Holy Week Devotion March 30

 

Holy Week Devotion March 29

 

Readings, prayers and a sermon for Palm Sunday

 

Manuscript for Palm Sunday

 P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

441 Ride On, Ride On in Majesty

Collect of the Day

P Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

Psalm 118

¹⁹Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
²⁰This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
²¹I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
²²The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
²³This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

²⁵Save us, we pray, O Lord!
O Lord, we pray, give us success!

²⁶Blessèd is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
²⁷The Lord is God,
and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
up to the horns of the altar!

²⁸You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
²⁹Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Epistle Philippians 2:5–11

⁵Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

 

Holy Gospel

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twelfth chapter.

¹²The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. ¹³So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” ¹⁴And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

¹⁵“Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
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. Look, the world has gone after him.”

 

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

Sermon

To the Cross

John 12:12 - His 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. 

There’s a sad irony in that Palm Sunday scene in old Jerusalem. People were so excited, so overjoyed that Jesus was coming into town. They gave up their coats and cloaks to spread on the ground, to roll out the carpet for him. They shouted and sang the joyous refrain of Hosanna. To them it seemed like this was a great day. This is what we have been waiting for. Jesus, the heir to the throne of King David was coming on in heroically, triumphantly, to take his place as the rightful king of Israel.

But it’s pretty clear, Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem was not bringing about some “happily ever-after” story. We can see where this going. And Jesus, knows how this is going to go down. He still rides into Jerusalem willingly, knowing it will be the death of him. The folks in Jerusalem weren’t wrong to be happy and excited. They weren’t wrong to shout Hosannas, and sing praises to the coming King. It’s just that we see a bigger picture here. We see the cross, the suffering and death of Jesus.

The bigger picture we see, that the crowd in Jerusalem couldn’t yet see, includes things like this: Jesus is King, yes. But it’s a different than expected sort of kingdom. Kings should wear robes. Within that week, King Jesus would be flogged and beaten and the corrupt guards would mock him by ripping off his clothes and putting a fake robe about him. Kings should wear crowns; they would crown his head with thorns. Kings were anointed with precious oils. He was anointed with costly  oil and perfumes for his embalming and burial. Yes, they were right to call Jesus, king. But we see a bigger picture when we confess him in the 2^nd Article of the creed. It is  by means of his holy blood and his innocent suffering death, that he has redeemed me,  purchased and won me to be his own, that I may be his own and live under him in his kingdom.

They were right that day when they said, “Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” It’s just that we see a bigger picture here. Those words are taken right from Psalm 118 which I spoke a few minutes ago. The faithful people of Jerusalem knew the words because it was a regular part of their liturgy. They sang it every year at the Passover holiday. As the lamb was slaughtered in sacrifice for the Passover feast, people would sing Psalm 118 with verse 26 saying: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.” It’s a Psalm of praise to God for saving the way he does. By providing a lamb to be sacrificed in our place, Jesus the Lamb of God, slain to redeem us, and save us from our sins. How the tone of that Palm Sunday might have been different if those who said these words had understood them!

The Apostle John writes years after this day, “They did not understand these things at first.” The large crowd properly welcomed Jesus the King, the one who comes in the name of the Lord. John’s description makes it clear that they lacked understanding. They didn’t understand the kind of hero it was they were welcoming. They don’t seem to understand the goal Jesus has in mind for coming into Jerusalem. Nor admittedly do the disciples understand such things, “at first (John says) but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him” (vs. 16). You and I are drawn to join the praises of the crowd, but we are enjoined to do so with understanding. The gospel continually guides us to Christ and his suffering and death for sinners. So much else becomes understandable and pertinent to us only after we have heard and put our faith in his passion and death for our salvation. The image of Jesus processing into Jerusalem is that of our suffering Savior.

The end of the road that Jesus was taking was the cross. We are called to follow Jesus. Better said, we are to have the “mind” which is ours in Him (Philippians 2). The crowds followed Jesus, they hailed him with the right words, “Hosanna” etc. But their motivation appears to come more from a Jewish nationalism and anti-Roman politics. And they’re not wrong for wanting a better kingdom, a better government, a government that would promote what is decent and honorable and would put down what is evil and oppressive. But there’s a bigger picture here, with this King on a donkey.

