March 28-Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion-St. Luke 23:1-49

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

‘But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”—a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder.’ (Vv. 18-19)

Last week in Odessa, we looked at one of the outcasts of this part of salvation history. Again, we will look at two more. Have you ever noticed that bookending done here by Luke? He surrounds the Savior of mankind with outcasts when He was born and when He died.

Way back at Christmas and Epiphany, we heard about shepherds. We learned that Jesus’ earthly adoptive father and protector would be a carpenter by vocation. Finally, we saw the arrival of Gentiles who followed the stars and prophecies. They may have been converts to Judaism but they may also have been unbelievers. Last, when those wise men left, Jesus’ parents took him off to Egypt for safety.

All of these people and the final place were all outcasts or worse.

Gentiles and the country of Egypt would not even have been on the radar for the average Jew as being acceptable for association with the Messiah of God. We see that in the continuing unbelief of the chief priests and scribes and even the reaction of the crowd at the end of Holy Week.

Again, Jesus is to be crucified and He is numbered among outcasts and worse. When Jesus is sent off to be crucified; He takes the place of Barabbas. A man who was a convicted murderer. Also, notice that this murderer’s name means, “son of the father”. You and me, in our sins, we are sons of the father just like Barabbas. We are murderers and rebellious. In our sins, we are no better than this man and should be hung on a cross as Jesus was. You and me, we who are sons of the Father by adoption had our place taken by Jesus. The only One who was the true Son of the Father. The One who knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) became sin to redeem you.

‘Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving of death. I will therefore punish and release him.”’ (Vv. 20-22)

Pilate does his best to get Jesus out of this mess. He heard and listened to his wife. She had had a dream the night before that this guy Jesus would not be a good thing for him. She told him and warned Pilate to wash his hands of the matter. A fact also recorded by the holy Evangelists.

So, Pilate tries and tries and tries to let Jesus go. The chief priests and the crowd will not allow it. They essentially have been promised a very grisly show by the chief priests and they want it. They threaten to riot and Pilate can see the beginnings of anarchy beginning to show around the edges of the crowd and he knows that would be a poor career move on his part. That is, allowing one more rebellion if he can help it in this rebellious province he had been assigned to.

Pilate finally tries a middle road. He attempts to pacify the crowd by having Jesus whipped, that is, punished, and then released. No big deal. This Roman, who would have been considered an outcast within Jewish society and certainly according to the Law, is the only one trying to hold back the crowds and help Jesus! Those who should have been trying to do this; they are trying to work the crowd up further instead. Again, we see an outcast taking Jesus’ side when the children of Israel should have been the ones to do this.

The people of course continue to demand the murderous “son of the father”, Barabbas to be released to them. They want what is coming to them. They want Jesus put to death. As we will see, they had showed up for the show.

‘But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate 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.’ (Vv. 23-25)

Finally, Pilate can see that it is clear that he will get no where with these people. He gives in to their demand and releases Barabbas. Pilate, in order to save his professional skin, hands Jesus over to be crucified to fulfill the will of the crowd. Pilate knew, there had been too many rebellions under his command of this province. If he was transferred again for such bad governance, he would be sent off to the Persian front, modern Iran, to fight with the Legions. He was comfortable with his life where he was. If there was going to be another transfer, Pilate wanted it to be toward Rome, not away.

So, Pilate gives the crowd what they had asked for. Again, as we will see later, this is not quite what they expect in the end. Of course, with the devil, things are never quite what they seem in the end.

With the devil and his whispering in our ear of the great things we will receive or gain if we do it his way, it becomes a whisp in the wind. When we give in to temptation and do what the devil and our sinful flesh whispers to us to do all we are grasping in the end is a mirage. As Jesus tells us, Satan is a liar and the father of lies (Saint John 8:44).

