His holy precious blood. Feeding you with the Bread of Heaven as He preaches His Word through His called and ordained slaves. His living nail scarred hands set the table and feed you the food of immortality - His body and His blood!
Watch for Him! (vs. 38)He comes now within His Church to serve you! He is coming again to forever free you from the grave! Heb 9:27-28 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, (28) so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
III. Many homeowners prepare for the coming of a thief. Ring door bells record any drawing near. Our lives are lived constantly on camera. Go to look at a fishing lure in Wal-Mart a camera triggers recording you. For all the cameras thieves still steal.
As you enter 2026 be a wise steward of your spiritual household. (Vs.39) A camera can record a theft - it can’t stop it. We use cameras because we don’t know when the thief will come. Jesus warns us of the thief, Joh 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. Satan stole mankind and creation from its Creator. He is the liar and murderer from the beginning. Beware of the thief - Satan masquerades as a spiritual angel of light - his false teachers also pretend to be apostles and teachers in Christ’s Church.
Don’t let them break into your home or your congregation with false teaching - robbing you of Jesus! False teachers steal the cross of Jesus from before your eyes to look to what you’ve done, felt, experienced, or given. Don’t fall prey to their lies! Stand against their smooth lies with your Catechism! If what they teach doesn’t agree with the Holy Ten Commandments, The Apostles’ Creed, The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus’ promises in Baptism, Absolution, and the Sacrament of the Altar - they are thieves - in league with the chief thief the devil.
Joyfully look only to Jesus! (Vs.40) He protects you in His Church! Nothing can separate you from God’s love in Christ Jesus! Persecution may come, but in Jesus we have won. He is coming at an hour we don’t expect - not to punish -but for the redemption of our bodies and the freeing of creation from our sin. God is for you! Who can be against you!
Live in joyful anticipation! Perhaps 2026 Jesus will return in glory to judge the living and the dead! Sing daily, “Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” 5 Jesus! Only name that's giv'n Under all the mighty heav'n Whereby those to sin enslaved Burst their fetters and are saved.
6 Jesus! Name of wondrous love, Human name of God above;
Pleading only this, we flee Helpless, 0 our God, to Thee. Amen. (LSB #900).
Sermon Text: Luke 12:35-40
Sermon Theme: “Live In Joyful Anticipation!” I. Our Deliverer Draws Near! (Vs.35-36) II. Our Master Comes To Serve Us! (Vs.37-38) III. The Son of Man Protects Us! (Vs.39-40). by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. “Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth!” Familiar words that we sing forth in the best of our Divine Services. Words taken from the 124th Psalm. It is one of the Psalms of assent, sung by the faithful Hebrew pilgrims as they journeyed towards the Temple of the Lord at Jerusalem. The true Israel, the Holy Christian Church, still sings this truth in her liturgy. The “Name of the Lord” is our help.
What is the Name of the Lord? Tomorrow the eighth day of Christmas commemorates the Infant Jesus at eight days old. It is on this day our Infant Lord first sheds His blood for us. St. Luke records, Luk 2:21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. The Name of the Lord who made heaven and earth is Jesus. St. John’s gospel begins confessing this truth, Joh 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (5) And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. The Name of our Creator - Jesus brings salvation. As the angel announced to Joseph, Mat 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." This is the Truth God the Holy Spirit preaches through Christ’s Church from its beginning by Peter, Act 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." The Holy Spirit echos this saving truth of the Name of the Lord through Paul, Php 2:9-11 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Tonight we who bear the Name of the Lord are assembled in the House of the Lord. Baptized into the Name of the Lord our past sins are washed forgiven with Jesus’ blood. Our future is secure for we know our Redeemer lives! As 2025 comes to its close in a few hours - Christians: “Live In Joyful Anticipation!” I. Our Deliverer Draws Near! (Vs.35-36) II. Our Master Comes To Serve Us! (Vs.37-38) III. The Son of Man Protects Us! (Vs.39-40).
I. Did you find rest in 2025? Many stare at screens for rest. The screens isolate enslaving them from their loved ones. The screens blue light glow disrupts their sleep cycle robbing them of true rest. We are bored tired. Where is your rest? What do you look to for security? Your treasures that thieves can steal? Your bountiful crops finally allowing you to build bigger store houses, to eat, drink, and be merry? The approval of the powerful. The likes of the majority. The charade of religiosity that you act out once a week for an hour at church? Where is rest found?
The prophet Isaiah calls the people of Judah to be honest. Face the fact they are rebellious, lying, stubborn children. They plug their ears screaming that they only want to hear smooth things and illusions. They don’t want to hear the Word of the Holy One of Israel. They are a people enslaved again in unbelief. Do you see yourself in them? Enslaved. Wanting to hear smooth words. Unwilling to face the reality of your own sin. To repent. Returning to rest in Jesus alone?
Dear Christian, stop be deluded by Satan’s lies, your fleshly desires, and the world’s empty promises. Hear Jesus alone! (VS.35) The children of Israel cried out to be delivered from slavery in Egypt. When the Deliverer sent Moses to rescue them - things only seemed to get worse. At least for the first nine plagues. Then came Passover, the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn. Death would not claim the first born males of Hebrew families, instead a spotless year old male lamb would be sacrificed for them. Its blood painted on the door posts and its flesh roasted to be a feast. They were to eat the feast with their robes girded up on their waists - read to march forth to freedom for their Deliverer came.
