The Lutheran Hour Sermon Text
"One of Two Ways"
#72-35
Presented on The Lutheran Hour on May 15, 2005
By Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
Copyright 2025 Lutheran Hour Ministries
Q&A MP3Text: Acts 2:11b-13
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! The angel rolls the stone away from the tomb. The Holy Spirit shares the truth revealed by an empty sepulchre: Christ is risen. God's Son who was dead, lives; and because Christ is alive, sin, Satan, and death are destroyed in the lives of all who believe with a repentant heart. This is God's Good News that I share today.
Would you agree with me if I were to say, "There are two kinds of people in the world"? Some people will accept that statement, and some folks won't. Which I guess means that there are two kinds of people. That the world is divided into two groups of people is hardly an original thought. A lot of famous people have come to that conclusion. Robert Frost said, "There are two kinds of people: some willing to work and the rest willing to let them." Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. said: "People can be divided into two classes: those who go ahead and do something, and those who sit still and inquire, 'Why wasn't it done the other way?'" The great philosopher, Dear Abby, said, "There are two kinds of people: those who walk into a room and say, 'There you are,' and those who say, 'Here I am!'"
Of course you don't have to be a famous individual to hold to the two-kinds-of-people school of thinking. A fellow by the name of "Anonymous" wrote, "The world is filled with two kinds of people, the givers and the takers. The takers may eat better, but the givers sleep better." Being directionally challenged, I'm inclined to agree with the unknown fellow who said, "There are two kinds of people in the world: map lovers and folks who don't have the slightest clue where they are." You get my drift, which leads me to a story. It is a true story, a story of which some of you Lutheran Hour listeners may have played a part. Please stay with me, because there will be a question when I finish the tale.
It was December of 1944 and things were not going well for the American troops who were fighting in Europe. The foot soldiers had been slowed down by rain and a fog so thick they could see only a few feet in front of themselves. The tanks were becoming stuck in the mud, and the Air Force, because they couldn't see their targets, couldn't take off. Feeling that the Germans were preparing a major offensive, General George Patton called Army Chaplain Monsignor James O'Neill into his office. He asked the chaplain to write out a prayer for good weather. O'Neill took the order seriously and wrote what history has called the "Patton Prayer." This is how the prayer reads:
"Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations."
Patton put his approval on the prayer and ordered a quarter million copies to be printed on cards and given to every soldier in the Third Army. By December 14th, the cards had been handed out. On December 16th the Germans broke through the American lines and were poised for a major victory. On December 20th, six days after the prayer cards had been handed out, the rain stopped, the fog disappeared, the ground began to dry, and the tanks began to roll. During Christmas week thousands of Army Air Force bombing runs were made and the Nazi push was ended.
That's the story. Now that you've heard it, let me ask, "Do you believe that the change in the weather can be directly attributed to the hand of God?" Well, what do you think? Did God change the weather? I think, if I could have you call in and voice your opinion, the operators would quickly find that folks are falling on one side of the fence or the other. There would be those who would say something like: "Absolutely. The Lord performed a miracle for General Patton. God wanted the soldiers of Christian America to defeat the unbelieving Nazi regime." The other group, shocked by what they would consider to be superstitious mumbo-jumbo, might reply: "Look, you don't need God to get a change in the weather. The weather changes all the time, all on its own. What happened was going to happen--and prayer and God and miracles are simply not necessary." Now, I admit, there may be some other minority positions in regard to Patton's Prayer. I'm still convinced that at least in this matter, the world can be divided into two groups: those who think the Lord loves them, cares for them, and is involved in their lives, and those who skeptically say, "God, if there is a God, may or may not be acting on our behalf. But nobody can ever figure it out, and nobody can ever be sure."
It was about five years ago that a couple in my congregation took Pam and myself out to a nice dinner. The food was good, the company was better, but the best part of the evening was having a magician come to our table. I was mystified by the amazing things that magician could do. Our host was not. When the magician made a coin disappear, my friend correctly pointed out that it was still in the man's other hand. When the magician brought out a pack of cards, and after shuffling told us whether the card was red or black, I went, "Wow." My friend said, "The cards have been bent. The red cards are bent with their edges down, the black cards with their edges up." Right again! After two more tricks, and two more explanations by my friend, the disgruntled performer moved on to greener pastures - my friend was left behind with a very large smile on his face.
