Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: April 2019

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

1. Peter 1,3-9. Quasimodogeniti

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum

1. Peter 1,3-9 2719

Quasimodogeniti (1. Sonntag nach Ostern) 036

Vitalis of Ravenna, Italy. Martyr 62

28. April 2019

1. O Almighty God, who by the death of Your Son has destroyed death, and by His resurrection has brought again innocence and eternal life, so that we, being redeemed from the power of the Devil, might lives in Your reign: grant that we, with our whole hearts, may believe; and, in that faith abiding, evermore praise and thank You. Amen. (Löhe 476-77)

2. »Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your lives.«

3. The Sunday after Easter historically gives us the pericope of Thomas, the apostle who would not believe in the resurrection unless he sees for himself the crucifixion marks on Jesus’ hands and side. Thomas wants physical evidence and proof of Jesus’ resurrection. Mary Magdalene had this physical evidence on Easter morning as she saw and touched the risen Jesus. The 10 apostles likewise had this physical evidence on Easter evening as they saw, and, presumably, touched Jesus’ hands and side. Thomas lacked that physical evidence; all he had was the testimony of Magdalena and his fellow apostles.

4. The Apostle Peter writes in his epistle: »Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for us.« Mary Magdalene, the 10 apostles and eventually the Apostle Thomas confessed this living hope through the resurrection of Christ.

5. But Thomas’ critical skepticism is the foundation for modern man’s or woman’s skepticism of the resurrection. Jesus’ tomb was empty on Easter morning; the disciples, the Jews and the Romans all affirm this truth. The important question is why is Jesus’ tomb empty. The Church confesses that the tomb is empty because Jesus rose from the grave; this confession traces all the way back to the first people to see the risen Jesus: Mary Magdalene and the other woman who had gone to the tomb at sunrise on Easter. All the apostles testify to have seen, touched and spoken to the risen Jesus. Over 500 disciples were eyewitnesses to the risen Jesus, and countless Scriptures and Christian writings confess the risen Christ. Our testimony stretches back nearly 2000 years.

6. A true skeptic will doubt the Christian claim that Christ rose from the tomb. 1. century Jews fell into one of two camps regarding the resurrection: 1. the Sadducees denied the idea of a resurrection altogether; 2. most Jews, including the Pharisees, believed the resurrection would occur on the last day when everyone will be raised up and then judgment would be meted out: the righteous being with God and the wicked being consigned to punishment. This was the position of Mary and Martha when they discussed Lazarus with Jesus: they believed he would be resurrected at the end of history, on the last day, but Jesus said, no, he will be resurrected now, and this foreshadowed Jesus’ own resurrection. That Jesus rose on Easter morning was unexpected, unthinkable and unorthodox; He should not have risen on Sunday but on the last day with everyone else. And this is affirmed by the women, the apostles and Thomas: they were not expecting a risen Jesus on Sunday, and yet there He is before them in the flesh.

7. The Apostle Paul tells us: »Christ has been raised from the dead as the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man death arrived, by a Man the resurrection of the dead has arrived also. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at His advent those who belong to Christ. Then the end arrives, when He delivers the reign to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power« (1. Corinthians 15,20-24).

8. In this we rejoice, for our faith in the risen Jesus results in praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though we have not seen Him, yet we love and believe in Him. The Apostle Thomas saw the risen Jesus and confessed: »My Lord and my God! (John 20,28).

9. But we are not Thomas. We have not seen the risen Jesus, and yet we believe. We have the testimony of Mary Magdalene and Thomas in the Holy Gospels. We have the testimony of the apostles in their epistles. We have 2000 years of preaching from pastors and the teaching of our parents and grandparents. Our evidence is in the written Scriptures and the stories we have been told. The Holy Spirit has created our faith through these proclamations. Therefore Jesus tells us: »Blessed are you who have not seen and yet have believed« (John 20,29). We confess with Thomas: Jesus, you are my Lord and my God! Amen and Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, You have done great things for us, particularly rising from the grave, so that believing in Your resurrection from the dead we hope in our own resurrection by Your hand on the last day. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Löhe, Wilhelm. Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians. Wartburg Publishing House, Chicago circa 1912. Concordia Publishing House; Concordia on Demand.

