His Way

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.” Thus David prays in the appointed Psalm for this, the first Sunday of a new church year. How fitting it is that we beseech the Lord to direct and guide all our ways and deeds in this new year, and throughout each year.

In this world, there are many ways. Just think of the sayings we have in the English language to talk about this. “All roads lead to Rome.” “There's more than one way to skin a cat.” “Life is a maze.” “Life is a riddle.” And we could go on and on. It is a popular notion that life is what you make of it, and your task in life is simply to do the best you can with what you have.

But how do you know the way? If life is a maze, then how do you find the solution? Of course, some would say that there is no one definite solution. You must bumble along in the dark, groping blindly, until you come finally to the end, and hopefully you will reach the light at the end of the tunnel. If you are virtuous and good, you will enjoy the journey, however hard it may be, and you will lead others along with you in a way that seems nice to you.

Others would have you believe that the road is out there for you to choose. It is not a matter of choosing the right or the wrong way, just the best way for you. For some people, their particular preferred road travels along a brightly-lit, well-manicured path, through sunny fields and awe-inspiring mountain vistas. Things on this path are rosy and grand, and any problems are just passing rain-showers or fleeting clouds. Life is beautiful and happy, always.

For others, their chosen road leads through other people on the way to who knows where. The ultimate goal is to be as nice as possible to as many people as possible. At the outset, this seems like a noble path. Do no harm. Minimize suffering. Waste not, want not. Live by the Golden Rule. The suffering of others is the key to fulfillment along this road. Somewhere in the world people are always suffering, and the best thing you can do is help them in some way. Your virtue can be displayed for all the world to see in how much you can stomach of the underbelly of the world's problems.

Yet another road chosen by many simply by default is the path not through people, but over them. This is the path of self-fulfillment. Do what is right for you, or maybe for you and your family. Earn as much as you can. Hold fast to that bottom line. Take no heed for your neighbor, your nation, or your world. The other guy is just out to grab the resources that should be yours. You need to queue up for hours in the cold for a new television, rather than enjoy the warmth of your already well-appointed home and your loving family and friends. You need to ensure your own personal survival in the unforeseen future, not get muddled up with the sob stories of other people who cannot or will not help themselves right now. He who dies with the most toys wins.

Each of you has your own particular path which you would prefer to travel. Most likely, it includes some from Column A, a bit from Column B, and an assortment of whatever else you like or want. You will stumble along the way. You may encounter hard times. But you can just push through, and eventually you will get to where you are going, even if you do not quite know where that is. After all, it is the journey that is important, not the destination – right?

Repent. There is not a multitude of paths, all of equal value and all roads may lead to Rome, but not all paths lead to heaven. You are not God, and you are not your own pilot.

King David gives us the words to pray, “Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” The Lord is the God of your salvation, and He alone leads in the paths of righteousness. It is His way alone which leads to eternal life and salvation.

And He does just that. He leads you in His paths. But He does not lead in conventional ways. There is no neon sign flashing brightly, saying “Walk this way.” Instead, the Lord leads by walking the way which you could never go, in order to open the way which you must go. Today you have heard how our Lord went on His way into Jerusalem, entering into the last week of His life. He entered into the holy city just as was prophesied: humble and riding on a donkey. And He went for a very specific purpose: to die. For it is decreed that the Son of Man must be handed over to the Jews, suffer and die, and on the third day rise again.

This is the way of life. The way of life passes through death. And not just any death, but the death of Jesus Christ your savior upon the cross. This is the way of righteousness. He who knew no sin became sin for you. He who is the King of Life swallowed up your death. He who walks in paths of ineffable light allowed His radiance to be veiled for a time, even to be buried into the earth. “Into hell His road went down, Back then to His throne and crown” (LSB 332.5). For our Lord Christ handed Himself over into death that He might defeat death, and then He rose again to take up His throne and crown, that He might call you forth into the path of life.

“Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” The paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, because His paths lead to the cross of Christ. He instructs sinners in the way, because He Himself is the way, the truth, and the life. He is indeed good, and His steadfast love endures forever.

The Lord instructs sinners in the way, because He has walked the way before you. He instructs you not with a map or a set of directions, but with the way marked by His own blood which was shed for you. You look to Jesus Christ and live. You look to His cross, and find your way. You who have a humble and contrite heart He leads and guides. You who are humble in spirit He teaches what is right. What is right is to follow Him in paths of righteousness and blessedness all the days of your life.

Therefore, “To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.” Lift up your hearts to the Lord your God, and you shall not be put to shame. You do not lift up your hearts in pride, to show the Lord what a clean heart you have. But lift up your hearts, that He may cleanse them and fill them with His Holy Spirit. Lift up your hearts, that He may take your sinful hearts of stone, and give to you in return hearts of flesh, beating with the life of Christ.

With the Spirit of God within you, with the heart of Christ driving your life, you shall not be put to shame. Your enemies will not exult over you. The savior has come to earth. He has walked the roads of this life. He has trod the path of death, and trodden on death itself. He now stands in the way of life, to teach you the way of His life. Wait for the Lord, and He will lead you into all truth. He will lead you into His kingdom, where you will stand before Him forevermore in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness.

Sin's debt, that fearful burden,

Cannot His love erase;

Your guilt the Lord will pardon

And cover by His grace.

He comes, for you procuring

The peace of sin forgiv'n,

His children thus securing

Eternal life in heav'n (LSB 334.5).

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.