Son of Man have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have Ezekiel 2:1-5 transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn. I send you Drill sergeants have a reputation. In movies and in real to them, and you shall say to them, “Thus says the Lord life they are known for their command of the English God.” And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they language. They are skilled at speaking very loudly, with are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet unquestionable authority, and often up-close-and- has been among them. personal as they address new recruits, quickly putting them in their place. Did you see yourself in those words? Were you put in your place? Ezekiel is a new recruit. He had been a priest, but is now being called to join the ranks of the prophets. He had Today is Independence Day. Few of us have been so formerly served in Jerusalem. Now he finds himself in bold as to openly declare our independence from God, Babylon with other exiles from Judah. but all of us have rebelled against Him. We have been impudent and stubborn. We have forgotten our place. Ezekiel was given a vision of four living creatures, each We have impudently decided for ourselves what is good with four faces and four wings. He also saw a throne right and salutary. We have stubbornly done what we that looked like it was made of sapphire. And on the want when we want. throne was seated the Lord in all his glory. God’s word of Law is meant to put us back in our place. Ezekiel was put in his place even before the Lord spoke. You, son of man, are a sinner. Hearing this leads to He fell face down, not to do push-ups, but in fear. You repentance and a returning to the Lord our God for heard in the reading what happens next. The Lord forgiveness. addresses him as “son of man”. We hear it twice in our short text. Ezekiel hears it 91 more times as recorded in And God grants it. To accomplish our salvation, Jesus the rest of the 48 chapters. was put in His place. The Father’s plan was to have His Son leave the glories of heaven and be born on earth and “Son of man” puts Ezekiel in his place. The term makes be given the name Jesus. Thus began His state of it very clear who is giving the marching orders and who Humiliation as He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and is expected to carry out those orders. Son of man, I send born of the virgin Mary. you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who Throughout His preaching, teaching, and healing We are in no way independent from God. Our ministry Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of man. forgiveness and life eternal rely completely on the And so He was – like us in every way, except that He relationship we have with Him. We are only in this place was without sin, which baffles our minds. And just as because of Him. amazing is the love that He has for us that He would There is another sense in which we have been put in our willingly go to the cross to suffer its physical torments, place. The term thrown around at the Seminary is the and the spiritual anguish of being forsaken by His Father Doctrine of Vocation. God puts us in our place in life to as He paid the price for our sins. serve Him by serving others. Jesus was put in our place – under the wrath of God the He put Ezekiel in Babylon to serve the people there. He Father – for us. But it was also His place. Only He, the has placed us in our community to serve the people here. Son of God, could satisfy God’s righteous wrath against He has placed us in relationships as child, parent, sin. Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, spouse, volunteer, employee, employer, retiree, to use died and was buried. That was His place that He might the gift He has given us to serve others. earn for you the forgiveness of your sin. You have been put in your place to show thanks for the We know, though, that death and the grave could not love and mercy God has given you. This kind of being hold Him. With His State of Humiliation behind Him, put in your place is a good thing. As Ezekiel lived out His State of Exaltation began. He descended into hell. his vocation the people knew a prophet was among The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended them. As you live out your vocation people will know into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father that a child of God is among them. God grant you the Almighty. desire and strength live out this calling. Amen. Now we are put in our place – in God’s family as His beloved children. We have the forgiveness of sins because of what the Father has done for us – sending His Son into our world, because of what Jesus has done for us in His life, death and resurrection, and because of the Holy Spirit who has created faith in us to believe in this plan of salvation, and Jesus as our Savior.