“There I Am Among Them”
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. Amen. In the last verse of today’s Gospel Reading, Jesus promises: “For where
two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am among them.” Of course, as the Ruler of the whole universe, Jesus Christ is
everywhere at all times. Ephesians says that he, “fills everything in
every way.” Psalm 139 asks, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I
flee from your presence?” Jeremiah says, “‘Can anyone hide in secret
places so that I cannot see him?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and
earth?’ declares the Lord.” So, as the Ruler of the whole universe, Jesus Christ is everywhere at
all times. But, in addition to that universal presence, Jesus promises to
be with SOME human beings in a SPECIAL way: “For where two or three are gathered
together IN MY NAME, there I am among them.” That expression “in my name”
means that Jesus will be present in this special way with those who have faith
in him. “In my name” means that you believe Jesus of Nazareth was and is God
become man: “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. . .
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.” “In my name” means that you believe he lived on earth and died on the
cross as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of the world: “Behold, the Lamb of God,
who takes away the sin of the world! . . . God presented him as a
sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” “In my name” means that you believe on his account God bestows on you
full forgiveness of sins: “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself,
not counting men’s sins against them. . . and the blood of Jesus, his Son,
cleanses us from every sin.” “In my name” means that you believe he is risen from the dead: “I am
the Living One; I was dead, and behold, I am alive for ever and ever! . . .
If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that
God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” “In my name” means that you that you trust in Jesus Christ as YOUR
Savior: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under
heaven given to men by which we must be saved. . . Everyone who believes
in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” “Believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” All of those who believe “in his name” in this way are together called
the Church. That is why we are gathered here “in his name” this morning.
We are his Church, we worship him as our Lord and Savior. “For where two
or three are gathered together in my name, there I am among them.” And there is also another wonderful dimension to this promise of Jesus’
special presence. Think of how his words apply to your home, your family,
your marriage: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I
am among them.” How can you have a happy home, a loving family, a
successful marriage? Jesus tells you how: Gather your family together in
his name. Make him a part of your home, a part of your family, a part of
your marriage. Through Holy Baptism, God has incorporated you and your family into a
greater family, the family of God. As Paul says in Galatians, “You are all
sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were
baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” So, your Baptism means that within your family you relate to one
another not just as brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, sons and
daughters, husbands and wives, but as CHRISTIAN brothers and sisters, CHRISTIAN
fathers and mothers, CHRISTIAN sons and daughters, CHRISTIAN husbands and wives.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am among
them.” The family gathered together in Jesus’ name is a worshipping family.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one
another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with
gratitude in your hearts to God.” “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving
and into his courts with praise.” “I rejoiced with those who said unto me,
‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” The family gathered together in Jesus’ name is a praying family.
“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, make your requests known unto God.” “Pray for one
another.” The family gathered together in Jesus’ name is a loving family,
empowered by God’s love for us. “Beloved, let us love one another, for
love comes from God.” “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
“Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.”
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” Holy Communion is called the “love feast,” because communing together
at the Lord’s altar is a symbol of love and harmony, and this Sacrament is also
a means God uses to increase our love and harmony. As we pray after
Communion, “Strengthen us through the same, in faith toward you and in fervent
love toward one another.” The family gathered together in Jesus’ name is a forgiving family,
empowered by God’s forgiveness toward each of us. “Get rid of all
bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of
malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you.” “Bear with each other and forgive
whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord
forgave you.” The family gathered together in Jesus’ name is a kind, gentle,
tenderhearted family. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it
does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is
not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes,
always perseveres. Love never fails.” “Therefore, as God’s chosen people,
holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience.” “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,
bearing with one another in love.” Of course, the family gathered together in Jesus’ name does still have
problems. “In this world you will have trouble,” Jesus says. “But
take heart, I have overcome the world.” The family gathered together in Jesus’ name does still have problems,
but it finds comfort and guidance and strength TOGETHER, in God’s Word and his
promises: “Lo, I am with you always.” “I will never leave you or forsake
you.” “And we know that God works all things together for the good of
those who love him.” And finally, the family gathered together in Jesus’ name will have the
greatest family reunion of all, eternal reunion in heaven. “We do not want
you to be ignorant, brothers, about those who fall asleep, or to grieve in the
same manner as the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus
died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who
have fallen asleep in him. . . And so we shall be forever with the Lord.
Therefore comfort one another with these words.” “For where two or three are gathered together in my name . . . ” Apply that promise to your own family, and gather your FAMILY together
in Jesus’ name. Make him a part of your home, a part of your family, a
part of your marriage. “. . . there I am among them.” Return to Top | Return to Sermons | Home | Email Church Office
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