For us who have seen this thing all the way through, who have followed Him all the way to suffering and death. We know what this movement was about, and what it is about. It was about Jesus purpose in making himself nothing, taking upon the form of a servant, obedient to His Father even to death, death on a cross” (Philippians 2). It is about us in him, crucifying ourselves and our desires and cravings, because we count those to be things not to be grasped.

We are rooting and cheering for him who comes in the name of the Lord not because he’s going to give us some privilege or ease or success that we would foolishly seek after. We follow him because he has led us to hate our sins and their unhealthy desires and their false pleasure. He has taught us to hate our lives of sin, but love our life with Him.

At our church this morning we will confirm 5 young people. It’s a big day. But if anyone thinks that confirmation itself is the high point, well there’s a bigger picture to see here. Confirmation is not the beginning of some “happily-ever after” story. Don’t stop praying for them, just because they are confirmed now. Actually, now they need our prayers as much as ever. When they confess their faith so boldly and openly, the enemies of their faith will awaken and take notice. The enemies of the devil, the world and the sinful nature will be operating at a higher level. The temptations of the sinful nature will be greater, surprisingly, disturbingly so. The assaults of the devil and his demons will increase. The pressure and ridicule of the world will be magnified. Commitment must remain strong and steadfast to the Lord Jesus Christ and to His means of grace, the word and Sacraments that give the forgiveness of sins and life and salvation.

Just think what it must have been like for the people in that first Palm Sunday parade. If they thought that this Palm Sunday was the high point, well then, Friday came and they were certainly disappointed, confused, and discouraged.

So it is with our congregation this day. We’re not wrong to be happy and proud of these dear people. But there is a bigger picture here. We gotta keep praying for them, that they remain faithful, that, if the Lord so wills, they would be led to good and faithful wives and husband, that if their future leads them away from this area, the Holy Spirit would guide them to good and faithful churches and pastors. That they would daily sing praises to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, even in suffering and in the hour of death.

Confirmation is a high point, undeniably. But life – this short life we have here on earth – is the sum of all these high points and low points. The Lord uses all sorts of points – high and low alike – to teach us to follow Him, to take up our cross, repent of our sins and seek His forgiveness. And every time you do and every time you believe His word, his forgiveness and His promise of eternal life – That’s the high point. Amen.

 

P Let us pray.

Lord God, heavenly Father, we ask your rich and continued blessings on those who are confirmed today, McKenna Demaray, Antonio Gitch, Kruise Hammond, Connor Kramer, and Hayden Skoda. We thank and praise You for Your great goodness in bringing these Your sons and daughter to the knowledge of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and enabling them both with the heart to believe and with the mouth to confess His saving name. Grant that, bringing forth the fruits of faith, they may continue steadfast and victorious to the day when all who have fought the good fight of faith shall receive the crown of righteousness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

C Amen.

P Almighty and most merciful Father, in the waters of Holy Baptism You have united Your children in the suffering and death of Your Son Jesus Christ, cleansing them by His blood. Renew in them the gift of Your Holy Spirit, that they may live in daily contrition and repentance with a faith that ever clings to their Savior. Deliver them from the power of Satan and preserve them from false and dangerous doctrines, that they may remain faithful in hearing Christ’s Word and receiving His body and blood. By the Lord’s Supper strengthen them to believe that no one can make satisfaction for sin but Christ alone. Enable them to find joy and comfort only in Him, learning from this Sacrament to love You and their neighbor and to bear the cross with patience and joy until the day of the resurrection of their bodies to life immortal; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

C Amen.

P Almighty and everlasting God, we are your people and you are our God. Put the message, the song of salvation into our souls, fill our hearts with joy and praise for the great treasure we have as the children and heirs of your salvation, that we may constantly proclaim, “Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” Throughout these Holy Days in the week ahead accept our thanks and praise for sending your Son into our world, into the flesh to be our Savior. For the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross and despised the shame. Help us, that as we too may follow him, in humility and confidence doing what is right and good for others and hallows your name. And as we share in his suffering, grant us grace and faith to share also in his resurrection.

