Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: March 2015

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

John 12,12-19. Palmarum

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

se cwide þæs béaggiefan ábireþ ferhþ

John 12,12-19 (Mt 21,1-9; Mk 11,1-10; Lk 19,28-40) 1915

Palmarum (6. Sonntag der Passionszeit) 029 „Palms“

Eustace, Abbot of Luxeuil, France. Apostle to the Bavarians, ✠ 629.

29. März 2015

1. O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou rode into Jerusalem on an ass as the Prince of Peace and a Man of Sorrows, so that giving up Your life in death You would thereby ransom us back to our Heavenly Father. Amen. (VELKD, Prayer for Palmarum § 1)

2. The next day the large crowd that had come to the Feast of Passover heard that Jesus was going to Jerusalem. ¹³So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, crying out: „Hosanna! Blessed is He who arrives in the Name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!“ ¹⁴And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on him, just as it is written: ¹⁵»Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is arriving, sitting on a donkey’s colt!« ¹⁶His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him and had been done to Him. ¹⁷The crowd that had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. ¹⁸The reason why the crowd went to meet Him was that they heard He had done this sign. ¹⁹So the Pharisees said to one another: „You see that you are gaining nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him.“

3. On this day we remember and celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The liturgical name for this day is Palmarum (Palm Sunday) and it receives its name from today’s reading from the Gospel according to John, where the holy evangelist and apostle writes: »They took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Jesus.«

4. Jesus entered Jerusalem on an ass in the spirit of King Solomon who also rode up to Jerusalem on an ass for his coronation as David’s successor (1. Kings 1,33.38). On Palm Sunday, a colt is blessed to bear upon his young back the Son of Man. Jewish tradition dating back to the time of the Old Testament kings reveals that it was the common practice for the Jews to carry green palm branches and to place their garments before the king at public celebrations (Gerhard 286; 2. Kings 9,13; Nehemiah 8,15). Christ’s entry into Jerusalem began on the Mount of Olives, and thus it is probable that some of these palms were olive palms, and such olive branches signify peace (Gerhard 291; Genesis 8,11). Palms also signify victory and conquest (Gerhard 292) with the traditional cry of „Hosanna!“, for they were welcoming in their king, a son of David. „Hosanna“ means „O Yahweh, help us!“

5. The Jewish people and Jesus’ disciples really wanted a triumphant Messiah-King who would help them, and on Palmarum they finally received what they wanted all along. The Prophet Zechariah proclaimed the Messiah as the Triumphant King who rides in justifying and saving (Zechariah 9,9). The disciples and the crowd believed Jesus was fulfilling the Prophet Zechariah, and so they joyously sang Psalm 118: »Blessed is He who arrives in the Name of Yahweh! We bless You from the house of Yahweh. Yahweh is God, and He made His light to shine upon us«. (Psalm 118,26-27a).

6. After this spectacular entry into Jerusalem, the Pharisees said to one another: „You see that you are gaining nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him.“ Palmarum publicly proclaims: Messiah has arrived! But the Pharisees had hoped to accuse Jesus of blasphemy or treason against Rome so they could have Him arrested and crucified. His triumphant entry into Jerusalem seemed to have dashed their hopes because the very crowds are behind Him. We see from the main stream media how the crowds can dictate a scene or co-opt a movement. If you are going to go against the crowd, then you have to do so carefully and meticulously. Before Palmarum, the Pharisees and the chief priests had decided that they cannot let Jesus go on doing miraculous signs, like raising Lazarus from the dead. If they do, then everyone will believe in Him and the Romans will take away their temple and their nation. (John 11,45-48)

7. How can the Pharisees turn public opinion against Jesus? Their first move is to eliminate Lazarus. The chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus along with Jesus because many of the Jews were believing in Jesus after He had raised Lazarus from the dead. (John 12,9-11) Their second move was to find someone close to Jesus who would betray Him, and they have that gift dropped right into their hands! Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and asked: „What will you give me if I deliver Him over to you?“ (Matthew 26,14-16). We also know that Satan entered into Judas and caused him to betray Jesus (Luke 22,3-6; John 13,27). Now it is all a matter of timing. The chief priests and the Pharisees did not want to arrest Jesus during the Feast of Passover because a riot might erupt with the large crowds in Jerusalem who would demand Jesus’ release. So they decided to arrest and condemn Him the night before the feast which happened in the late night of Maundy Thursday.