‘It was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.’ (Vv. 44-46)

So far, we have seen two more outcasts in the eyes of the Jews. We have seen the actions of Pilate; the Roman governor and we have seen Barabbas. The man who was a murderer and a rebel. Both of these men, they were outcasts in one way or the other. Both of them helped Jesus. Pilate tried to help Jesus to avoid this fate. He took Jesus’ side. In the end, both of them helped Jesus toward His goal of redeeming you and me and them.

Now, we come to another of these outcasts who take Jesus’ side.

It is Noon, the sixth hour; it is the part of the day when the sun should have been at its height. As all of you know, if you are outside at noon, it matters not if you are in the field or if you are in your garden. If you are outside working on something, there should be too much sun not the absence of light. Now, this was most likely not simply the darkness of nighttime but rather the kind of darkness that was seen in Egypt at the time of the Exodus. That is, a darkness that could be felt. This is the darkness of the ninth plague that came right before the death of the firstborn in Egypt (Exodus 10:21—11:10). Here, during the Passover feast, which commemorated that death of the firstborn, the tenth plague for the Israelites, we have the death of the true Firstborn, Jesus. He was the true Passover Lamb so that the Angel of death would pass over you.

At the end of this darkness, at three o’clock in the afternoon, when the sun itself hide from the death of its Creator, the great curtain in the temple was torn in two. This curtain was about as thick as the length of a large hand, that is, about six or eight inches thick. It was torn long ways from top to bottom. This is to show you and me, we who have been gifted with faith by the Holy Spirit, that there is now no separation between God and us. Jesus has removed that and we have direct access to the Father through Jesus rather than through a High Priest.

‘Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.’ (Vv. 47-49)

It is into this setting that the ultimate outcast, a Roman legionnaire and a centurion at that, praises God! The one who had lead the crucifixion detail[1] was the last one any of us might expect in this role.

This is not what we expect when we read Luke’s account of the death of Jesus. The crowd assembled for the show gets what they thought they wanted, a crucifixion. Now that they have this, the go home from this show beating their breasts. That is, they go home showing remorse for their actions, which lead to Jesus’ death. They recognize, even if the chief priests did not, that something different had happened this time. This was no ordinary Man who was put to death. These people are ripe for Peter’s sermon on Pentecost.

Praise God with that centurion, yet take it to the next step as only you who are the baptized can. Praise God for saving you from your sins and giving you a place in Paradise with the thief. As we heard about that outcast this Lent, we stand with him. We stand with Barabbas, the murderer, lost and condemned by God’s righteous judgement to eternal death for our sins. Jesus, who is the true Son of the Father and the true Firstborn stands in the gap for you and bears the full brunt of God’s holy wrath for our sins. Praise God with the crowds on Palm Sunday who sang back and forth between them as Jesus passed. ‘“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”’ (Saint Luke 19:38) Jesus died for you. Jesus has redeemed you. Jesus made you a son of God and this in spite of your sins. He has forgiven those sins and made you white as snow.

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

[1] http://weedon.blogspot.com/2010/03/another-mozolak-gem.html

March 21-Lent 5-St. Luke 20:9-19

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

‘And he [Jesus] began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went away into another country for a long while. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.’ (Vv. 9, 10)

Many of you are aware of the concept here. This parable has to do with a farmer who has retired or for some other reason cannot farm all of his land himself. So, this retired farmer rents out his land to various renters. He signs a contract for the going rate and then heads off to Arizona. Sound more familiar? This parable probably made a lot of sense even in the words of Jesus.

This arrangement can have its headaches. If the owner gets a bad renter, this could mean for our day at the worst, there would not be any rent to collect. It would be possible for anyone today to have renters like the ones in the parable but unlikely. After all, most owners today would contact the proper authorities after the first employee had been sent off to collect the rent.

The owner from our view is being very easy-going or lax.

Let me tell the parable a different way. God the Father brought the Israelites into the Promised Land. He allowed time for the fruits of repentance to come and then sent His prophets to bring this home to Him. Time and again, the Father sent prophets. He sent Elijah, He sent Isaiah, He sent Jeremiah, He sent Ezekiel, and the Father sent all the rest. Not one of these prophets were received by God’s people, some were driven away. Some of the prophets were beaten and some were killed.

