“Hope Given—The Savior Promised”
Every one of us has sinned. Every one of us has sinned against someone. It may be our spouse, our child, our parent, or friend. When we finally realize our sin and error, one of the worst things you can experience in return is silence. You want to talk with that person, apologize, and reconcile. But if they are not even willing to listen—it can be a terrible thing to experience silence.
Adam and Eve sinned against God. He had created the entire world, beautiful and perfect, and he gave it to them. He loved them. But they sinned against him. In an attempt to become like God, they threw away a perfect relationship with God and lost everything. They were afraid, ashamed, and passed the blame. They were unrepentant.
But what did God do? He did not keep silent. God spoke. He approached them. Even when they tried to pass the blame, he did not scold them. While they would face the consequences of sin, they were immediately given hope. God didn’t wait until they were really sorry to show grace. Although man had turned from God’s Word of love, God’s love did not turn away from man.
Genesis 3:14–4:2
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” 16 To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you.” 17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” 20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. 22 Then he Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
It’s been said that Adam was really the first Pastor or Priest. His job was to tend the garden and care for the animals, much like the priests would later tend to the Temple and its sacrifices. He had been given God’s Word and was the spiritual head of his family. Yet we are told that after Eve fell for the devil’s temptation and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, “she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:6). Adam was right there! He was responsible for teaching God’s Word to his family, but he abandoned the vocation to which God had called him, in favor of the self-centered word of another that brought sin and death to all people. Adam failed in his duty.
Men and Fathers have been given a great privilege from God to care not only for the physical needs of those around them, but also their spiritual needs. Yet, this duty is all too easily ignored. Our culture has given us a twisted picture of what it means to be a husband, father, and man—whether that be Homer Simpson or some other derelict or hurtful figure. But it’s not just the opposition of the world that we face. Due to our sin, it’s easy for us to be selfish rather than self-sacrificing. Not only when it comes to helping your spouse, serving your family, but most especially, when it comes to leading your family to Christ. The greatest way we teach our families is by example. But too often, we fail in this respect. Instead of men teaching children to value God’s Word and Sacrament, talk to their children about sin and grace, the devil tempts us to keep silent and not lead.
Women have important roles too. Eve was Adam’s helper. It was not good for man to be alone. Before the fall, there was no difficulty in respecting husbands and fathers. But with sin, not so much. Instead of a loving relationship, it can feel like a burden to have to follow your husband’s leadership. Just consider how our culture pushes back on the clear word of God. Feminism has destroyed the family. While God made man and woman equal in the sight of God, he did give them different roles and purposes. But society views these blessed distinctions and privileges as oppressive and belittling. Popular opinion has led many Christians to reject God’s Word when it comes to marriage and even women’s ordination.
Yet, the strife of this world serves a purpose. The challenge of being a spiritual leader, the hardship in our labor by the sweat of our brow, the difficulty to respect husbands, and the pain of childbearing—has a saving purpose. Living in this sinful world teaches us to understand our helpless condition and how much we need God, not only as our Creator, but as our Redeemer.
When Adam and Eve fell into sin, they were afraid and ashamed. They tried to hide from God and cover themselves up with fig leaves. But this was a horrible covering—almost humorous. What happens to leaves after they are plucked? They dry up and fall to pieces. That’s a good picture for how we look, when we try to cover our sin up before God. It won’t last. It’s a pitiful covering!
Today, is the first Sunday in Advent. Advent means “coming.” During this season, we prepare ourselves for observing the birth of our Savior Jesus—his first coming. We prepare for this observance, first and foremost, by acknowledging our need of saving. Without God’s help, we will stand ashamed before God’s judgement seat. We are sinners. We are people who have sought after what looks pleasant to our eyes rather than heeding God’s Word.
Like Adam and Eve, you and I have sinned. But unlike them, we shouldn’t hide from God. You have hope. We do not sorrow in silence. God has spoken to us. He doesn’t leave us to and cover ourselves. Just as God provided a suitable covering of animal skins for Adam and Eve by the shedding of blood to clothe them, God promised a garment of righteousness and holiness to all believers through the shedding of God’s own Son on the cross.
This was the hope given to Adam and Eve—God promised a Savior. “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” This promised Seed of the woman was our Lord Jesus Christ, who would battle with Satan, suffer in our place, and receive the punishment we deserve, so that we might be forgiven, and paradise be restored. Jesus’ heel would be bruised on the cross, but he would crush Satan’s head.
Jesus was the greater Adam who did not fail, but won salvation for all people. Paul writes, “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:18–19).
Jesus outstretched his arms on the tree of the cross so that he could open wide the gates of Paradise for all people. When Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on a colt, the foal of a donkey, what did our text say? “Behold, Your King is coming to you.” That is “you,” singular. He is talking about you, each one of you. Jesus didn’t just come for some or generically for all people. He came for you.
So many people are afraid of God. They say, “If God really knew me, then I would have no hope.” What are you talking about!? God knows everything about you—he knows your sins better than you do. But our Savior rode into Jerusalem anyway to willingly die on the cross because he loves you and wants you to be with him forever in heaven.
Even though this is the happiest time of the year this also can be the most difficult time of the year. Maybe it’s because you miss a loved one. Maybe it’s because a relationship didn’t work out or that you wished life would have played out a little differently. Maybe it’s because the doctor’s report did not come back the way you wanted.
Then hear the words of one suffering Christian to another (ELH 94:6):
Rejoice, then, ye sad-hearted,
Who sit in deepest gloom,
Who mourn o’er joys departed,
And tremble at your doom;
Despair not, He is near you,
Yea, standing at the door,
Who best can help and cheer you,
And bid you weep no more.
Our Lord Jesus gives us hope. God kept his promise. He won our salvation. And now as our exalted Lord who has power and authority over all things, he promises to be with his Church so dear. He comes to us today in his Word and Sacrament to comfort and to cheer us. That’s why we come as a church to hear God’s Word. This is where the Holy Spirit works to strengthen our faith. We need Jesus—which is why we come to this altar to receive his body and blood for the forgiveness of all our sins. This is what we need—and God graciously gives it to us until we see him face to face.
The struggles of this life remind us that we are not meant for this world. It teaches us to look forward to our heavenly home. When you face suffering in this life, thank God for it. He is using it to bring you closer to him, to teach you to trust in him, and look forward to heaven. Just consider how God cast Adam and Eve out of the garden—he did it for their good. If they would have eaten from the tree of life, they would have lived in their sin forever. God chose to use our death as a portal to deliver us from this world. Adam would return to dust, but because of Jesus, from the dust he would arise—and so shall we. Lord, come quickly! Amen.