8. Now all that was left was to turn public opinion against Jesus. The crowds are fickle. They always have been, and they always will be. How do you turn a pro-Jesus crowd into one that calls for His death? Political agitators know how to do this: seed the crowd with dissenting voices and change the mood of the crowd. There were many people in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. The Jews from Judea heralded Jesus as the Messiah, but there were many other Jews from all corners of the Roman Empire who had arrived to celebrate the feast. These Jews probably never heard of Jesus or perhaps just rumors. They might be easily swayed to call for His death, especially if the religious leaders shout the loudest and remind everyone that they delivered Jesus over to Pilate for the charge of blasphemy, which was one of the worst sins a Jew could be charged with. And that appears to be what happens. The Gospel according to Matthew tells us: »The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus« (Matthew 27,20).

9. In one week’s time the chief priests and Pharisees had turned their lament: „The world has gone after him!“ into their jubilation: „The world has abandoned him!“ Jesus’ victory on Palm Sunday had been replaced with His humiliation on Good Friday.

10. This was a surprise to His disciples and the crowds that hailed Him as the Messiah, but Jesus had been proclaiming this turn of events throughout His ministry. Jesus rode into Jerusalem as the humble Christ not to be crowned the Messianic King of the Jews but to be crucified as the Savior of the world.

11. The world still rejects Him today. He is ridiculed and mocked by billions around the earth. Even those who claim to be His followers often fall to the same misunderstandings about Him like His 1. century disciples and crowds did. A victorious King riding into His capital is much preferred to a humiliated Savior dying on a cross. Palm branches and Hosannahs are much preferred to nails, thorns and lamentations.

12. Would that the world would go after Jesus! He desires that everyone behold Him as their Savior from sin, death and hell, but He will not force and compel anyone to believe in Him. Instead the Holy Spirit works patiently through the proclamation of the gospel to create faith in men and women. This faith is grounded up the crucified and risen Christ. From this faith is formed the belief that Jesus is both the humbled Christ and the venerated King. His public acclamation on Palmarum is a foretaste of the universal Hosanna that will resound on the last day when all the angelic host in heaven and all Christians will herald Him as the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign (Revelation 5,12). On that greater day of Palmarum the chief priests, the Pharisees and all who have rejected Him throughout history will bow down before Him and recognize Him as the Messiah and the Son of God.

13. We believe in Him now and acclaim Him as the Christ, thus we can look at each Palmarum as a liturgical dress rehearsal for our performance on the last day. We will stand before Christ in full restored glory that reflects His Glory, kneel before Him and line His path with Hallelulahs and Hosannas as the Savior of the world. There is no greater joy and honor we could claim than to process with Christ Jesus at His 2. Advent. Amen.

14. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Son of Man who must be lifted up for all the world, send forth the Holy Spirit to sustain faith in You, for whoever believes in You has eternal life. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

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 27. Edition © 1993 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Devotional thoughts for Wednesday

Wednesday 25. March 2015
Judica
31. Day of Lent

"I AM the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep." (John 10,11)

Our Good Shepherd Window is above our altar. Jesus seeks for the lost and brings them home. He chases away predators who would devour His people.

Lent began with Jesus overcoming the devil's temptation. Lent is leading us to Calvary and the cross where Jesus laid down His very life in order to redeem us back to God the Father.

He is our Good Shepherd who cares for us and leads us home. No other religion or philosophy teaches redemption through a God suffering and dying for humanity. Christianity does, for it points us to Jesus who is the world's Savior.

Prayer: O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant to Your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys. Amen.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Mark 10,35-45. Judica

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum

Mark 10,35-45 (Matthew 20,20-28; Luke 22,24-27) 1815

Judika 28 „Vindicate me“

Nicolaus of the Flüe, Patron of Switzerland, hermit in Unterwalden, Switzerland. ✠ 1487

22. März 2015

1. O Jesus Christ, Thou Son of Man, Redeemer and Savior, we give thanks to You for drinking the cup of Your Father’s wrath and being baptized unto death so that we would receive from Your merits everlasting salvation and the glory of the resurrected life in Your Divine presence (VELKD, Prayer for Judika § 1). Amen.