Be like the children of Israel. Live with your robes girded. Ready to walk forward where the Good Shepherd Jesus leads you in the new year. He humbled Himself to be the Lamb of God bearing all your sin, shame, guilt, death, and hell. Now He lives freeing your from all sin, from death, and from Satan’s accusations. Trust Him alone for deliverance. Never look to what you have done or left undone. Then freed from fear of tomorrow pour yourself out in loving service to your neighbor - where you are at home, work, church, or the community.
Let your lamps be burning. The victory is won for you by Jesus alone. In His Name conquer. Remember Gideon the reluctant judge? The army of the Midianites flooded the land of Israel. The Angel of the Lord, Jesus preincarnate, called Gideon to command the army of Israel and deliver the land. Gideon was slow to believe begging the Lord for two signs. The troops were mustered and the Lord orders Gideon to send any fearful soldiers home - 22,000 leave, 10,000 remain. Still too many says the Lord so He commands Gideon to bring them to a stream and see how they drink. Only 300 are chosen. With only 300 men and Gideon the Lord Jesus will defeat the massive army of Midian. Remember how the victory was won? The three hundred were divided into three companies to stand outside of the enemies camp. Each held a burning torch in a clay pot simply standing their ground. They were to stand waiting for the trumpet to sound, then break their clay pot shouting “The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” The Lord Himself would fight and win the victory for them.
Stand! Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. In quietness and trust in Jesus as your Champion shall be your strength. Jesus defeats all the enemies of His Church!
Man up! (Vs.36) Wait don’t fret! Your Master is coming for you! Joyfully receive Him as He comes to you in His Church. Knocking on the doors of your ears with His Word of forgiveness - open, believe, trust in Him! Believe His Word! Cling to His cross! Proclaim His empty tomb!
II. Whose slave are you? We don’t like to hear about the reality of slavery in our world. All people groups have suffered enslavement at the hand of their enemies throughout world history. Slavery was never restricted to one skin shade over another. The chief slave master is the fallen angel the devil. He constantly condemns us, bringing charges against us that we belong to him as he chains us with our sinful desires.
A truth our world will not tolerate is that you are either enslaved to Satan by sin, or you are enslaved to Jesus by forgiveness. Jesus preaches, Joh 8:34-36 ..., "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. (35) And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. (36) Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Abide in Jesus’ Word that the Truth of our sinfulness and of God’s greater grace may set you free as bond-servants of Jesus. Let Jesus alone be your Master in 2026! (Vs.37) Hear this beatitude - you are blessed to enslaved to Christ Jesus’ good and gracious will. You don’t find Him. He comes to free you in His House - His Church. Watch for Him. He draws near not to enslave but to give you rest. He honors you at His table. He draws near to serve you. Washing the filth of your sin away baptizing you into His death and resurrection. Cleansing you from all unrighteousness with His holy precious blood. Feeding you with the Bread of Heaven as He preaches His Word through His called and ordained slaves. His living nail scarred hands set the table and feed you the food of immortality - His body and His blood!
Watch for Him! (vs. 38)He comes now within His Church to serve you! He is coming again to forever free you from the grave! Heb 9:27-28 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, (28) so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
III. Many homeowners prepare for the coming of a thief. Ring door bells record any drawing near. Our lives are lived constantly on camera. Go to look at a fishing lure in Wal-Mart a camera triggers recording you. For all the cameras thieves still steal.
As you enter 2026 be a wise steward of your spiritual household. (Vs.39) A camera can record a theft - it can’t stop it. We use cameras because we don’t know when the thief will come. Jesus warns us of the thief, Joh 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. Satan stole mankind and creation from its Creator. He is the liar and murderer from the beginning. Beware of the thief - Satan masquerades as a spiritual angel of light - his false teachers also pretend to be apostles and teachers in Christ’s Church.
Don’t let them break into your home or your congregation with false teaching - robbing you of Jesus! False teachers steal the cross of Jesus from before your eyes to look to what you’ve done, felt, experienced, or given. Don’t fall prey to their lies! Stand against their smooth lies with your Catechism! If what they teach doesn’t agree with the Holy Ten Commandments, The Apostles’ Creed, The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus’ promises in Baptism, Absolution, and the Sacrament of the Altar - they are thieves - in league with the chief thief the devil.
Joyfully look only to Jesus! (Vs.40) He protects you in His Church! Nothing can separate you from God’s love in Christ Jesus! Persecution may come, but in Jesus we have won. He is coming at an hour we don’t expect - not to punish -but for the redemption of our bodies and the freeing of creation from our sin. God is for you! Who can be against you!
Live in joyful anticipation! Perhaps 2026 Jesus will return in glory to judge the living and the dead! Sing daily, “Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” 5 Jesus! Only name that's giv'n Under all the mighty heav'n Whereby those to sin enslaved Burst their fetters and are saved.
6 Jesus! Name of wondrous love, Human name of God above;
Pleading only this, we flee Helpless, 0 our God, to Thee. Amen. (LSB #900).
© 2026 Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Tell City, Indiana Podcast. All rights reserved.