Finally, the Father sent Jesus.

Just like the parable, the fact that the Son was coming had been broadcast for the tenants, the Israelites. Yet, like the many prophets, the Son was also rejected by these tenants. The people of Jerusalem and Israel showed no repentance and in fact open rebellion instead.

As I mentioned before, being a landowner has its own headaches. We can see this from the interpretation of this parable as being about God and His dealings with the children of Israel. There are many anxieties with this position like any other. Even in the first century, I am sure that the rules changed, at least as far as the Romans were concerned. They always seemed to be very good at getting their fair share, be it taxes or otherwise. Today, being a landowner, and a renter, comes with its own special group of concerns.

For us, we do not know if our taxes will change. On the other hand, we can be sure that they will be changed, but not how much or exactly when. This goes for ownership of land as well as any other type of taxes. This as well as uncertainty about government brings with it certain amounts of anxiety. We humans tend to get anxious when we are not sure how things are going.

Something that provides comfort for you and I as Christians is the end of our Old Testament lesson. ‘ “For I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I have chosen for myself that they might declare my praise.”’ (Isaiah 43:20, 21) Who is God’s chosen people today? You know the answer. Jesus has given it to you.

These verses from Isaiah speak to what God does for those of us who He has created for Himself. Those of us who were in darkness, but now have been brought into the marvelous light of Christ. What does God do for those that are His children now? He provides for them water in the desert of this world. You and I live in a spiritual desert. We come here each week to receive the water of life that we may continue to live in the desert. The church is an oasis in a desert, given by God for a lost and dying world.

The church exists for the life of the world. First the church exists for the life of those who are members of this body. At the same time, the church exists for the life of those who are dying in the spiritual darkness around us.

‘And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’’ (Vv. 11-14)

So, our loving God tries. He tries with you and me, He tries with His own children. Our loving God tries even when His children continue to reject the messengers that are sent to proclaim the Gospel. This is a parable about the church. This is not something that teaches us about the spiritual state of those who are still living in darkness. After all, it was not those who were outcasts in society, the harlots and tax-gatherers who were offended at Jesus words. Instead, it is the pillars of the church that are offended.

When we read that the tenants have killed the son, we cannot help but think, “How could they be so foolish as to think they could get away with such a terrible crime!” Yet, you and I are the ones who should be the most offended at this parable of the wicked tenants. We are the church; you are the wicked tenant. Think about it. You and I in our sins are just as foolish and daring as these tenants are. We think, “God won’t notice just this once.” Or worse, “He’ll give me a pass. After all, I’m a Christian!”

As we know about salvation, our loving God offers the free forgiveness of sins and everlasting life through repentance and faith in His Son to all. Just as the wicked tenants of the parable were given chance after chance, so are you and I. We are given chance after chance even when, like Thomas, we doubt. No, we don’t doubt the resurrection of Jesus. No we don’t doubt that we are saved because of the work of Christ and not because of our own works. We tend not to trust God above all else.

You and I, our temptation now comes with trusting God when it comes to our daily life. When it comes to politics, we have trouble trusting. When it comes to retirement or the economy, we have a hard time trusting. Whatever it may be in our daily life, we have trouble trusting. We forget what we know very well. Satan and his fallen angels are subtle. You and I are tempted by the demons not to trust our loving Father when it comes to our Father “richly and daily providing me with all that I need to support this body and life”. Or, we forget to trust in regard to our Father defending “me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil”. (Small Catechism II: 1st)

‘What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”’ (Vv. 15-18)

So, what will happen to those who reject Christ? Jesus tells us very clearly. He says that the owner of the vineyard will come and destroy those wicked tenants. The crowd is shocked at this. The words of the people to Jesus in response to the final act of the parable seem kind of lightweight. We don’t tend to think this is that big of a reaction. In reality, the Greek Luke uses is the strongest words a Greek speaker could use to express shock at the outcome of the parable. This is like us saying, “may this never come to pass!”

