Rev. Dr. Jonathan Blanke, Senior Pastor
Pastor’s Corner for December 22-28, 2024
Mystery
(Hebrews 10:5-10)
This is the week. Christmas is upon us! Though Jesus was always the reason for the season, the expectant mother Mary now takes more of a supporting role in the Advent-turned-Christmas drama. The Christ-child is born! He is heralded by angels and visited by shepherds. Glory to God in the highest! We pause and give thanks not only for the end and climax of the Gospel story (Jesus’ death and resurrection). We marvel at its amazing and mysterious beginning: that moment the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Our creeds try to get after the mystery of the incarnation in the usual way: with straightforward words resonating with deeper meaning. The Apostles’ Creed says, rather matter-of-factly, “I believe in… Jesus Christ… who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,” and “born of the Virgin Mary.” Those words are important. But what do Jesus’ divine and human origins mean for us? What does His being 100% human and 100% God at the same time entail? I usually think of Jesus’ obedience in connection with His suffering and death for our salvation. The author of Hebrews does too. But notice what else is written in the book of Hebrews: “WHEN CHRIST CAME INTO THE WORLD, he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me…. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God.” Not only does Jesus share our humanity; His obedience and faithfulness to the Father extend all the way back to the moment of His conception and the day of His birth!
Now God knows what it means to laugh and to cry, be tired and be wide awake, experience disappointment as well as exhilaration. Though Jesus was without sin, He nevertheless sympathizes with us in our weakness. As both son of Mary and Son of God, Jesus did what only He could do: be obedient unto incarnation AND unto death, as the once-and-for-all perfect sacrifice for our sins! And now that “the immortal” has put on mortality and been born for us, Jesus would not only experience death… in the end He would overcome it. He would deliver eternal life to all of us. He would gift us a day of final resurrection to look forward to, even as we live out both the challenges and the joys of being His new creation, right here and now.
Words don’t do it justice. But Christmas gives us a chance to stand in that mystery again. Christmas invites us to listen to the angels and let the reality of what God has done simply wash over us.
Behold the man! Jesus, Son of Mary and Son of God, is born. Alleluia!
A very blessed Christmas to all of you,
Pastor Jonathan
Please note, the church office will be closed on Wednesday, December 25 and Thursday, December 26. A very Merry Christmas to you and yours from the church staff!
Pastor Jonathan Blanke grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He received his Bachelor's degree from College of William and Mary in Virginia and attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where he earned a Masters of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biblical Studies, Book of John. He served as a Vicar at Messiah Lutheran Church in Richardson, Texas.
The Blanke family lived in Japan while he served as pastor and missionary to Okinawa Lutheran Church and taught Biblical Studies at Japan Lutheran College in Tokyo.
Pastor Jonathan lived in southern Maryland from January 2014 to November 2019 and was thankful to have served as the Sole Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington Park, Maryland.
He and his wife, Juli, have two grown children. In his free time, Jonathan likes to travel, "play around" on the piano, and enjoy the outdoors.
Click HERE to view a brief video from Pastor Jonathan.