Now exposing a magician's trick is one thing; trying to explain away God's great grace is quite another. Still, that is often what happens. When Jesus claimed to be the Messiah at His boyhood home of Nazareth, the people tried to write Him off, saying, "Isn't this the son of Joseph?" When Jesus healed a man who was blind and unable to speak, the Pharisees tried to discredit what had happened by telling everyone Jesus could only perform such a miracle if He had demonic powers. When the temple guards declined to arrest Jesus, they were told they had been duped because of their ignorance. When Jesus gave a man back his sight, some wrote Him off because the miracle had been done on the Sabbath. On the cross, Jesus died to take away our sins; He gave His life as a ransom for our eternal souls; He received the punishment that we deserved. Still, after He had breathed His last and been buried in a borrowed tomb, His critics were still trying to write Him off. The chief priests and Pharisees showed up at the Roman procurator's office and said, "Jesus has always been a deceiver, and we want to make sure He doesn't fool anybody anymore. Please, Mr. Pilate, set a guard at the tomb and make it secure so nobody will steal His body and begin a new and bigger deception."
Pilate did exactly what he was asked. He allowed a guard to be put at the gravesite. He set a seal on the stone which secured the sepulchre's entrance. But, on the third day after Jesus' death, before sunrise, an angel from heaven came to earth. The angel broke that seal, rolled aside that stone, and scared the guards so much that they fell to the ground. And how did Jesus' critics react to the news of the empty tomb? You've got it. They tried to explain it away. They spread the story that the disciples had stolen Jesus' body. It was a pathetic lie, and was rejected by all those who, later that day and during the next few weeks, saw the risen Lord. It was proven false by those who ate with a living Lord; who talked with Him; who sat with Him; who visited with Him; who touched Him. They knew what had happened. They knew Jesus Christ physically, tangibly, powerfully, eternally, had risen from the dead.
It was true. There was no way any reasonable person could doubt it. Even so, there are many who have, in the face of overwhelming evidence continued to do exactly that. Let me give you an example. About a month-and-a-half after Jesus rose from the dead, those who believed in Him, about 120 in number, had started to meet together. They were united in the knowledge that Jesus had been crucified, and that He had risen. Recently they had seen Jesus ascend into heaven, and they knew He had promised to send His Holy Spirit upon them. They didn't exactly know what that meant, but they knew something was going to happen.
What happened was this: as they sat together, a sound came down from heaven; the sound of a mighty wind that filled the place where they were. Then what looked like fiery flames came and rested upon each of them. Then, all at once, they found themselves talking in languages that they had never learned. In these real languages they started to tell the people of Jerusalem, and visitors from all over the known world, that God had sent His Son to save sinners. Of course, as I've said, the world has its doubters. That day was no different. With a miracle looking them in the face, some of the crowd wrote off what they were seeing and hearing, with the comment, "These guys have had too much wine." No question it was a heady moment; but wine had nothing to do with what was happening.
On TV today extreme makeover shows have become popular. You know the kind of program I'm talking about: makeup, wardrobe, plastic surgery is applied to the outside of a person--with the hope that it might improve their insides, and the way they feel about themselves. That's the best humankind can do: change the outside. But that day, the day the Holy Spirit came, the world saw God do His own version of an extreme makeover. God's makeover began in the inside of Jesus' followers and ended up showing itself on the outside. In a moment, the disciples, who had been cowards, were changed into courageous witnesses. Doubters were made into declarers of God's truth.
With the arrival of the Holy Spirit the world experienced a makeover like it had never seen before. No longer were sin, death, and devil in control of human destiny. No longer could our consciences accuse those whom Christ had forgiven. Jesus was conqueror and all those who came to Him were made into conquerors, too. God's makeover said the lonely would have a Friend; the sinner would have a Savior; the lost would have an eternal home; the damned would be delivered. God's global makeover comes this way: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call." That is God's makeover for you.