Yet this is the spiritual condition of many in not only in our own area but of billions around the world. Even here in the United States of America. This in spite of the church continually speaking of the hope we have to those around us. We do this by every means possible that we might save some. Even as we proclaim the Gospel to those we come in contact with we are also following the words of the Holy Spirit through Isaiah. ‘“For I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I have chosen for myself that they might declare my praise.”’ (Isaiah 43:20, 21)

You have been given water in the desert of this world, rejoice in the Gospel. You are the ones who are provided for even in the uncertainty of daily life. You are the one who has received forgiveness of sins through repentance and eternal life with Christ. For this reason, you have been given divine guidance. The Holy Spirit lives in you to provide guidance through the twisted path of life that you may remain on the path of life.

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

March 14-Lent 4-St. Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

‘Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”’ (Vv. 1-2)

Do we complain when someone does not eat with the “right” people? That is what the Pharisees are doing in our lesson. They are complaining because there were social implications to who Jesus was associating with. If Jesus really were who He claims to be, to their thinking, He would only associate with the “right” people.

By this they mean that Jesus would not be sitting around with the outcasts of society. Jesus would not even walk on the same side of the street with a prostitute or tax gatherer or leper. Such people made you unclean according to Mosaic Law. Jesus knew this and so did all the other people. Even by His associations, Jesus was teaching the people a new thing.

Jesus is teaching us through His associations that we see in the Gospels that it does not matter to our spiritual cleanness who we associate with. It is more important that we speak to these people the message of the Gospel: the free forgiveness of sins and everlasting life with Jesus for all men. The Pharisees and scribes are showing that they still did not understand this reality. They betrayed the fact that it was all about the outward appearances for them. What they thought mattered was whether the rules of the Law were fulfilled. The thoughts and beliefs of the heart did not enter into their spiritual calculus.

Some of the time, you and I find ourselves doing as Jesus does. We show that we understand the importance of the Gospel very well. You or I are out speaking of Jesus to those around us. You do not worry about what others will think if you are seen with, him or with her.

Some of the time, you and I find ourselves doing as the Pharisees and the scribes. We show that our Old Adam is very much alive and still swimming. In spite of our daily contrition for our sins and repentance over those same sins you and I cannot seem to drown that old sin nature. We begin to worry very much about what others think. We start to wonder about so-and-so. After all, he or she was seen last week talking with that person!

‘Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in.’ (Vv. 25-28)

The Parable of the Prodigal is interesting especially when we reach the final portion. That part that has to do with the older brother. There is reason to name the Prodigal of this parable as the younger son, that is, you; the father, that is, Jesus or the Father in heaven; or the older brother, that is, the Pharisees listening to this parable!

All of these work.

There are different reasons for seeing each as the prodigal. Often, when pastors give sermons on this parable, they tend to focus on the first two options. They do not directly address the Pharisees as a possibility for being the prodigal. Yet, the older son is just as prodigal, though for different reasons, as the other two main characters of this parable. There is actually more reason for concern when it comes to the older son. After all, his encounter with the father is not resolved.

So, when we first meet the older brother he has been working out in the field. We are to think that he is the good son so-called, he is the one who was faithful and remained with the father to work at the home property. He, seemingly patient, waited for his portion of the inheritance. The younger son had been very disrespectful. He had asked the father for his portion. Doing this while his father was still alive was about the same as telling his father to just go ahead and die already!

Now the elder son gets close enough to hear the sounds of music and dancing, a celebration. He knew of no good reason for a celebration, this party did not make sense. After all, there was no big festival, no birthday, nothing. It was just another workday. Perhaps it was a Wednesday; the one we commonly call “hump day”. The middle of the work week seemingly without a break in sight.