2. »And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus and said to Him: „Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.“ And He said to them: „What do you want Me to do for you?“ And they said to Him: „Grant us to be seated, one at Your right hand and one at Your left, in Your Glory.“ Jesus said to them: „You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?“ And they said to Him: „We are able.“ And Jesus said to them: „The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to be seated at My right hand or at My left is not Mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.“ And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to Him and said to them: „You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man arrived not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for all people.“«

3. Give us power, Jesus! That was the intent of the request made by James and John. O, they tactfully worded their request to be: »Let one of us be seated at Your right and the other at Your left in Your Glory.«, but their desire and request were quite clear to Jesus as it was to anyone who heard. To be at the right and left hand of the king is a position of power and prestige reserved for the king’s closest confidants. James and John craved this honor. They were not content to be merely disciples of Jesus, but they wanted to be the most prestigious of the Twelve. The other ten apostles were, as St. Mark tells us, angry with James and John. They weren’t angry at their attitude, because each and every one of the Twelve harbored a desire to sit next to Jesus in His glory. They were angry that James and John had campaigned for those positions rather than passively waiting for Jesus to inform the Twelve who would be at His side in the seats of great honor.

4. Notice that Jesus does confirm that there would indeed be two seats of honor by His side, but those places of honor were not for Jesus to grant; nevertheless, those seats of honor were being prepared for two individuals. It may strike us as odd that Jesus says He has no authority to grant who will be seated at His right and left. He is after all the Son of God and Prince of the universe. Jesus, however, is speaking about an earthly authority that has the power to determine who shall be at His right and left hands. Who, then, was this authority?

5. Let’s back up a few verses for some context on today’s pericope. Immediately before James and John make their request, Jesus has just told them: »Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the ruling priests and the scribes. They will condemn Him to die and hand Him over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him, spit on Him, whip Him and kill Him, but after three days He will rise« (10,32-34). This suffering, crucified and dead Son of Man is the very cup Jesus is going up to Jerusalem to drink and the very baptism in which He will soon be baptized. Who had the authority to crucify in Jerusalem and Palestine?

6. Pontius Pilate, Prefect of the Roman Judaea Province (Judea, Samaria and Idumea) from ad 26-36, had the authority from Emperor Tiberius to declare people innocent or guilty after a trial. When Jesus was brought to Pilate by the Sanhedrin, Pilate had already sentenced three men to be crucified the next day. These men were Barabbas, Dismas and Gestas. These men had been captured by the Romans for inciting rebellion and rioting; Barabbas may also have murdered people during this riot. Although Pilate was convinced Jesus was innocent, he nevertheless sentenced Jesus to death at the insistence of the Sanhedrin. Pilate released Barabbas and Jesus took his spot on the cross. Barabbas’ co-conspirators were seated at Jesus’ right and left on Calvary.

7. The cross was the furthest thing from the apostles’ minds. In the Gospels, Jesus tells them four times that He will be betrayed, crucified and then rise from the dead. The apostles did not want to hear this because they accepted the conventional wisdom of their day that the Christ would be a messiah who would either: wrest control of Judea from Rome and reestablish the Davidic monarchy or who would be someone who ruled in people’s hearts as a spiritual teacher.

8. The Gospels tell us that in God’s reign greatness is not achieved by being a victorious warrior or a gifted prophet. On the contrary, the Gospels teach that true greatness in God’s reign is achieved by being a steward to all others, and they reveal that Jesus Himself is our Great Steward. He did not arrive on this earth to be a Davidic king nor an astounding prophet (although He was certainly a true king in the lineage of David and gifted prophet). Jesus is a Steward who serves others: »The Son of Man arrived not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for all people.« Jesus arrived not to be crowned the earthly king of Judea, but to become God’s Suffering Servant, that steward that Isaiah prophesied about 700 years earlier. In Mark 10 Jesus journeys to Jerusalem in order to fulfill this prophecy. He knows that the Sanhedrin, the ruling priests, the scribes and the Pharisees will not bow down to Him as the Lord’s messiah and king, but that they will spit upon Him and turn Him over to the Romans for execution. Jesus said He would give His life as a ransom for all people. Ransomer is Redeemer, go’el, and the price is His life (Nagel 103,8). For everyone, as in Isaiah 53, Jesus speaks His disciples into that everyone, as He does also when He gives His body to eat and His blood to drink into our mouths this morning (Nagel 103,8). His blood is shed for the world for the forgiveness of sins (Nagel 103,8). Jesus’ own last will and testament promise is this: »This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for everyone« (Mark 14,24).