Lord God, heavenly Father, we here remember the sufferings and death of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation. Praising His victorious resurrection from the dead, we draw strength from His ascension before You, where He ever stands for us as our own High Priest. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to You alone we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,

     hallowed be Thy name,

     Thy kingdom come,

     Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;

     give us this day our daily bread;

     and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;

     and lead us not into temptation,

     but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

Benediction

 

Lent Devotion for March 27

 

Lent Devotion for March 25

 

Lent Devotion for March 23

 

Lent Devotion for March 22

 

Service for March 21

 

Manuscript for Lent 5

 + Fifth Sunday in Lent +

 

P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

440 JESUS, I WILL PONDER NOW

5 If my sins give me alarm
    And my conscience grieve me,
Let Your cross my fear disarm;
    Peace of conscience give me.
Help me see forgiveness won
    By Your holy passion.
If for me He slays His Son,
    God must have compassion!

6 Graciously my faith renew;
    Help me bear my crosses,
Learning humbleness from You,
    Peace mid pain and losses.
May I give You love for love!
    Hear me, O my Savior,
That I may in heav’n above
    Sing Your praise forever.

Tune and text: Public domain

 

COLLECT OF THE DAY

P Almighty God, by Your great goodness mercifully look upon Your people that we may be governed and preserved evermore in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

 

OLD TESTAMENT READING Genesis 22:1–14

¹After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” ²He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” ³So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. ⁴On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. ⁵Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” ⁶And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. ⁷And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here am I, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” ⁸Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

⁹When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. ¹¹But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” ¹²He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” ¹³And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

 

A This is the Word of the Lord.

 

 

EPISTLE Hebrews 9:11–15

¹¹When Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) ¹²he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. ¹³For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

¹⁵Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

 

A This is the Word of the Lord.

 

 

HOLY GOSPEL

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the eighth chapter.

 

⁴⁶“Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? ⁴⁷Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

⁴⁸The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” ⁴⁹Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. ⁵¹Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” ⁵²The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ ⁵³Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” ⁵⁴Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ ⁵⁵But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. ⁵⁶Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” ⁵⁷So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” ⁵⁸Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” ⁵⁹So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

 

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

Apostles’ CREED

 

SERMON

 

John 8:58. Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

“I am”. Says Jesus. That’s got to be one of the most powerful sentences ever uttered by a man. The simple present tense. Jesus is outside of the passing of time as we mortal humans perceive it. His life, his existence from forever before and for forever after is more than we are able to conceptualize or relate to. So He says it with these two words, “I am.”

Often Jesus would use those two little words, “I am”, to help us understand who He is and what He does. Just a few verses earlier in this chapter, he had said, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” On other occasions He would say, “I am the Bread of Life.” “I am the Good Shepherd.” “I am the Resurrection.” “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

When you or I use that little word “am” it’s not so significant. We say, “I’m hungry,” “I’m Happy,” “I’m a Hawkeye.” Notice how the word “am” gets contracted into almost nothing in English. Likewise in the languages Jesus would have been speaking, Greek and Hebrew. But Jesus makes it emphatic. “I am.”

Everyone else, each of us, and everyone else we know, everything else we come across, has a start and a beginning. There was once when we were not. The Rocky Mountains stand so strong and stable and unmoving. But they were brought into existence from nothing. They might look like they’re eternal, but a time is coming when they will be no more.  No one else can so emphatically use that verb “to be”, no one except our Lord Jesus and our Heavenly Father who are one with the Holy Spirit. This is a truth that even old Abraham knew and believed.

“Before Abraham was, I am.” Jesus said, Centuries before Jesus came to earth, Abraham knew him. He was expecting the Lord, and looking forward to his work of saving the souls of our lost race. Abraham trusted what was promised. He counted on it. We get some little clues of that in the Old Testament reading today. Abraham had to endure a very hard test of faith but he believed. A rich man, Abraham, he usually travelled with an entourage. So when he set out to sacrifice his son Isaac as God commanded, Abraham took two servants along. As he approached the mountain where the Sacrifice was to take place, he tells the servants, “Wait here with the donkey, I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” He didn’t know how, but He knew the Lord would rescue him and Isaac. They would come again, even if it took God raising his son, Isaac from the dead. Abraham believed the promises. He believed the one, whom he had not seen yet, the one who would say, “If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.” And that’s how Abraham became the father of all believers.