So this son grabs one of the servants going about his work. Perhaps this servant had come out with an empty platter or other hand from inside the house. In other words, he would know what is happening. So, the elder son stops this particular servant. He asks what is going on. The servant responds matter of factly with the words of the Head of the House. The father also said what this servant repeats. He tells that the younger son had returned. He was alive! So, naturally, there was a feast held. If you had a family member who headed off on a trip and somehow became lost to you. That is, you heard no news for long enough to begin wondering about whether the loved one was alive or dead. In such a situation, if that family member that returned suddenly you would immediately hold a party to celebrate. This is how the father had thought regarding the younger son, so he celebrates.

Instead of behaving as we would expect, the older son is angry! We might think that this one would be just as overjoyed for the return of his brother. Yet, this is not the case. He is angry with his father for being glad to have the son back, and alive on top of all else.

‘His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’’ (Vv. 28-30)

This party is the celebration that Jesus had spoken of in the previous parable. At the end of the parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus says, ‘“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”’ (St. Lk. 15:7) This is being illustrated for Jesus’ hearers in the parable of the Prodigal. The one who repents, the younger son has returned. So, the father celebrates with a huge party. The family and the servants are all celebrating. The only killjoy in the whole thing is the older brother.

When the father leaves the party to encourage and plead with the older son to join in the celebration, that son objects. He complains that he has always served his father and he never was given anything to celebrate with his buddies with. The young goat is the minimum basis for a party in the first century. He is whining as we first heard the Pharisees and scribes complain. They were complaining about who Jesus was spending time with. Here we have the older son doing the same thing. He is complaining that his brother has lived the life of an abject sinner only to receive a celebration upon his return.

We who have spent our lives in the church sit in the position of the older brother. We have always been doing what our Father in heaven has taught and commanded us to do, repent and believe. We never have been given even the smallest celebration. In fact, we as believers are told by Jesus that the world will hate us for our faithfulness. When someone returns to the church after a long absence, our sinful flesh and the devil tempt you and me to think. “What, that one has been living the life of a sinner and enemy of God all this time and now all he needs to do is repent and all of heaven celebrates? How can this be?”

Yet, this is precisely what Jesus is telling us. This does not mean that you are any less loved or any less of a son of God than the one who has just come to the faith. All this means is, one more has been received into the kingdom! Rejoice! Remember, all the Father has is yours already. Your brother has returned he was dead but now is alive. Rejoice!

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

March 7-Lent 3-St. Luke 13:1-9

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

‘And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will likewise perish.”’ (Vv. 2, 3)

Since the beginning of this year, we have had a couple of earthquakes. We have also had mudslides in California, all of which destroyed much personal property. An even greater tragedy, many lives have been lost in all of these natural disasters. As well, from time to time, we hear of buildings that catch on fire or collapse when they should not.

What are we to make of all of this tragedy?

Should we assume that the people in Haiti are somehow greater sinners than any of the rest of us? Or the people in Chile are greater sinners? Perhaps we should take it as a sign that because New Orleans was greatly damaged by a hurricane a few years ago that those who claimed judgement from God were correct. Some said this about hurricane Katrina then; some have said the same about the earthquake in Haiti now.

Really? Is anyone really a greater sinner than someone else is? Is this what we should take from our Gospel. The men in Galilee who were killed, or those upon whom the tower fell in Siloam were they somehow greater sinners. So, those killed in Haiti this year or in Chile this year were somehow greater sinners. Is this what our Gospel is saying.

Obviously not. Those men who brought this up to Jesus were trying to find justification and support for their assumption that this is exactly the case. Jesus would not give such satisfaction to them. If He did, He would be allowing smug self-righteous sinners to remain in their sin instead of calling them to repentance. Instead, Jesus tells them, ‘No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will likewise perish.”’ (V. 3)

Rather than supporting these men in their assumption, Jesus condemns their unrepentant hearts. Jesus tells them that if they continue as they have been going, they will find themselves dead as well. However, instead of simply dying a physical death, those who remain in their sin will die eternally. Jesus uses this analogy twice. First, Jesus uses it to reject the assumption that those Galileans who had their blood mixed with the sacrifices as not valid. Then, Jesus continues and reminds them of another tragedy that had happened and told them that also was simply a tragedy. The tragedies that you and I experience but live through and those we only hear about are occasions for us for self-examination.