9. Many Jews expected Jesus to enter Jerusalem to take His rightful throne as the messiah. James and John wanted the seats of honor at His left and right hand when that event happened, but Jesus told them: »You do not realize what you are asking.« Eventually James, John and the other apostles would have seats of honor next to Jesus. They would drink from the cup that Jesus drank and receive the same baptism He received. The apostles would all be mocked, and persecuted for Jesus and His gospel. Only John would be spared martyrdom among this august group.

10. Suffering and death are no a mark of failure or displeasure in God’s reign. God does not judge us for His judgment has been poured out upon Jesus on the cross. Those to whom our Lord gives His body and blood can pray: »Iudica me Deus. Vindicate me, O God« (Psalm 42,1; 43,1) He cannot ignore us or deny us, for to do so would be to ignore and deny His Son, and He cannot and will not do that (Nagel 103,9). »Jesus vindicates us and defends our cause, for He is the God in whom we take refuge« (Psalm 43,1-2a). Jesus serves us and saves us, for He is the Christ promised by our Heavenly Father. Amen.

11. Let us pray. O Christ Jesus, Thou Son of Man who has ransomed all people, keep our eyes on You so that our trust is always upon You for salvation and deliverance. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Devotional thoughts for Wednesday

Wednesday 18. March 2015

Laetare

25. Day of Lent

And behold, two men were talking with Jesus, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His death, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9,30-31)

Our Transfiguration Window pictures the event when Jesus conversed with Moses and Elijah about His forthcoming exodus and crucifixion. The season of Lent is the steady and somber march up to Jerusalem and the cross.

Jesus' transfiguration gives us a glimpse of His Divine Glory. He is no mere man like everyone else. He is the Son of God made flesh: perfect God and perfect man united in one person known as Jesus. Moses and Elijah are appear in glory, and their glory is a subdued reflection of the Glory of Jesus. We know from the Old Testament that Moses and Elijah were great prophets who lead God's people to great promises.

Jesus would soon take up and bear His cross. In doing so, He would deliver the world from sin, death and the devil. His exodus would deliver us to the promised land of eternal life in the presence of God Almighty. His plan of salvation involved suffering, death and burial.

Death and the grave cannot hold God. Jesus' Glory shows that although He will die, yet death will not be the final word regarding His life. Jesus would then rise from death and the grave in victory of Death and Hades. This is where Lent leads us, and this is the path that we follow Jesus on.

Prayer: O God, in the glorious transfiguration of Your beloved Son You confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of Moses and Elijah. In the Voice that spoke from the Bright Cloud You wonderfully foreshowed our adoption by grace. Mercifully make us co-heirs with the King in His Glory and bring us to the fullness of our inheritance in paradise; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

Monday, March 16, 2015

John 12,20-26. Laetare

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

se cwide þæs béaggiefan ábireþ ferhþ

John 12,20-26 1715

Lätare (4. Sonntag der Passionszeit) 027 „Rejoice“

Longinus, the soldier who pierced the side of the Lord, Martyr 1. century ✠

15. März 2015

1. O Thou Living and Comforting God, Your Righteous and Forgiving Word calls and saves us. Protect Your persecuted Church. Guide us during these weeks before Easter. Lead us into the mystery of Your Passion. Let Your Glory appear and hear our prayers for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord and Brother. Amen. (VELKD, Prayer for Lätare § 4)

2. Now among those who went up to worship at the Feast of Passover were some Greeks. So they approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him: „Sir, we wish to see Jesus.“ Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them: „The hour has arrived for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.“

3. In John 12 we see the universal appeal of Jesus as some Greeks desire to see Him. It is possible that these are Greek God-fearers who worshiped the God of Israel and were in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. These Greeks may have hailed from the Decapolis of ten Greek cities east of Galilee or perhaps from the Bethsaida where Philip was from. Their request occurred shortly after Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We do not know whether these Greeks got to see Jesus or what they discussed, for Jesus used their request to launch into another opportunity to teach His disciples about the ministry of the Messiah as proclaimed in the Holy Scriptures, namely: the hour has arrived for the Son of Man to be glorified. This declaration may have been the answer to what these Greeks had been pondering in their hearts and minds. Thus, if they heard the discourse of Jesus, then the answer to their question that prompted an audience with Jesus may have been given.