The Jews did not believe this.  The Jews argued with Jesus and accused him of all sorts of nasty things. John, the apostle of Jesus, wrote this down, describing the conversation, and he doesn’t try to sugarcoat anything. The Jews do really come out as the bad guys, the way John tells it. Now, he doesn’t say these derogatory things against them because of their race or nationality. No, their problem that comes out in John’s telling, is their beliefs and their behavior against Jesus. To say critical things against any people is frowned upon in our day and age. John thought it necessary to have his reader recognize and understand false belief and bad behavior, avoid such, and instead follow good examples. How should the modern listener respond to John’s critical comments about the Jews? Well it shouldn’t make anyone feel superior. But it’s a warning to the readers to critically examine themselves. Jesus had to tell the Jews, “The reason why you do not hear the words of God is that you are not of God.”

The reader should see that and gasp, “May that never be said of me! O Lord, Jesus may you never have to get after me for not listening and believing your Word. Help me to hear and believe, Good Lord.

These bad guys of the scene, the antagonistic Jews there, serve as the warning for us. They didn’t like what Jesus said. They didn’t want to believe Him when He said, “I am.” To believe Jesus when He says, “I am,” a person’s gotta admit, Jesus is. And I’m not.

Jesus is the Light of the world. We have to admit, we would be in darkness without him. We don’t even have a spark within us to do anything.

Jesus says, I am the Resurrection and the Life. So we have to believe that and joyfully accept that, acknowledging that we have no life within us. Apart from him, we’re dead men walking.

Jesus says, “I am.” and the believer says, yes you are, and without you I am not. But with you I am alive, I am forgiven, I am yours.

Amen.

 

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Almighty and eternal God, worthy to be held in reverence by all the children of men, we give you humble and hearty thanks for the countless blessings which without any merit or worthiness on our part you have bestowed on us.

We praise you especially that you have preserved for us your saving Word and the holy sacraments.  And we implore you, O Lord, to grant and preserve to your holy Church throughout the world purity of doctrine and faithful pastors to preach your Word with power.  Help all who hear the Word rightly to understand and truly to believe it.  Send laborers into your harvest, and open the door of faith to those who do not know you.  In mercy remember the enemies of your Church and grant them repentance to life.  Protect and defend your Church in all tribulation and danger.  Strengthen us and all fellow Christians to set our hope fully on the grace revealed in Christ, and help us to fight the good fight of faith that in the end we may receive the salvation of our souls.

Bestow your grace on all nations of the earth.  Bless especially our country and its inhabitants and all who are in authority.  Let your glory dwell in our land that mercy and truth, righteousness and peace may everywhere abound.  We commend to you the care of all our schools and ask you to grant that our children may grow in useful knowledge and Christian virtue and bring forth wholesome fruits of life.

Graciously defend us from all calamity by fire and water, from war and pestilence, from scarcity and famine, and from every other evil.  Protect and prosper everyone in his rightful calling, and let all useful arts flourish among us.  Be the God and Father of the widow and the fatherless, the helper of the sick and needy, and the comforter of the forsaken and distressed.

Accept, we implore you, our bodies and souls, our hearts and minds, our talents and powers, together with the offerings we bring before you, for your praise and service.

As we are strangers and pilgrims on earth, help us by true faith and a godly life to prepare for the world to come, doing the work you have given us to do while it is day, before the night comes when no one can work.  And when our last hour comes, support us by your power, and receive us into your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven,

     hallowed be Thy name,

     Thy kingdom come,

     Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;

     give us this day our daily bread;

     and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;

     and lead us not into temptation,

     but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

BENEDICAMUS

A Bless we the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

BENEDICTION

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and T give you peace.

C Amen.

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Divine Service, Setting Three from Lutheran Service Book

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2021 Concordia Publishing House.

Lent Devotion for March 20

 

Lent Devotion for March 19

 

Lent Devotion for March 18

 

Midweek Lent Service

 

Manuscript for Lenten Service on March 17

 + Evening Prayer +

March 17, 2021

 

430 MY SONG IS LOVE UNKNOWN

1 My song is love unknown,
    My Savior’s love to me,
Love to the loveless shown
    That they might lovely be.
Oh, who am I
    That for my sake
    My Lord should take
Frail flesh and die?

2 He came from His blest throne
    Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
    The longed-for Christ would know.
But, oh, my friend,
    My friend indeed,
    Who at my need
His life did spend!

3 Sometimes they strew His way
    And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
    Hosannas to their King.
Then “Crucify!”
    Is all their breath,
    And for His death
They thirst and cry.