Well, what is your reaction? True, we no longer hear the sound of rushing, mighty winds, and we no longer can identify Christians by the flames of fire dancing over their heads. Still, the message remains, God's invitation still goes out: the promise is for you, your children, for all whom the Lord will call. I ask you again, "What is your reaction?" I can tell you what your response is going to be. It will be as it has always been. Some will believe God's truth; and some won't. When it comes to Jesus, humanity remains, as it has always been, divided into two groups.
The day the Christian Church was born, thousands of people believed. The Holy Spirit moved them from darkness into the light of salvation. Thousands were given the faith that delivered them from hell into heaven. Thousands heard and trusted God's message which says the heavenly Father has sent His Son into the world to take our place, so that so that all who believe on Him might be delivered. And they were delivered. Some of you have already, with Word and Sacrament, been released from the bondage of sin and the shackles of Satan. The old hymn says it: "I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see." Believers know what God has done for them, and they live their lives in freedom and peace. They may carry a cross, but they know that cross will not last for eternity. They may have pain, but that pain will not be there in heaven. They may have questions, but someday they will have answers. They may have difficulty, doubt, and depression, but, in Jesus, they have the vision to see God's bright and eternal tomorrow. They have experienced God's extreme makeover and for that Christians give thanks. The change on the inside is reflected in the thanksgiving of the outside.
But as I say, there are two kinds of people in this world. The day when the Holy Spirit fulfilled Jesus' promise to come to His disciples many believed, but many also doubted and denied what had happened. It's no different today. Many of you who are listening to me right now are still doubting, aren't you?
If you are one of these skeptics let me tell you a story. Right outside New York's City Hall Park, there is a statue of Horace Greeley. Greeley, a great newspaperman, believed that people remain doubters even when they're confronted with solid evidence that their doubts are in error. Well, Greeley had his words put to the test in a most unique experiment. Greeley had a man stand on that corner and offer to sell $20 gold pieces for a $1 bill. That's right. $20 in gold for a $1 bill. It seemed like a deal too good to be true. That's what most people thought. That's why, for the entire day, the man kept calling out his offer.
Thousands of men and women, thinking the man imbalanced, gave him a wide berth and passed on by. Some laughed at the silliness of the proposition; others shook their heads in derision. Late in the afternoon, about 15 minutes before the man was going to quit, a lady, with some embarrassment, approached the man. She asked whether she might see one of the gold pieces. He gave it to her. She bit it; she dropped it on the pavement to see if it would ring like a gold piece. It did. Finally, but still with some reluctance, the lady paid her dollar and walked away with the golden double eagle. Ten minutes later she showed up again, this time with two friends. Between them they bought eight more of the double eagles - all the man was offering. They got $160 for $8 in bills. The next day, and for a number of days, that street corner was crowded. Goodness, for blocks it was crowded, crowded with people waiting for the man to show up again, hoping the man would arrive who would exchange a $20 gold piece for a one dollar bill. The man never showed.
Now there are some remarkable similarities between that story and your situation. For 75 years, preachers have stood in front of The Lutheran Hour microphone. For 75 years we have held out an offer that is, in human terms, simply too good to be true. We have spoken to the lost and lonely, the damned and dying, the hurting and hateful, the despondent and depressed. We have called out to sinners and lost souls. Week after week, and decade after decade we have said, "Repent of your sins, and in Jesus be given forgiveness, healing and peace." For 75 years, doubters have reacted. Some have tried to pass on by. Others have thought, "It can't be," or "It's too good to be true." I don't know what your reaction has been. I do know God's offer is real. I do know that you don't have anything to lose by following the example of the lady who checked out the gold piece.