It is truly a chance for self-examination because the word Jesus actually uses is not sinners. It is a similar word. The connection is similar to what we see in the Lord’s Prayer. Some of the time, it is printed as ‘and forgive us our trespasses’, other times it is printed as ‘and forgive us our debts’. Luke here is using the Greek word for debtors. So, our text in some translations has ‘offenders’. That word sort of covers it all.

The word ‘offenders’ does not completely cover it though. Not surprisingly, ‘debtors’ works the best. That word even flows out of what Jesus was saying at the end of chapter twelve where He is speaking of settling everything with your accuser since if you do not, you will be thrown in prison until you have paid every cent (St. Luke 12:57-59). The prison referred to there is the debtor’s prisons. The family and friends of the prisoner were expected to come up with the money to free him.

This is an apt description of hell for you and me. Jesus, in our lesson, is warning that if we do not repent we will end up in such a situation. We will be thrown in the prison of hell until we have paid every cent. An impossible task (Romans 319-28).

We should take such tragedies as occur in our life as chances to examine ourselves and see, ‘Am I on the correct path? Is there anything I need to repent of?’ It may be that a tragedy falls upon a certain person because he deserves it. We do not know if that is the case and so, we each time help and support the victims of the tragedy through whatever means we are able. While at the same time asking ourselves such questions.

When tragedy strikes, if nothing else, God is using that tragedy in your life as a warning against unbelief and an unrepentant life.

‘And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’”’ (Vv. 6, 7)

Jesus continues to teach them this lesson of the repentant life. He has provided the “moral” so-called for each of those current tragedies. The “moral” from the event of the massacred Galileans and from those on whom the tower fell is, repent that you too might not perish!

Now Jesus changes tactics. Jesus tells the gathered listeners a parable. He speaks of a fig tree planted in a vineyard, which is not producing fruit. What would you do with a fruit tree planted on your land, which had reached maturity but had not produced fruit for another three years? That is where the owner of the vineyard finds himself. The owner in this parable here is God. He has planted a fig tree in his vineyard and waited for it to grow into its fruit bearing years. This happened and so the owner returned over and over, year after year looking for fruit.

Year after year that fruit tree you planted has not been bearing fruit? What would you do? Would you give the plant any more time? Probably not. You would probably give up, dig out the plant and use the land for some other purpose. So, not surprisingly, this is what the owner wants to do. God has come back again and again to check on the Israelites to see if they were bearing fruit. Year after year, God had provided them with what is needed for spiritual growth and as Jesus said last week with God as a hen wishing to gather in His chicks. The people of Israel would not. Again, Jesus is pointing this out to those listening here as well. This parable is telling the listeners, begin to bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

As Paul told us, ‘Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.’ (1 Corinthians 10:6) You and I are being warned in the same way. We are being told to bear fruit in keeping with repentance. Jesus and Paul are both warning us in the same way. Each is telling us not to follow the example of the Israelites. They refused to repent and were punished with condemnation for such lack of faith.

‘“And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”’ (Vv. 8, 9)

This gardener who intercedes is like Moses, he is a saint praying for those who remain in unbelief. This saint stands in the breach and says to God, “be merciful one more time. I will dig around the base of the tree and lay on manure. If it bears fruit after this, well and good, if not, then cut it out. Cast it into the fire”[1].

When we intercede for those who disbelieve the Gospel through prayer, we repent in the filthy robes of our sins and we sorrow over those who reject the Gospel. When you repent in your filthy robes, God, in Jesus sees us covered in the life-giving blood of Christ and forgives. We pray for those who are not so covered. We pray through the power of the One who not only commands us to do such works also bestows on each of you and even me the ability to repent and produce that same fruit.

All this is flowing to you out of Jesus’ life-giving salvation.