4. Jesus’ glorification was manifested in His crucifixion. That’s a public execution performed by Rome for enemies of the State. These Greeks may have envisioned Jesus as a Jewish equivalent of Socrates. Jesus agitated the wise much like Socrates did when his questions revealed the prominent in Athens to be more foolish than wise. This gadfly Socrates was sentenced to death in 399 bc for holding the Athenians to a higher standard of justice and goodness. They may also have the Ides of March in mind as it had passed quite recently. 15. March is the date on which Julius Caesar was stabbed to death 23 times in 44 bc in the Roman Senate by a group of conspirators led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Perhaps these Greeks saw Jesus on similar trajectories of Socrates and Julius as His preaching irritated the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin.

5. Jesus indeed verifies that He is on the same path of Socrates and Julius Caesar, for He says: »Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.« Jesus was crucified, died and was buried. He rose on the third day as the first of much fruit, that is, our resurrection on the last day.

6. When Jesus was questioned by what authority did He have to cause havoc in the temple courtyard by overturning money tables and setting sacrificial animals free, His response was: »I will destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up« (John 2,19). This was utter nonsense to the Jews! How could Jesus rebuild the temple in three days when it took over 46 years to build in the first place? Of course, Jesus was not talking about the temple in Jerusalem but His very physical body. Jesus destroyed His body in death and rose it from the dead three days later. The Apostle Paul correctly noted that »Jews demand signs, and Greeks seek wisdom« (1. Corinthians 1,22). The crucified Jesus is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks (1. Corinthians 1,23), but for we who believe: Jesus is the power and wisdom of God (1. Corinthians 1,24). Jesus is the sign of God’s forgiveness and the wisdom of His Heilsgeschichte (salvation history).

7. Thus the theme of Laetare is: rejoice! On this Sunday we cross the midway point of Lent (the Ides of Lent) and today is a day of hope for Easter is within our sight. The Psalmist reminds us today: »For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. He withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, the one who trusts in You is blessed« (Psalm 84,11-12). Jesus is the certainty of our salvation. Our sins have been paid for and forgiven. We have been redeemed back to our Heavenly Father’s good graces. We are now righteous in His eyes. All this is from Jesus who is our Sun and Shield. He bestows upon us favor and honor. When you receive the Lord’s Supper in a few moments you will receive the Lord’s forgiveness and His favor. This Holy Sacrament is Jesus’ free gift to you, and for this great and merciful gift we rejoice with great praise. Amen.

8. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Grain of wheat that fell into the earth, died and then bore much fruit, keep our eyes and faith on Your crucifixion and resurrection so that we rejoice in our salvation. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Devotional thoughts for Thursday

Thursday 12. March 2015

Oculi

20. Day of Lent

And a Voice descended from heaven: "You are My Beloved Son; I am well pleased with You." (Mark 1,11)

We are half-way through our journey through Lent. Today we focus on our Baptismal Window.

Jesus was baptized on our behalf in order to fulfill all righteousness. He joined Himself to sinners and received a sinner's baptism from John the Baptizer. His Father is well pleased with Him.

John's baptism was a baptism of repentance and amendment of life. Jesus had no need to repent or amend His life, but He is nevertheless baptized because we need to repent and amend our wicked ways.

We know that God is faithful and forgiving. Just as He saved Noah from the destruction of the Flood through the ark, so our baptism in the Triune Name saves us. Just as the ark of the covenant parted the Red Sea and Israel marched across to freedom and safety, so our baptism frees us from sin and is the sacrament that promises safe journey in the promised land of paradise and heaven.