4 Why, what hath my Lord done?
    What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
    He gave the blind their sight.
Sweet injuries!
    Yet they at these
    Themselves displease
And ’gainst Him rise

5 They rise and needs will have
    My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they save,
    The Prince of Life they slay.
Yet cheerful He
    To suff’ring goes
    That He His foes
From thence might free.

6 In life no house, no home
    My Lord on earth might have;
In death no friendly tomb
    But what a stranger gave.
What may I say?
    Heav’n was His home
    But mine the tomb
Wherein He lay.

7 Here might I stay and sing,
    No story so divine!
Never was love, dear King,
    Never was grief like Thine.
This is my friend,
    In whose sweet praise
    I all my days
Could gladly spend!

Text: Public domain 

 

PSALM 100

¹Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
²Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

³Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

⁴Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

⁵For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

 

READING Luke 23:1–25

¹Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. ²And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” ³And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” ⁴Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” ⁵But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

⁶When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. ⁷And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. ⁸When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. ⁹So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. ¹⁰The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. ¹²And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

¹³Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, ¹⁴and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. ¹⁵Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. ¹⁶I will therefore punish and release him.”

¹⁸But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— ¹⁹a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. ²⁰Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, ²¹but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” ²²A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” ²³But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. ²⁴So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. ²⁵He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

 

CATECHISM REVIEW

The Second Article

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean? 

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.

This is most certainly true.

SERMON   The Passion and the Six Chief Parts

 

Fact and Faith

Luke 23:24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

As often as we say the Creed, we recall an otherwise little known governor of ancient history, Pontius Pilate. Pilate was a Roman, appointed by the Emperor to be governor and judge in Judea. Since the time of the Apostles, Christianity has made mention of Pilate and other historically known figures to show that the events of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection all, firmly grounded in history.

Not all that long ago, 1961 archaeologists excavated an old theatre in the holy land, that was built when Pilate was governor. They uncovered this rock with  Pontius Pilate’s name inscribed on it, recognizing him and honoring him as the Prefect, or ruler. This was a noteworthy find. It was the 60s when there were people questioning everything. They were questioning government authority, Many were doubting the common sense of traditional moral authority. They were doubting history and doubting religion. But the Christian confession doesn’t have facts that can be doubted or denied. These things are real, written in books from the time, and inscribed in stone that has lasted for millennia.

When we confess that Jesus Christ, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, we are reciting real facts. Some look at religion and suppose that somebody had made it up, trying to manipulate people and take their riches. Of course, that’s not the case. These things are real. God is real. You are real. You’re problems are real. So therefore, God has been at work to fix your problems and save your life in the real events of this world.

Jesus Christ taught and lived and died and rose again, not in some imaginary way, but a very real, historically verifiable way. He was arrested and brought in to the highest court in the land, Pontius Pilate presiding. He was beaten and flogged and crucified in the penal system of the day. He died and was buried in the usual way for that time and place. But history shows that the grave was empty on the third day and we have the eyewitness testimony that He lived again.

This is all a matter of fact. It’s a matter of history. That’s where Pontius Pilate comes in.

But this is also a matter of faith. That’s where you and I come in. The Small Catechism teaches us how to speak about these events. We recite the events of the birth and life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And then we say, I believe that this Jesus Christ is my Lord. I believe that He has redeemed me. Purchased and won me from all sins, from death and from the power of the devil. By history we read and hear and learn the facts of Jesus, by faith we are brought into Jesus, into His life, and His death, and His resurrection. By Jesus and those facts He accomplished in history we are saved, redeemed, and have eternal life.

So we can say, “This is most certainly true.” Having heard the facts, we know it’s true. Having heard the Lord’s loving, inviting promise, we believe it is true. Amen.

 

COLLECT FOR PEACE

L O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

LORD’S PRAYER

L Taught by our Lord and trusting His promises, we are bold to pray:

C Our Father who art in heaven,

     hallowed be Thy name,

     Thy kingdom come,

     Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;

     give us this day our daily bread;

     and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;

     and lead us not into temptation,

     but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom

     and the power and the glory

     forever and ever. Amen.

 

 

BENEDICAMUS

L Let us bless the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

BENEDICTION

P The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the T Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve you.

C Amen.

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Evening Prayer from Lutheran Service Book

Scripture quotations are from the ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2021 Concordia Publishing House.