Today I encourage you to check out what I am saying. Check out the salvation that Christ has won for you, that God wishes to give you. Take a look into Holy Scripture, please. Don't walk on by. The Holy Spirit is calling to you with an offer. He wants to change your life; He wants to make you over. He is holding out an offer that won't last forever. When you breathe your last; when you stop living, the opportunity for this once in eternity gift will be over. Yes, there are a lot of similarities between your situation and that of the people who passed by on that New York street corner that day. There are also two major differences. Your soul is worth a lot more than a $20 gold piece. And the other difference? There is no charge for what the Lord wants to give you. You've got nothing to exchange for the salvation Christ offers. Salvation is free. Your sin can be replaced by Christ's salvation. So what will happen? All I can say is, there are two kinds of people in this world, and Jesus died to save them both. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for May 15, 2005
ANNOUNCER: And now more on The Da Vinci Code: Fact or Fiction? with historian and author, Dr. Paul Maier. I'm Mark Eischer. Dr. Maier, last week you
said that Dan Brown's novel, The Da Vinci Code is built on false history. Could you site any other examples of how Dan Brown allegedly manipulates or mishandles historical facts.
MAIER: He claims that it was Constantine who edited the Bible, and weeded out those gospels that referred to Jesus' humanity only, and kept only those that referred to His divinity. This is totally false of course, because the canon was more or less in tact; the standard of books in the New Testament was intact150-200 years before Constantine. He claims that Constantine was a life-long pagan who was baptized only on his deathbed, too weak to protest. Well, 20 percent of that is true. He was baptized on his deathbed, but that is only because they had false theology in those days that claimed that since baptism wiped your slate clean, what you ought to do is get all your sinning done ahead of baptism, and then go into heaven with a clean passport. That part's true, but Constantine was a convert; he couldn't do enough for the church; he's the one who summoned the First Ecumenical Council. In the session at Nicea, he paid for the travel expenses, lodging expenses of all the churchmen coming across the empire, 300 strong. You can just see how the truth is manipulated continually in this novel.
ANNOUNCER: How do you explain the appeal of The Da Vinci Code and other Bible-conspiracy books that claim that there has to be some kind of hidden message behind Scripture in order to really get what the Bible is all about?
MAIER: That's the old Gnostic heresy from 1900 years ago. The Gospels are OK for you people, but we have the inner secret knowledge of what God really wants with us. That's an old heresy, and as Dan Brown writes correctly, one of the few things he says accurately in The Da Vinci Code, he says, "Everyone loves a conspiracy."
ANNOUNCER: What do the facts say about the true Christ and what He has done?
MAIER: The standard version that we have of the life of Jesus and what He taught as comprehended in the Gospels, is fully historical. So many people think that everything about Jesus is mentioned only in the New Testament; no, His name shows up in interesting commentary; shows up in non-Biblical sources. This gives the lie to that common pathetic challenge to Christianity that Jesus never lived, even historically. That's just rot.
ANNOUNCER: Dr. Maier, you've devoted your life to finding historical connections between what we read in Scripture, and what might be found in ancient literature and in archeology; how do we know that the Bible can be taken for what it really is - the Word of God - the truth?
MAIER: I have to admit, Mark, that's correct. I've always been fascinated by trying to find outside evidence that correlates with what is claimed in the Old and New Testaments. And since Christianity, unlike other world religious systems, is built on fact and not on fantasy, there's a tremendous difference in the case of our Christian faith. We should use those facts from the past in order to defend the faith. And it comes very, very handy in a case like this, when we're trying to get a clear portrait of who Jesus was and is, and what He taught, and what He didn't teach, and so forth. It is so important to have the facts. Now where do you get the facts? Not only from the Bible, but because the Bible is based totally on history, it's amazing to see how many facts from the ancient world from secular sources, correlate admirably with the biblical record. We find some of the same people and places and episodes and events reported also by non-biblical documents from the ancient world. And they say so often the same thing as the Bible does, sometimes, giving us even more details which help us in terms of a better appreciation of the biblical episodes.
ANNOUNCER: We've been talking with Dr. Paul Maier, co-author with Hank Hanegraaff on The Da Vinci Code: Fact or Fiction?, and also the author of many historical novels, and distinguished historian of ancient history. Dr. Maier, thank you for being with us.
MAIER: Thank you so much, Mark.
ANNOUNCER: This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.