Prayer: O LORD, mercifully receive the prayers of Your people who call upon You and grant that they both perceive and know what things they ought to do and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the same; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Luke 9,57-62, Oculi Sunday

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum

Luke 9,57-62 (Matthew 8,19-22) 1615

Okuli 26 „My eyes“

Philemon the Flute Player, Martyr 311 ✠

8. März 2015

1. O Jesus Christ, Thou Merciful God, Your eyes see the righteous and Your ears hear their petitions. We ask You to watch over us and all those for whom we pray. Kyrie eleison. (VELKD, Prayer for Okuli § 1). Amen.

2. »As they were going along the road, someone said to Jesus: „I will follow you wherever you go.“ And Jesus said to him: „Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.“ To another He said: „Follow Me.“ But he said: „Lord, let me first go and bury my father.“ And Jesus said to him: „Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the reign of God.“ Yet another said: „I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.“ Jesus said to him: „No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the reign of God.“«

3. Luke 9,51 is the great apex in the Gospel according to Luke. Prior to verse 51, Luke notes that Jesus had been teaching, preaching and doing miracles: all of which proclaimed that He is the Son of Man who was sent by God the Father to redeem the world. At verse 51 Jesus’ ministry entered the final stretch; He has set His face toward Jerusalem and journeys up to that holy city. As Jesus embarks on this journey, one boasts that he will follow Jesus anywhere, another is commanded by Jesus to follow Him, and a third also desires to follow Jesus. Each disciple does not fully comprehend what „following Jesus“ as His disciple entails.

4. One of the purposes for the season of Lent is to help us ponder and meditate upon the cost of following Jesus. To follow Jesus is to put Him first. The First Commandment tells us that we are to have no other gods. Jesus, and Jesus alone, is to be the God in our life. All other idols must be forsaken: wealth, prestige, power, influence and any others must give way to following Jesus. This also includes other philosophies and religions. We cannot mix and match what we like from Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, paganism and any religion with Christianity and expect to be considered Christian by Jesus. Likewise, worldly philosophies cannot be mixed into our Christian melting pot and expect to retain the Biblical Christianity presented to us in the Holy Scriptures. Christianity is a unique religion and philosophy that is radically different from anything else in the world. Likewise, Jesus is a radically different God from the other gods we find in the world’s religions.

5. At its core, Christianity is a religion of self-denial and cross-bearing. Other religions and philosophies highlight denial and suffering as a means to better oneself, but only Christianity understands denial and suffering as the means of salvation, and it is a salvation merited not by ourselves but by Jesus. Christ our Lord denied Himself and suffered on the cross to merit our forgiveness. You may have forgotten the pledge you took at your confirmation. Most likely you were asked by your pastor at your confirmation a question similar to this: „Do you intend to continue in this [Christian] confession and the Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it?“ (Agenda 29) How well have we lived up that that confession and pledge? Most likely we realize that we have failed to deny ourselves and take up our cross in affirmation with Jesus. Rather than following Jesus, we more often hide when our confession becomes too costly. We fear suffering, ridicule, persecution and martyrdom for the Name of Christ. We are tempted to keep looking over our shoulders to see if someone is behind us ready to mock us or if perhaps there is something more profitable for us than the Christian faith.

6. Let’s face it: we all know where Jesus’ path ends. It ends with His betrayal by Judas Iscariot, His arrest, conviction of sedition against Rome and His execution on the cross. The other apostles and disciples all scatter in fear and go into hiding save His mother, a couple of other women and John. When the time had arrived for His apostles and disciples to stand next to Jesus and confess Him boldly and proudly as the Christ, only a few were at Jesus feet silent and sorrowful.

7. Jesus knew the cost to redeem fallen men and women. Shortly before His arrest, Jesus had gone to the Mount of Olives to pray, saying: »Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done. And there appeared an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground« (Luke 22,42-44). In the Mount of Olives Jesus showed true self-denial and perfect cross-bearing. He suffered all this for us in order to save us.