Monday, April 22, 2019

Easter Monday. Luke 24,13-35

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Luke 24,13-35)

Antiphon

℣ We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord and His might,

℟ and the wonders that He has done.

Collect of the Day

O God, in the paschal feast You restore all creation. Continue to send Your heavenly gifts upon Your people so that they may walk in perfect freedom and receive eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

Sunday, April 21, 2019

John 20,11-18. Easter Sunday

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

se cwide þæs béaggiefan ábireþ ferhþ

John 20,11-18 2619

Ostersonntag 034 weiß

Anselm of Canterbury, Archbishop ✠ 1109.

21. April 2019

1. O Everlasting God, who by Your Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, has opened unto us the portals of eternal life, sealed unto us the bond of reconciliation, and, by His joyful resurrection, has granted hope and salvation unto the whole world, we beseech You, awaken in us a desire unto that beauteous eternity, and grant us the gift of perfect liberty, so that we, being released from the power of sin and death, may ever serve Your honor in newness of life. Amen. (Löhe 476)

2. »But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, seated where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They asked to her: „Why are you weeping?“ She said to them: „They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have put Him.“ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her: „Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?“ Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him: „If you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will take Him away.“ Jesus said to her: „Mary.“ She turned and said to Him in Aramaic: „Rabboni!“ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her: „Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers and say to them: ‘I am ascending to My Father and Your Father, to My God and Your God.’“ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples: „I have seen the Lord“—and that He had said these things to her.«

3. Saint Paul tells us: »For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep.« Paul says death is merely a sleep; when you sleep you wake up again. So too in Christ, all who fall asleep in death will be woken up by Christ. He had descended into Hades to search for those who had fallen asleep before Him. Christ visited those dwelling in darkness and in the shadow of Death. He went to free from sorrow those captive in Hades, bringing forth first Adam and Eve, He who is both the Second Adam and the Son of Eve. He took them by the hand and raised them up, saying: „Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, for I, the Christ, give you light« [Isaiah 60,1-3] (Bishop Melito ¶ 2) .Yes, the Lord descended into the regions beneath the earth, announcing there the gospel of His advent and of the forgiveness of sins conferred upon those who believe in Him (Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book 5, Chapter 31, ¶ 2).

4. When you have a moment, take a look at our Resurrection stained glass window. On the right is Jonah and the great fish. Jesus said, just as Jonah was three days in the belly of a fish and spat out onto dry land, so too will I be in the belly of the earth for three days but then I will rise from my grave. On the left is Sampson who once tore asunder the city gate of Gaza and carried it away, thus opening the Philistine city to those who would go in or out. Likewise Christ has torn open the gates of Hades. The concept of Hades is a detailed topic, but in a simple definition: Hades was where the faithful went after they died to await the the arrival of the Messiah. So Christ went there to tell them He has arrived, and none who were consigned there need remain anymore. Christ has lead the faithful out. That’s how the Early Church theologians spoke about the resurrection of Christ.

5. Christ has torn asunder the gates of Hades. Mary Magdalene recognized this, for the only way to return from the dead was to get past the gates of Hades. Since Jesus had returned, He has gotten past the locked gates. The Gospel according to Matthew tells us that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary took hold of His feet and worshipped Jesus as they left the garden (Matthew 28,1.9). The Gospel according to John tells us that Jesus told Mary: »Do not cling to Me.« Her clinging was part of her worship of Jesus whom she had addressed as Rabboni; John tells us that it means Teacher. Rabboni also means my lord, given Mary’s act of devotion and worship her use of Rabboni certainly carries the connotation of confessing Jesus as the Lord, the one who has conquered death and escaped Hades.

6. Magdalena starts off Easter the right way, and we follow her example 2000 years later each Easter. We gather to confess Jesus to be the Lord and to worship Him. We do so because He has conquered Death and Hades. The Devil is the biggest loser this day. He had used Death and Hades as a bludgeon to harass and demoralize men and women. Our two great fears are dying and being separated from God; the Devil took great delight in holding those two threats over our heads, but on Easter Jesus removed the Devil’s two most powerful fear tactics. Jesus rose from the dead and He ripped the gates of Hades off their hinges. He gives us Eternal Life and a dwelling place in Heaven.

