"Don't whine." "Stop crying about it." "Quit your complaining." Growing up, our parents would say these things to us, not because they didn't care about us, but because they did care about us. Yes, when we complained as a kid, it was because we didn't know everything that was going on and thought things were unfair. Yes, when we were children, we would cry about everything, whine all the time, and roll our eyes and grunt because we thought we deserved something better than what our parents were providing for us. The sinners natural inclination is to whine, cry, and complain about everything in life.

But this stops when we get older right? I mean, no one complains about simple things once they mature right? No one complains about the government, as if they could run the country better right? No one complains about things at church, as if they don't have their own sins and own faults and own drama right? No one complains about their quarterback blowing them game winning touchdown pass as if they could have made that throw with four 300 pound guys charging at you ready to break your legs right? No one complains about the weather, their friends, their food, their electric bill, their family, their friends, and everything else in between. We are grown ups. We don't complain like doubt-ridden children do we? 

Yes, we complain about everything. Why do we complain? Because we look at all the things that we think are unfair in life, rather than meditating on all the blessings we have in life from God. Yes, when you complain, even about the smallest thing, it's because you don't appreciate the things God gives you. Complaining is a rejection of God's goodness toward you. Complaining about everything is living a life of unbelief, meaning you spend all your time on those negative things rather than the blessings of God. Yes, we complain, and yes we must repent of this. May the Holy Spirit grant us faith, that we may have true contrition and guilt over our whinning hearts and repent. 

Yes, for Jesus died even for the complainers. Remember Isaiah 53 which says, "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;  upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. ⁷ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth." (Isaiah 53:4-7). Jesus is that Lamb that went uncomplaining forth to the cross. Yes, on Jesus were laid all our iniquities and all the chastisements that bring us peace. Yes, Jesus heard every complaint against God and neighbor and bore them on the cursed tree of the cross for us. Yes, Jesus went to the cross and opened not His mouth, so that all our unbelieving complaints may be paid for there in His blood. Yes, on the cross, Jesus purchased us out of our complaints so that we may be saved, rather than condemned for our whining skepticism. 

Yes, Jesus opened not His mouth while suffering the unfair judgment of the cross. Yes, He opened not His mouth to defend Himself, because He desired to open His mouth only to defend you, and the only way He can defend you is by making your complaints His own and atoning for them. Yes, because Jesus died on the cross for your complaints, He can now and does now defend you before His Father in heaven in the forgiveness of your complaints. Yes, all your complaints, whine sessions, and groan filled venting is forgiven in the blood of Jesus. Yes, Jesus opens up His mouth now, through His called servant the pastor, in order to forgive you your sins and restore you to a right and eternal relationship with His Father and your Father. Yes, this is the blessing that must guide you your whole life. May it guide you so that you may rest assured in the love of God in Christ Jesus your Lord and therefore may have a days filled with joy and righteous contentment. 

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

Jesus' Sheepdog