8. We will never meet the high, exacting standards of God’s law, but Jesus did. We do not go to the law when our failed attempts at discipleship beat us down with guilt, but we go to God’s gospel that is manifested in Christ Jesus. Striving to be better disciples does not merit in any way our justification and salvation. We should indeed strive to be better Christians who with the Holy Spirit’s help work to curb our vices and be more virtuous, but we must never put any amount of trust in our striving, our self-denial or our cross-bearing as something to be added to our meriting righteousness. The gospel tells us that Jesus is the Faithful Disciple, and He Himself has merited pure righteousness; Jesus freely gives us this righteousness in our Holy Baptism.

9. Those who put their hands to the plow and look to Jesus are fit for the reign of God. Christian discipleship is about following Jesus to the cross where He merits the forgiveness of sin for the entire world. This forgiveness is given out in the preached Word, in Holy Baptism, in receiving the Lord’s Supper and in the confessing of sins and accepting the Absolution that promises that your sin is forgiven. All of this is received by faith which is a gracious, free gift given to us by the Holy Spirit. Christian discipleship, self-denial and cross-bearing is thus faith in Christ.

10. The wonderful story of the Holy Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation is that Yahweh’s people fall into sin and never live up to His strict demands of discipleship, but Yahweh draws near to His fallen and discouraged people and brings them the gospel of forgiveness that is grounded upon Christ crucified and risen for our justification and salvation. Christian discipleship is not about living the good, morally improving life – any philosophy, religion or self-improvement methodology can offer that – but Christian discipleship is about Christ, believing in Him whole-heartedly for the forgiveness of sins and rejoicing in the amazing gospel that says you are saved, you are the beloved of the Heavenly Father – not because you have lived up to your Christian potential – but rather Christ has lived it for you and He gives it to all of us as a free gift. It is a gift that we cannot buy or earn by our good intentions or merits, but it is a gift that was earned by Christ so that He alone gives it to us through the Holy Spirit. This is the gospel, and its message is unique in all the world, and we have it by Christ alone for our eternal salvation.

11. Let us pray. O Christ Jesus, Thou alone is fit for the reign of God, keep our faith and trust focused upon You so that we have the certainty of our fitness for the reign of God not on ourselves but on You. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Devotional thoughts for Thursday

Thursday 5. March 2015

Reminiscere

The 14. Day of Lent

And the angel said to the shepherds: "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2,10-11

Our Nativity Window shows the birth of Jesus truly is good news, gospel, for all the world. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. He is fully Divine and fully human in one person. He is the fulfillment of His Father's salvation history.

The history to save fallen mankind goes back to the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve had fallen into sin. God promised them a savior, and Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise.

The season of Lent marches us toward that salvation event: the crucified Christ and the empty tomb. Those are the two focal points in Jesus' ministry to save men and women. He suffered on the cross as the payment for our sin, and He rose from the grave as the first fruits of the resurrection on the last day.

Prayer: O Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Monday, March 2, 2015

Reminiscere. Mark 12,1-12

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

se cwide þæs béaggiefan ábireþ ferhþ

Mark 12,1-12 1515

Reminiszere (2. Sonntag der Passionszeit) 025 „Remember“

Swidbert, Apostle of Friesen, Frankish Empire (Netherlands, Germany and Denmark), ✠ 713

1. März 2015

1. O God, remember Your Church and inspire her, because she lives through Your Living Word. We bear witness to You in joy and in pain, trusting and hoping in Your Wondrous Works. Remember us and all those entrusted to us, for You transform our petitions into praise. Trusting in Jesus Christ, we call upon You: have mercy upon us. Amen. (VELKD, Prayer for Reminiszere § 5)

2. And Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes and the elders in parables. „A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, leased it to tenants and went into another country. When the season arrived, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying: ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another: ‘This is the heir. Arise, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ And they took him, killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will arrive and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this Scripture: »The Stone that the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes« [Psalm 118,22-23]?“ And they were seeking to arrest Him but feared the people, for they perceived that He had told the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

3. Jesus spoke this parable at some point during Holy Week after He had entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and cleared out the temple. Jesus was teaching in the temple courtyard when He tells this parable. His audience was probably diverse, including, His disciples, some from the crowds who had heard Him teach before, Jewish religious leaders, including Pharisees, scribes and Sadducees, plus any number of Jews who lived outside Judea but were in the courtyard to celebrate the Feast of Passover.