7. Jesus gave Mary Magdalene the most important task ever given to a human being: Go and tell My apostles that I have risen and that you have seen Me. That message literally changed the world, and Mary got to be the first person to tell it. The Church is built upon the confession of Mary: I have seen the Lord.

8. God works good from tragedies. When Notre Dame in Paris caught fire during Holy Week it seemed so bleak and devastating. But Parisians, not known for their public confession of the faith, went out to sing and pray. A cathedral damaged lead to a spark that ignited a moldering faith in people. All is not lost in the Western Church; Christ and His faithful still gather and worship. So too does Mary’s confession which is our confession: Jesus is Lord. It’s to be sung, prayed and shared. So we do once again today, but it should not be reserved only for Sunday. We meet people every day who are hurting, struggling or questioning. Where is God? What does He think of me? God puts such people in our path of life so we can tell them, even in a simple way, that God is here; God loves you. See, Jesus died to forgive you and rose to give you life. That is the confession that sustained the French Christians last week and it is the confession that sustains us this day and every day.

9. The Apostle Paul tells us: »If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, then you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says: Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame« [Isaiah 28,16] (Romans 10, 9-11).

10. The Easter Gospel is to be proclaimed. The angels proclaimed it; Mary Magdalene proclaimed it; the apostles and the disciples proclaimed it. We have heard the proclamation and now it is our turn to proclaim: Χριστός ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Hallelujah!! Amen.

11. Let us pray. O Christ, who was dead, and behold is alive forevermore; You have the keys of Death and Hades, so we no longer need fear the Devil for you have redeemed us. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Löhe, Wilhelm. Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians. Wartburg Publishing House, Chicago circa 1912. Concordia Publishing House; Concordia on Demand.

Easter Resurrection

Christ is risen! Hallelujah!

Χριστός ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!

Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed. Hallelujah!

그리스도는 부활합니다! 그는 실제로 증가하고 있습니다!

Cristo ha resucitado! Él ha resucitado!

»Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting? [Hosea 13,14] The sting of Death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!« (1. Corinthians 15,54-56)

1. Thessalonians 4,13-18. Easter Vigil

✠ Let no one mourn their transgressions, ✠

1. Thessalonians 4,13-18 2519

Osternacht 033 weiß

Sulpicius and Servilianus, Martyrs at Rome 117

Johannes Bugenhagen, Pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Wittenberg, ✠ 1558

20. April 2019

1. O Christ, the Bringer of Eternal Life, remove the sting of death, tear asunder the gates of Hades, so that we may rejoice in Your victory over death and Hades. Amen.

2. »But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the advent of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.«

3. We all grieve death. Death is the deadly sting that affects fallen man. The grave follows death and the separation is now physically complete. All we have left of our loved ones is a grave marker, a tombstone, a crypt or an urn. Death is brutal: earth to earth and ashes to ashes. So it was for those who loved Jesus. They removed His corpse from the cross, quickly wrapped Him in a burial shroud, hastily buried him in a nearby tomb and covered His face and head with a veil. They then left to celebrate the Sabbath rest and mourn the loss of their Messiah and friend. Hades welcomed the souls of those who died, and it welcomed Jesus too.

4. There is a great silence and stillness on earth today (Bishop Melito of Sardis ¶ 1). The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep (Bishop Melito of Sardis ¶ 1). The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh (Bishop Melito of Sardis ¶ 1). But something strange is happening (Bishop Melito of Sardis ¶ 1). God has died in the flesh and now it is Hades that trembles with fear, for Christ has raised up all who have slept since the world began (Bishop Melito of Sardis ¶ 1).

