Yesterday Christ was born in the world, so that today Stephen would be born in heaven. This is an ancient confession of the Incarnation and what it means for the eternal life of the saints. Today is the feast day of St. Stephen, the first martyr of the Church after Jesus Ascension into Heaven. Stephen means "garland or crown." We celebrate the life, salvation, and death of St. Stephen as one who was crowned with the righteousness of Christ that Jesus purchased and won for him on the cross

Stephen died proclaiming the truth in the face of certain death. The Jews were seeking to eradicate all those who followed the false Messiah Jesus and eliminate the Gospel from the face of the earth. They didn't do this by making the saints lives hard, but by killing them and imprisoning them. Stephen was one of the deacons, chosen by the Apostles to assist in feeding the poor and doing other works of mercy. We read of Stephen's life in the Acts of the Apostles chapters 6 and 7. Chapter 7 is where we read of Stephen's speech before the Jews that were accusing him of blasphemy and false belief. Stephen didn't back down, but preach the law in its truth and the Gospel in its purity. As Stephen proclaimed the Gospel, the Jews picked up stones and didn't stop throwing them at him until  he looked up and beheld heaven opened to him. Stephen then fell asleep in the Lord Jesus, confident in the reality that he was a child of his merciful and forgiving Father in Christ Jesus his Lord. 

We thank Jesus for the life, salvation, and martyr death of St. Stephen. This is a great example to us in living the faith boldly with love and mercy.  We meditate on the life, salvation, and death of Stephen and we see a great example of the mercy of Jesus, that Christ claimed Stephen as His own child and He does the same thing for us. On the cross, Jesus claimed all of Stephen's sin as His own and paid the price for it. Jesus did the same thing for us and suffered the full wrath of the Father against sinners in order that we now are the recipients of the Father's eternal love and mercy. As we meditate today on the Feast of St. Stephen, let us meditate solely on the mercy of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. That is what ushered Stephen into heaven, and that is what ushers all sinners into eternal paradise. Jesus was born into this world, to die for us, so that we may all be born in heaven and live forever with our Triune God. 

One little gift we get as we celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen is that tonight, at 630, we are gifted to receive the gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation in the means of grace in the Divine Service. So, if you are around Zion in Tomball I invite you to come and get the goods of the cross. 

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the peaceful voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I forgive you. I love you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull