Proper 16 - G - 2011 - Our Confession and Peter's Confession

Isaiah 51:1-6     Romans 11:33-12:8    Matthew 16:13-20 

Grace Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the Gospel lesson just read especially these words from Jesus.  “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  “Who do you say I am?” Jesus asks the disciples.  Jesus asks us this question today, who am I?  This question embodies everything that we believe as Chrsitians, and especially as Lutherans.  Everything we believe teach and confess is supposed to tell us who Jesus is, and what it is that he does for me. 

So what is the answer to this question, who is Jesus?  The world has given many answers to this question, and many of them are based upon our own understanding, our own research and our own preconceived notions.  Some say Jesus is a nice guy who was misunderstood.  Some say Jesus was a great philosopher, teaching us peace, love and harmony in our worldly relationships.  Some say Jesus was just a criminal whose followers made up stories about him.  Islam says Jesus was a prophet who came before the true prophet Mohammed.  And if none of these were bad enough, recently, in the news, I have even heard that Elton John said Jesus was just a misunderstood gay man. 

What about you dear friends in Christ.  What about you, who do you say that Jesus is?  I have spoken with people in our town who have said Jesus is a false teacher.  I have spoken with people who have denied that Jesus actually cares what we do son long as we are a “good” person.  And so what about you.  Who do you say Jesus is?  The answer to this question determines for us all of eternity, all of salvation, and all of forgiveness together. 

So what is the truth?  And how do we know?  Jesus tells Peter today in our text that he got the answer to this question right.  Who is Jesus – He is the Christ, the son of the living God.  But how did Peter know?  How could Peter have been sure?  Was he a good guesser?  Did he have some sort of secret knowledge that revealed who Jesus was?  Was he smarter than the other disciples, and smarter than we are?  Friends no, Jesus says Peter knew not because of his own flesh or blood, not because of his intellect, but rather because God the Father revealed it to him. 

God revealed Jesus to Peter as Jesus walked on water a few weeks ago.  God revealed it to Peter as Peter ate from the miraculous feast of Jesus, not once, but twice.  God revealed Jesus identity as Jesus spoke the very words of God, Blessed are the poor in spirit, the peacemakers and more.  God revealed who Jesus was to Peter in everything that Jesus did to care for those around him.  And these things revealed the truth about Jesus boldly and clearly, that Jesus was the Christ, the savior promised to Adam and Eve, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

And so Peter boldly confessed his faith, the faith given by God, that Jesus really is God after all.  Peter kept this confession, even despite of a few hiccups where he was confused in his life.  Peter kept this faith all the way to Rome, where he was crucified for believing that faith he had confessed, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

It is not flesh and blood, it is not our own intellect that reveals to us who Jesus is either.  It is the very working of God.  Yes, in this world we are faced with thousands of differing interpretations of who Jesus is.  Is he a nice guy or a lunatic, did he really exist at all?  What should we think of Jesus?  God tells us clearly, revealing Jesus in the same miraculous gifts that he did for Peter. 

God reveals Jesus to us today as we eat and drink the very body and blood of Jesus.  There, in mere bread and wine we come into contact with Jesus, and miraculously know who he is.  God reveals Jesus to us as we hear the living Word of God in the scriptures, the word that tells us what Jesus did and why he came, that we might be saved.  God reveals Jesus to us as we gather together in remembrance of our baptism, where we died and were raised with Jesus forever and ever. 

And so we can confess that same faith as Peter, that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God, not because it makes sense, not because we are smarter than the average bear, not because we are holy, but rather because God has revealed it to us. 

We confess this faith every week when we gather here around the gifts of God, and as we speak the Apostles and Nicene Creed.  “I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord,” so similar to Peter’s confession, you are the Christ, the son of the Living God.  But our confession doesn’t  stop there, for we confess that this Jesus came to earth for me and for my sin.  This Jesus went before Pontius Pilate and was crucified.  That he shed his blood so we might not need shed ours.  We confess that he then raised again on the third day, just as we too will do in him.  In these words, we also confess that we believe Baptism really does work salvation, and that it is necessary for our salvation.

When Peter made this confession, just as he did in our text, he confessed all these things just as we do today.  And because the believing Peter, the faith-filled Peter made this confession through Gods grace and through God’s gifts, Jesus says, Blessed are you.  Dear friends, in this faith we share with Peter, blessed are you.  Blessed are you for death no longer has the last word for you.  Blessed are you because you are no longer held to be guilty for your sin.  Blessed are you because everything you have done wrong, everything you have failed to do that you should have, every things that is wrong with this world for you is gone forever in Jesus.  And in Him, and Him alone, you have the promise of eternal life forever and ever with Him in his kingdom.  Whatever sins are forgiven here in this place are forgiven you in heaven.  And so in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus, your sins are forgiven. 

This is the corner stone of the church, the faith that leads us to confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, that he has died for me, and that in him we have eternity.  This is our faith.  This is our hope.  This is our gift of God, and this is what we confess to believe as Christians.  Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  Blessed are you who believe this by God’s grace.  Amen. 

Pentecost - 2011 - E - Why Does the Holy Spirit Come?

Grace, Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text today is the reading from Acts, especially these words, “And it shall come to pass, that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Thus far our text.


Dear friends in Christ. Today is Pentecost, the day we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, as described in our second reading today. The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples as they sat, starry eyed and nervous in the upper room 10 days after the ascension of Jesus into heaven. You can picture them sitting there can’t you? “Well Peter, what are we supposed to do now?” “How am I supposed to know John? I’m just a regular guy like you are.” “Well shouldn’t someone know?” These apostles, chosen by Jesus were just sitting around. They were wondering what to do! They didn’t know how to do this Ministry that Jesus had asked them to do. Where do you start? So much for brave and holy apostles.

But as they are sitting there, the Holy Spirit comes, as a flame blowing through the house. He separated into 12 different flames and landed on each one of them. It was only then, that they knew what to do. It was only then that through the Holy Spirit, they were able to fulfill the mission that Jesus had called them to do: To tell the world about Jesus’ life death and resurrection, to preach the word.

After all that is why the Holy Spirit has come, to point us always towards Jesus Christ and Him crucified for your sins great and small. To come and give you the Good News that in Him you need not worry about eternal death, but instead to look forward to eternal life with Jesus. The Holy Spirit never points to himself, but only to Jesus. He never toots His own horn, but he always works faith in you, so that you might receive from Jesus.

But that isn’t what we think of the Holy Spirit, and so often today that’s not how we speak of the Holy Spirit. Today, we often make the Holy Spirit into some sort of divine decision maker. “What would God like me to do today? Should I wear the plaid shirt, or the striped?” We expect the Holy Spirit to tell us what choice we should make so that we can be more holy, and please God with our actions. God should I go on vacation to Hawaii, or California, can you let me know? Should I marry person A or person B? Should I have chicken or beef for dinner?

Friends, it’s not bad to ask God to bless your decisions in these matters, but when we ask the Holy Spirit to divinely tell us what the right answer is, we have taken the Holy Spirit away from His true job. We have separated Him from what he has promised to do, to point us to Jesus.

And what’s worse, so often we allow the Holy Spirit to become the excuse for what we want to do. We see this all over the place. God made me gay, so its ok for me to do what I want. God will forgive me if I sleep with the person outside of marriage. God won’t care if I cheat on my taxes or steal from my neighbor. I have even heard a song that proposes that God has bigger things to worry about than the little sins I do, because he has people like Hitler and Osama Bin Laden to worry about.

Friends, when we do this, once again we are not allowing the Holy Spirit to point us to Jesus, because we aren’t allowing ourselves to realize our own condition and how much we need God. We aren’t allowing ourselves to hear how we are poor miserable sinners, by our own fault, and how we need the forgiveness of Jesus, how we need His mercy and grace. Instead, we don’t even look past our own selves and desires.

But today on Pentecost, we hear why Jesus and His Father sent the Holy Spirit, so that we might learn of Jesus. Remember those apostles, who were sitting nervous and confused in that upper room, wondering what to do? When the Holy Spirit descended upon them, they no longer doubted what to do? They no longer were nervous of the consequences or how to begin. But boldly they went out among the crowds of Jerusalem, and began preaching the Gospel. Through the Holy Spirit, they begin pointing people to Jesus, and they themselves trusted in Jesus.

It wasn’t on their own desire. It wasn’t there decision, but it was a gift that God poured out through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit always points to Jesus. So as the Holy Spirit worked through the Apostles He began to point people to Jesus. He began to proclaim salvation in His holy name. He fulfilled what the prophet Joel wrote, “that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” For the Holy Spirit causes people to call on Jesus’ name. He says look to that cross there, for on it your sins died. Look to that empty tomb of Easter, for there is your assurance that Jesus is raised from the dead. Look to the right hand of God where Jesus lives and reigns, for there you one day will join him in eternal bliss and contentment.

Friends, the Holy Spirit comes to you, just as He did to the Apostles. He comes to you in baptismal waters, where you are washed in the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. There, in plain old water combined with God’s word the Holy Spirit gives out freely faith in Jesus. It is as if he grabs your head and turns it to look at the cross of Jesus, completely apart from your own will and desire. There your old sinful nature daily drowns as the Holy Spirit holds him underwater, leaving your Holy perfect in Jesus self to live for all eternity.

The Holy Spirit comes to you, just as to the Apostles as you come here and hear God’s Word. The Holy Spirit promises to always work with that word to create and sustain faith in your hearts. In the weekly bible readings, the Holy Spirit comes to you. In faithful preaching, you are pointed to Jesus the author and perfecter of your faith. And in your own personal bible study, the Holy Spirit feeds and sustains that faith created in your baptism.

The Holy Spirit also comes to you as you receive the Lord’s Supper. There he brings to you and feeds you on Christ’s very body and blood, so that you might have life and have it to the full. Friends, you don’t need to go searching around to try and find the Holy Spirit, He is always at work in you, and He is always exactly where he promises to be: In the Word, and in the two Sacraments, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. And because he points you to Jesus, because he creates faith within you, you have freedom in Jesus. You have freedom to wear plaid or stripes and know that either way, Jesus has forgiven you for the Holy Spirit tells me so. You have freedom to avoid the sins of the world, to avoid stealing, to avoid cursing, to avoid living together and sexual temptation, because the Holy Spirit ever points you toward Jesus who did not give into these sins on your behalf.

Faith comes through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit ever points you toward Jesus. The Holy Spirit ever declares, you are forgiven, not because of your works, but because of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is like a giant roadside billboard that says, “Look there at Jesus, for in him, and him alone do you have forgiveness, life and salvation.” The Holy Spirit ever points you toward Jesus, and because of that, all who call on the name of the Lord will be forgiven. Amen.

Easter 4 - G - 2011 - Hear his voice and follow him

John 10:1-10 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.


Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text is the Gospel lesson, especially these words, “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”


Dear friends in Christ. Shepherds care for the sheep, that is their job. They take the defenseless sheep out into the open country, and watch over them while they graze. When a predator arrives, hungry to eat the sheep, the shepherd calls his sheep together and protects them so that the enemy may not touch or harm them. When they need more food, the Shepherd gently leads them to a new pasture where they may feast and grow fat.

Friends, in our text today, Jesus tells us a story about sheep. A flock of sheep is safely corralled in a pen. They are there awaiting the arrival of their Shepherd. While they await there, thieves and robbers jump the fence to come in and try to kill and steal the sheep from their rightful owners. We know they are thieves and robbers because they try to get the sheep out of the pen by means other than the gate. They try to throw the sheep over the fence. They try to dig a hole under the fence and pull the sheep out. But the sheep “will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.”

But when the Shepherd arrives, the sheep hear their name. They hear the voice of their true Shepherd calling to them, and they flock together around Him. And the only way they can leave the sheep pen is through the gate. Having been brought out safely, the Shepherd “Leads them beside still waters” and “makes them lie down in green pastures, restoring their souls.”

Friends, Jesus takes time to tell you this whole long sheep story not so that you will become better educated about sheep, but rather so that you will know more about yourselves. You see this story isn’t about sheep at all. It’s about you, and even more so, it’s about your Good Shepherd, Jesus. You have been placed here in this world by God. God created this world and everything in it for you and for all humankind. That’s what we confess in the creed. He placed you here with his very hands. He gave you all that you have and all that you need.

But we also know that ever since God has placed you here that robbers and thieves have been trying to steal you from God’s possession. Satan, ever since that fateful day in the Garden of Eden when he said, “Did God really say?” has been trying to steal you away from God. He even uses the same words to try and steal you away today. Did God really say that Jesus is the only way to be saved? Can’t I believe in Mohammed or in New Age mysticism or other things and be just as saved? Did God really say that marriage between a man and woman was the only place for sex to take place? Did God really say I shouldn’t say anything bad about my neighbors and friends? Did God really say this, did God really say that?

In the end, so often we would believe that robber Satan much more than we believe our true shepherd. So often we would let that robber throw us out of the sheep pen, we would let him lead us away from our Shepherd. Friends our text is clear, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy”. Satan and his words “Did God really say?” are only there to try and kill you. To try and lead you into eternal death and damnation. Satan wants you to suffer as he will suffer, in the etnernal punishment of hell – the very absence of the gifts of God – forever. Having faith in the words of the robber who wants to murder you and serve you for dinner is not the shepherd’s plan.

But today, the shepherd calls you. Our text is clear, today your shepherd calls you by name. Each one of you was called by name – the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, as you were baptized into that name for your eternal life. Today your shepherd calls you and you hear his voice and come running. You hear the Good shepherd’s voice as He tells you His very word contained within the Holy Scriptures.

His word tells you not about what you can do to be saved, or what you must do to be holy, but it tells you that Jesus has come. It tells you that Jesus is your good shepherd and that his voice is louder and clearer than the voice of Satan. You hear the shepherd who would give up his life on your behalf. Who rather than to let you be killed or murdered that he will give up his own life on your behalf to guard you and protect you.

Our epistle lesson says, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

“The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” Do you hear what this text says? Jesus leads you, he goes out ahead of you so that you may follow along. Jesus has gone ahead of you through death. He has gone ahead of you into eternal resurrection. He has gone ahead of you now to prepare a place for you. In his Father’s kingdom are many mansions. If it were not true would he have said so? Jesus has done this so that you might have life and have it to the full.

Jesus, your good shepherd. Jesus the one who leads you through the perils of this life. Jesus the one who gaurds and protects you in the midst of all the struggles of this world. He doesn’t promise there won’t be problems or struggles. But he promises you that he will be with you through it all, to face the robber and thief who would murder you. And that in the end, you will have eternal life, and have it to the full.

You are Jesus little lamb. He is your good shepherd. And when your short life is ended, by his angel hosts attended, he will fold you to his breast, and there within his arms you will rest. Amen.

Confirmation - 2011 - The Gifts God Freely Gives That Now Save You.

Easter 2/Confirmation Sunday 5/1/2011
1 Peter 1:3-9

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  7 These have come so that your faith-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,  9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Grace mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text today is the epistle lesson, especially these words, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” Thus far our text.

Dear friends in Christ, especially you young confirmands. Today is a special day. Five young people officially become confirmed members of our congregation and, for the first time, receive the gift of the Lord’s Supper. Today, you get to partake in that preview of heaven, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, and eat the very body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today you begin the Christian life in earnest, the life of receiving gifts from God. Receiving from God. That is what today is about. That is what confirmation really is. It isn’t about what you do at all. It is completely about what God gives, and what God gives is his own Son, life, forgiveness, and salvation. God generously pours out all sorts of wonderful amazing gifts upon you here in His church, here in His Word, here among His people. Today your confirmation is completely and totally a gift.

The gifts you receive today are gifts that you need. Gifts that will carry you throughout your life. You see, just like every other person that has been confirmed here, just like every other member of this church and every person present here, you and I are sinners. Each one of us daily and grievously sins against our God and creator. We turn against Him. We disobey him in so many ways. We have all learned the 10 commandments, and in learning them we know that we do not keep them – we don’t even come CLOSE! And the biggest sin of all is when we take all sorts of other things, and put them into the place of God, breaking that first commandment. We make ourselves into a god, into the ultimate judge, and by doing so we spit in the eye of the true God.

Friends, we break these commandments when we think we don’t need to continue our learning past confirmation – and we all have considered that at one time or another. We break these commandments when we skip church for work, or play, or worst of all, when we say we don’t need what is offered here at church. We break these commandments when we openly go against God’s word, or in similar fashion openly deny the faith that is so graciously given by our heavenly father. We all have done it. We all are guilty. We all are wrong. Not one is better than another. All have fallen short of the glory of God. There is not one who is righteous, not even one!

Dear friends, dear confirmands, dear former confirmands and members of church. We don’t deserve anything from God, because we have so thanklessly turned our backs on him. We have constantly told God, “I have no need for you, I am my own boss, now step aside while I do what I can do for myself.” The problem is, we can’t do anything. We cannot save ourselves. We can’t clean up the mess we have made. We are stuck in our sin, and there is no way out.

But (today is not about how we’ve fallen short, how you’ve fallen short, how you will continue to fall short) today is about gifts. Today is about what God promises to give to you sinners, even to you sinners who don’t deserve anything from Him. Today is about a promise made first to Adam in the garden, and even now today to every child that is baptized. A promise of forgiveness. A promise of life. A promise of salvation. This promise is Jesus. This promise was first gifted to Adam and Eve in the garden, only a few short moments after that first sin. God gave them the promise that one day they would be saved from their sin.

This promise was given over and over again throughout the Old Testament, to Abraham, to Jacob, to David and more. God gave the promise of rescue. God gave to each person here that promise as you were baptized into God’s name. It is a promise that here today is given to you again, and you are confirmed in the faith.

The promise God gives you is assured in blood. This promise is given freely without any doing of your own. It is given simply because you could not do it on your own. The promise God gives you is fulfilled as Jesus dies and rises again for you. It is fulfilled as you Jesus cries out on your behalf, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” In the death and the resurrection of Jesus, you dear confirmands, and yes, you dear brothers and sisters in Christ, are promised heaven. You are promised rescue. You are promised a place apart from weeping and mourning, apart from gnashing of teeth. You are promised to be given – in faith – an eternal inheritance from your Father.

Today, for the first time you will participate in this promise, in this gift from God, as you come up to this altar and here eat the very body that was given on your behalf, and that was raised again. For the first time, you will drink of the blood that was poured out for your forgiveness, and that still today courses and flows through the living Jesus Christ in his kingdom. Dear confirmands, and dear Christians, here today at this altar, you participate in heaven.

What a gift! What a promise! IT is for you! It is yours now! As our Epistle lesson says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” It is yours now, as you are confirmed in the faith.

Please don’t misunderstand, life will not suddenly be easy. You will not always want to come here to church, you will not have a pain free life. Even our text says that there will be struggles. But because of the gifts of God has given to each of you, you can know that these struggles are like a refiner’s fire that will strengthen your faith. Each week as you come and eat and drink this body and blood, God will keep on giving gifts to you. He will keep pouring out His blessings upon you. Even in the struggles of your life, he will keep on giving to you. That is your promise today.

Dear confirmands, and dear friends in Christ. Today God gives to you. Tomorrow God gives to you, and even forevermore. “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” That is God’s gift to you today. Amen.

Holy Week Greetings from LCMS President Harrison

Friends,

Below are Holy Week Greetings from the Headquarters of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.  I invite you to take a look.

I also invite you to attend our Holy Week Services, as they are listed below:

Holy Week Schedule 2011


The Triduum –
• April 21 - Maundy Thursday w/communion @ St. John’s Lutheran Belford 7:00 pm
• April 22 - Tre Ore Good Friday @ Immanuel Lutheran Hankinson 12:15 pm (Following the LYF Cross Processional) – All are invited! This is not only an LYF event, the entire church is invited to participate!
          o Following the service, we will watch the movie “The Passion of the Christ”
• April 22 - Tenebrae Good Friday @ St. John’s Lutheran Belford 7:00 pm
• April 23 - Easter Vigil @ Immanuel Lutheran Hankinson 7:00 pm

Easter Services
• April 24 - Easter Sunrise @ St. John’s Lutheran Belford 6:30 am followed by LYF Sunrise Breakfast
• April 24 - Easter Service w/communion @ St. John’s Lutheran Belford 8:15 am
• April 24 - Easter Service w/communion @ Immanuel Lutheran Hankinson 9:45 am

Confirmation
• Questioning – 7:00 April 29 @ Immanuel Lutheran
• May 1 – St. John’s 8:15 am. Immanuel 10:00 am.

We are in the midst of Lent, which means our eyes are set toward Easter, and the blessed death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Easter season is what we live for as Christians, because we know that as Christ dies, our sinful selves die with him. As Christ rises on the third day, we too rise, holy and blameless for eternal life in heaven. What a blessed hope and promise God has given to us.

To celebrate the blessings we receive in Easter, this year Immanuel Lutheran and St. John’s Lutheran Churches are going to celebrate the historic Triduum (pronounced Tri-doo-um). The Triduum is an historic service that has been celebrated since the very early years of the church. It begins with Maundy Thursday with the Institution of the Lord’s Supper and continues on Good Friday with Jesus’ suffering on the cross. Finally it ends with the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening, as we boldly await the resurrection of Jesus sometime early in the morning on Easter Sunday. Each of these services flows into the next one, even though we may have a break from church in between them. These services give us an opportunity to focus on the suffering death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for all of our sins, so that we might also be raised with Him into Eternal life. Please feel free to join us!

Lent Midweek 4 - 2011 - 2nd Article of the Creed - Not with Gold or Silver

This year's Lenten midweek sermons are from a series prepared by Pastor Brent Kuhlman, of Murdock, NE.

High treason! Charged with perverting the nation, forbidding people from paying their taxes, and claiming to be a king! Paint the preacher as a radical! An agitator! A menace! Against all law and order! He’s a threat to society!


False charges of course. Jesus was innocent. Completely. But the hatred against Him was so heated. So immense. Let’s see if the governor will fall for it. Especially the charge that the preacher claims to be a king. Make the preacher out to be a danger to the Roman government. The governor will have no choice. And then we’ll eliminate that Jesus fellow once and for all!

But Jesus is innocent! And Pilate knows it. Five times the governor says it. “I find no fault in this man. You don’t have a case against this man.” “I have examined him … and have found nothing in this man guilty of any of your charges against and neither did Herod.” The splendid white robe, although done in jest by Herod, was what Romans put on a man elected to the office of mayor. Even the governor’s wife knew the truth. “Don’t have anything to do with this preacher! I’ve had a horrible dream about shedding innocent blood!”

Governor Pilate knows that Jesus is innocent. And he knows that there are absolutely no legal grounds to sentence the preacher to death! So he plays another card. All right then, bring out Barabbas. You know, the Benedict Arnold. Yes, criminal Barabbas notorious for his treason and murder in the rebellion. The governor will play the odds. Surely the chances are in Jesus’ favor. These Jews, given the choice, will certainly pick the

preacher and send the real Benedict Arnold Barabbas packing to his solitary cell on death row. After all, the real criminal is Barabbas, not the preacher! So, “which of the two do you want me to release for you?”

The governor’s gamble doesn’t pay off. He played the wrong card. Outrageously the chief priests and elders shout: “Put the preacher to death! Let Barabbas off the hook! We’re willing to let Barabbas walk our streets! But not this Jesus! He’s an absolute peril to our children and society!”

Shocked, the governor tries to reason with them. “Look folks. Calm down for a second! Take a deep breath. The preacher may be a little weird. I’ll grant you that. But legally He’s done nothing wrong. He doesn’t deserve the death penalty at all. How many times do I have to tell you?” But the shouts grow louder and louder: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

The governor tries another approach. Maybe a flogging will satisfy the crowds. Surely when they see such a brutal and bloody beating, the intense humiliation and mockery at the hands of the soldiers, they will have had enough, drop all the false charges, and go home. Not hardly! They’re at the point of rioting. “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!

And then Jesus’ enemies pull out the biggest trump card of all – the religious one! “We have a law. And that law is from the Bible. Moses, the greatest prophet of God says this Jesus must die because He claims to be God’s Son!” If you can’t get rid of Jesus through the civil statutes, then pull off a clincher: divine law! It certainly gives Pilate pause. Even frightens him. “Where are you from Jesus? Why won’t you speak to me? Don’t you know who I am? I have the power of life and death over you!” Jesus finally speaks up: “The power that you have over me comes from above. And he who has trumped up all these charges against me and handed me over to you has the greater sin.” And Pilate keeps on trying to have Jesus released. But to no avail.

“If you let this preacher go, you’ll be asking for trouble with a capital T. Caesar won’t like it one bit that you allow a pretender king to walk freely on the streets! So get rid of Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him! We have no king but Caesar!”

And then the unthinkable! The governor shirks his duty to set the completely innocent Jesus free. He washes his hands of the whole affair. He sets Barabbas free and orders Jesus to be crucified! In order to satisfy the riotous crowd the governor buckles. The innocent of everything Jesus is sentenced to death by crucifixion!

“Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” You said it too! You too desperately wanted the preacher dead. You didn’t want Him. He was a threat to your sovereignty. Just like our first parents Adam and Eve that wanted to kill God and make themselves into little deities! “His blood be on us and our children! We’ll take full responsibility! Hand me those nails! Give me that hammer!” Our last-ditch attempt to dethrone God and install and crown ourselves as His replacement! What evil! What treachery! What villainy! What monstrous sin!

And Jesus suffers all of it innocently! Takes it all! Completely! Totally! For you! For your salvation! Scripture puts it this way in Psalm 118: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. The Lord made this happen and it is a miracle before our eyes.”

Yes, this is God’s plan. His magnificent, miraculous way of saving the lost -- those offended by Stone Jesus – those that put Him to death so calculatingly, cunningly, and coolly! That’s you. That’s me.

The Small Catechism puts is this way: Lord Jesus, true God and true man, has redeemed me a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, death, and the power of the devil, not with gold or silver BUT WITH HIS HOLY PRECIOUS BLOOD AND HIS INNOCENT SUFFERING AND DEATH!

Innocent Jesus suffers. Not because He has sinned. He suffers on account of all our sins. Yes, our sins. All of them. Every last one of them. He leaves none out. And He bears them in His body all the way to the cross. “The Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all,” (Isaiah 53:6). “He was crushed for our iniquities,” (Isaiah 53:5). “Numbered [counted] with sinners,” (Isaiah 53:12). He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21)!

Jesus was flogged to set you free from the whipping of God’s eternal wrath and damnation. Jesus endured the crushing fists and stinging reed to His face so that you will never have to experience the forevermore beatings of Satan’s angels in hell. Jesus was crowned with thorns for you in order to crown you in heaven. Jesus was wounded for you in order to heal you. Jesus died for you so that death is now changed to the doorway to heaven. Your sins are His. They don’t belong to you. All your sin was counted against Jesus. God doesn’t count them against you anymore. All is forgiven! Because of Jesus’ innocent suffering and death on your behalf!

“Behold the man!” He has redeemed you. Purchased and won you from all sins, from death, from the power of the devil. How? Not with gold or silver but with His holy precious blood and His innocent suffering and death. His innocent blood is on you and on your children. In this way: to purify and cleanse you from all sin. You are no longer guilty. There is therefore no condemnation for those who are covered with the Good Friday blood of Jesus. That is the absolute truth!

In the Name of Jesus.