5. Saint Paul tells us: »For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep.« Paul says death is merely a sleep; when you sleep you wake up again. So too in Christ, all who fall asleep in death will be woken up by Christ. He had descended into Hades to search for those who had fallen asleep before Him. Christ visited those dwelling in darkness and in the shadow of Death. He went to free from sorrow those captive in Hades, bringing forth first Adam and Eve, He who is both the Second Adam and the Son of Eve. He took them by the hand and raised them up, saying: „Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, for I, the Christ, give you light« [Isaiah 60,1-3] (Bishop Melito ¶ 2) .Yes, the Lord descended into the regions beneath the earth, announcing there the gospel of His advent and of the forgiveness of sins conferred upon those who believe in Him (Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book 5, Chapter 31, ¶ 2). Sampson once tore asunder the city gate of Gaza and carried it away, this opening the Philistine city to those who would go in or out. Likewise Christ has torn open the gates of Hades. And none who were consigned there need remain anymore. Christ has lead the captives out.

6. Behold, the cry is fast approaching with the rising Sunday dawn: Rejoice, for the Sleeper has awakened! Do not fear, for He has risen just as He told you He would! Christ has risen and He brings with him a train of captives set free from sin, Death, Hades and the Devil. The Apostle Paul Paul proclaims: »All who are in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has arrived« (2. Corinthians 5,17-18). In Christ we are a new creation. The old has died on the cross with Christ, and the new arises with Him on Easter. Darkness has fallen on Good Friday, but the light of Easter dawn is about to rise above the horizon.

7. For our sake Christ took on human flesh, suffered, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into Hades. All this He did to ransom us back to God the Father. Christ bore His cross and shed His blood to save the world from its sinfulness. The Serpent lead Adam out of the earthly paradise of the Garden of Eden, but Christ our Savior leads us into the heavenly Paradise to dwell with Him for all eternity. Let us leave this place, and with her eyes on Jesus follow Him from the grave to His empty tomb and the bright light of His resurrection. Amen.

8. Let us pray. O Almighty, Ever-Living God, whose Only-begotten Son descended to the realm of the dead, and rose from there to glory, grant that Your faithful people, who were buried with Him in Holy Baptism, may, by His resurrection, obtain eternal life (Holy Saturday Collect). Amen.

for pardon has dawned from the grave

✠

Löhe, Wilhelm. Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians. Wartburg Publishing House, Chicago circa 1912. Concordia Publishing House; Concordia on Demand.

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Holy Saturday. Matthew 27,57-66

Holy Gospel

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.”66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. (Matthew 27,57-66)

Antiphon

℣ For my soul is full of troubles,

℟ and my life draws near to Sheol.

Collect of the Day

O God, Creator of heaven and earth, grant that as the crucified body of Your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with Him the arrival of the third day, and rise with Him to newness of life, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

Matthew 27,51-54. Good Friday

✠ We preach Christ and Him crucified ✠

Iesus Nazarenus rex Iudaeorum

Matthew 27,51-54 (John 19,16-30) 2419

Karfreitag 031 schwarz

Timon, one of the 7 deacons at Jerusalem. Acts 6,5

Olavus Petri, Pastor and Reformer in Sweden, ✠ 1552

Laurentius Petri, Reformer, Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden, ✠ 1573

19. April 2019

1. O Almighty, Eternal God, who for us has caused Your Son to suffer the pains of the cross, so that You may put away the power of the enemy from us, grant so to observe the memory of His suffering so that we may attain to the forgiveness of sin, and the surety of release from eternal death, to serve You in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness. Amen. (Löhe 473)

2. »And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom, the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and exiting from the tombs after His resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said: „Truly this was the Son of God!“«

3. The title Son of God appears 10 times in the Gospel according to St. Matthew; Jesus did not use this title to describe Himself in the Gospel, but twice the apostles call Him the Son of God. The title is uttered 4 times during Matthew’s Passion narrative, the final time by the Roman centurion overseeing Christ’s crucifixion.(Matthew 26,63; 27,40.43.54). (Matthew 10x, Mark 4x, Luke 12x and John 13x; total 39x vs. Son of Man in Matthew 28x, Mark 14x, Luke 26x and John 13x; total 81x).

4. St. Matthew is very clear: the Son of God was crucified. On Karfreitag, God died, and thus „the death of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary is the end of the world, as we have known it“ [Der Tod Jesu Christi am Kreuz auf Golgatha ist das Ende der Welt, wie wir sie gekannt haben.] (Wenz 3). When Jesus died, the Jewish leaders who had handed Him over to Pilate were elated. That blasphemer who equated himself on par with God the Father was dead. So much for being the Son of God, for he had died. Not much of a God there, suffering and dying, humiliated and condemned, by the Roman law and the Jewish covenant as a criminal against the Roman State. Pilate who knowingly condemned an innocent man to death, comforted his conscience that in doing so he settled the bloodlust of the Sanhedrin against Jesus and thus quelled a potential mob uprising during the very important Jewish feast of Passover. Peace was tentatively maintained, all at the cost of a single man’s life.