4. Jesus recounts the sad, idolatrous history of Israel in the morning’s parable of he vineyard. Yahweh had chosen Israel, attached the promise the worlds salvation to them and had given them a fruitful land to dwell in. All this arrived from Yahweh’s gracious and merciful Hand. Israel’s response was to persecute and kill the Lord’s prophets. When God the Father sent them His Son, they would take Him outside the city and crucify Him. Their actions would have consequences: they would lose their status as God’s chosen people for that status would be given to the New Israel Jesus had been forming through His disciples that would be called the Church.

5. The Pharisees and other foes of Jesus knew that Jesus had spoken this parable against them. On the outside Israel looked like a faithful nation who truly worshipped Yahweh: the priests and the people were faithful in the temple sacrifices, the scribes, Pharisees and rabbis were teaching the Scriptures and by and large the nation had remained faithful to worshipping Yahweh. But on the inside many Pharisees were a tomb of decay for they did not heed or believe John or Jesus. The religious leaders were constantly at odds with Jesus and His preaching. The temple courtyard had been transformed from a house of prayer into a den of insurrectionists (Mark 11,17). Many in the crowds failed to believe what Jesus taught them as shown by their indifference or open hostility. They had rejected Jesus as their promised Christ, rejected Him as the Cornerstone of their Jewish faith and sought to thwart Him at every opportunity. On the other hand, Jesus had a band of faithful disciples numbering at least 120 who believed Him to be the Cornerstone of their Scriptures as the Law and the Prophets spoke of Him. Only this small band of apostles and disciples could be counted as actual believers of Jesus (Acts 1,15). These faithful Jews and many more Gentiles, as the decades would pass, saw Jesus as the fulfillment of the Holy Scriptures as something marvelous.

6. Remember how Jesus began His public ministry by preaching, »The time has been fulfilled, and the reign of God has arrived; repent and believe in the gospel« (Mark 1,15). Jesus called His chosen people to repent of their wrong and distorted view of Yahweh’s deliverance from sin. Israel was called to repent for attempting to take the vineyard, which was Yahweh’s free gift to them, for themselves and in the process they ignored and murdered the prophets and the very Messiah sent to them. The Church is called to repent for ignoring the plight of Christian men and women who are being martyred by Muslims because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

7. The Holy Scriptures assure us that our God is a merciful God. The Psalmist proclaims: »Remember Your mercy, O Lord, and Your steadfast love, for they have been from of old« (Psalm 25,6). The Apostle Paul testifies that: »God shows His love for us in that Christ died for us while we were still sinners« (Romans 5,8).

8. Jesus judges unrepentance with punishment. Israel rejected their Christ, and Jesus took the vineyard away from them and gave it to the Gentiles. This New Israel is the Church and she is almost predominately Gentile by birth. The Gentiles marveled at the mercy of Jesus and have believed on Him for forgiveness and salvation. Jesus rewards repentance. He blesses His faithful Christians with the promise of His Providence and everlasting life. Jesus is our Cornerstone, and we can never be removed from His foundation unless we willfully chose to stop believing and walk away from Christ our Lord.

9. The Church puts great emphasis on repentance and absolution. We utilize that rite every Sunday, and Lent is a special time of repentant reflection as we journey toward the great events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. We have time for public confession as a church. You can partake of private confession with your pastor. We can avail ourselves of mutual conversation with fellow Christians for our edification. The law convicts us of our sin before God, and the gospel promises that through Christ we are completely forgiven and have a righteous standing before God the Father.

10. It is true that the world does not want the Crucified Jesus, because the Crucified Jesus is divisive. Christ crucified is exclusive because Christ declares that only He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The road to heaven runs through Christ dying on the cross for our sins and rising on the third day from His grave. That cross causes all manner of people to stumble, but Christ crucified is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Christ crucified is our salvation and eternal life. The vineyard, then, is ours, for it given as a gift by Yahweh, so that we may live long and prosper, and have peace and long life forever and ever. That gift is ours through Christ the Cornerstone. It is Yahweh’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Remember. Amen.

11. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, You showed Your love for us when You died for us while we were still sinners so that we would rest upon the promise of redemption that is a gift of grace received by faith. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Monday, March 23, 2015

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Monday, March 16, 2015

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Monday, March 2, 2015