5. The peace that Pilate had preserved between the Romans and the Jews in Palestine is a type of the greater peace that Christ Jesus enacted between God the Father and us. Behold, the Son of God crucified as the Lamb of God sacrificed for the sin of the world, yes, for all your sins! Christ crucified is the costly ransom that paid in full all our sinfulness. Behold, there is Jesus, the King of the Jews, and He is dead! His crucifixion means that there can be no doubt that God loves each and every fallen, sinful man and woman. Three years before He was crucified, Jesus told Nicodemus: »For God loved the world so much that He gave His Only Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.« (John 3,16). God desired to save the world from sin, death and hell so He sent His one and only Son as the vicarious sacrifice to redeem the world. God did not spare Himself, but rather He sent His very best for you and your salvation.

6. The death of God on the cross lead to the defeat of the Devil. In the 3. century, Origen (d. 254 or 255) was the first theologian to propose that God has outsmarted the Devil (Gschwantler 149,8). The image was as follows: The Old Testament uses the sea monster, Leviathan, to represent the Devil as the Serpent who tempted Adam and Eve to sin against God. By taking on a Human body, Christ convinces the Devil that it is possible now to kill God and ultimately defeat his ancient foe. Unbeknownst to the Devil, this human bait was intended by God to trick the Devil into maneuvering the Roman and Jewish forces in Jerusalem into executing the Son of God, and in dying God would triumph over the Devil. Jesus is the bait, the cross is the fishhook and once the sea monster is hooked ... well, that is the end for the fish. Gregory of Nyssa (d. 394) described it this way in a sermon: The Divine buried Himself in the shell of our human nature, so that Satan at the same time swallowed the fishhook of the Deity with the bait of the flesh in the manner of ravenous fish (Gschwantler 149,8). In a Divine turn of events, the hunter becomes the hunted and the Gospel promise of Genesis 3,15 is fulfilled: The Devil strikes Christ’s heel and in return Christ crushes the head of the Devil.

7. And, what immediately happens when Jesus died? Matthew tells us that the the tombs were opened and many of the bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised up. These risen saints departed the tombs after Jesus’s resurrection; they went into Jerusalem and appeared to many. The Devil lost his grip over Death and Hades the moment Jesus died. Such an event shows that Jesus’ death on the cross had broken the power of death and the grave, for His atoning sacrifice conquers those two ancient foes of mankind.

8. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said: „Truly this was the Son of God!“ [ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς ἦν οὗτος. vere Dei Filius erat iste. Wahrlich dieser ist Gottes Sohn gewesen!] Most of the priests and Pharisees condemned Jesus as a blasphemer for declaring Himself to be God Almighty, but the Roman legionnaires at His crucifixion confessed Jesus to be the Son of God. Truly the gospel and salvation was given out to the Gentiles that day!

9. Jesus is the Lord over Death and the Lord of Life. He proclaims: »I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in Me, though that person dies, yet shall live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die« (John 11,25-26). We have seen this truth born out again tonight in the Holy Scriptures that speak of His crucifixion. God died on Good Friday, and in dying He caught and defeated the Devil. God will rise from His grave. Jesus is your Resurrection and your Life. Go in peace on this night of salvation for Jesus is our Christus Victor! Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Gracious God, who delights in being gracious rather than to pour out Your wrath upon any; grant unto Your chosen ones, by the suffering of Your Son, so that they hate their sins and receive Your comfort. Amen. (Löhe 474) .

Which is poured out for everyone.

✠

Löhe, Wilhelm. Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians. Wartburg Publishing House, Chicago circa 1912. Concordia Publishing House; Concordia on Demand.

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Monday, April 22, 2019

Sunday, April 21, 2019

Christ is risen! Hallelujah!

Saturday, April 20, 2019