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

[1] The Lutheran Study Bible, note on verse 8, St. Augustine NPNF 1 6:444.

Lent 2-Feb. 28-St. Luke 13:31-35

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

‘At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”’ (V. 31)

All of you here, who are parents, or for that matter have owned a pet, know what is going on here. This scene is one of impenitence in the group of the Pharisees. Parents know about what is happening here. You have all had children refuse to do something, or not do, that you know is bad for them.

You have warned them and warned them against whatever the behavior is, but finally, the child needs to learn on his own. That child, though it may hurt, needs to learn the hard way. This happened for Rachel and I just a few weeks ago.

In our case it was a minor thing. John had licked one of the iron railings on the front of our house. With the cold temperatures, his tongue and his lips stuck. We had warned him several times not to lick things. He did it anyway. While we got the water needed to release his tongue easily, all the while warning him not to pull away. You all know what he did. He pulled away on his own.

We tried and tried telling him not to do this but he had to learn the hard way.

Even today, in the same way, God warns you and me and all men just as He did all those years ago with the Pharisees and other unrepentant people. Yet, they had to learn the hard way. The problem for them was, and for you and me is, the hard way is permanent. It is eternal death, from this consequence; there is no turning back.

So, Jesus warns them. ‘At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”’ (V. 31)

This warning of the Pharisees is two-faced. Though they may warn Jesus of other’s plots to kill him they are all the while planning to do the same. It does appear to be a new role for these men, but in actual fact, it is no different in the end. This warning was a real warning and not made up. Herod did want Jesus dead because Herod had earlier put John the Baptist to death and feared that Jesus was John come back to haunt him. Yet, we see our Savior and God’s boundless love for all men. Even as they plot to kill Jesus themselves, He is one more time trying to bring them to repentance.

‘“Yea, Father, yea, most willingly
I’ll bear what Thou commandest;
My will conforms to Thy decree,
I do what Thou demandest.”
O wondrous Love, what hast Thou done!
The Father offers up His Son!
The Son, content, descendeth!
O Love, how strong Thou art to save!
Thou beddest Him within the grave
Whose word the mountains rendeth.’ (TLH 142:3)

‘And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away form Jerusalem.’’ (Vv. 32-33)

Jesus in these verses tells the Pharisees what is about to happen. In this veiled way, tells His enemies that he knows of their plot and they are doing exactly as is needed. Yet, Jesus reaches out to those who would kill Him with the Gospel of free forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus still does the same thing for the unbelievers of this world. He even does this for me and you.

Jesus does this for you when, through the power of the Holy Spirit, He brings you to repentance. Whether that is through your own conscience or through the words of the liturgy as we just confessed or through other means. Jesus through His preachers and His Church is still calling a sinful dying world to repentance and faith.

In Jesus’ words to the fox Herod we are told that Jesus goes willingly to His death on the cross. Jesus is telling Herod in the phrase, “today and tomorrow and on the third day” that His work would continue for a certain period of time. Jesus would go willingly to His death, but it would be on the Father’s schedule. That death would not occur when Herod decided, or incidentally, when the Pharisees decided. This response to the warning that Herod sought to kill Jesus would have hit the Pharisees just as hard.

These men were being told, in no uncertain terms, they are not in charge. The Father, Who had sent the Son, Jesus, to preach His message of peace and repentance and the forgiveness of sins is in charge. He determines when things occur and no one else. No sparrow falls to the ground without His knowledge (see Saint Matthew 6:25, 26), and thus allowance.

Jesus is not compelled to this end of His journey nor is Jesus somehow caught out and forced to die because He was outwitted. Rather, Jesus is pointing out to the Pharisees here that He as the final prophet and the Messiah is above and independent of the plots and schemes of both the Pharisees and of Herod.

‘Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away form Jerusalem.’’ (V. 33)

What the Greek means and is not always carried over in translation is not just that it cannot be for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem. This is a proverbial saying. What is really meant is that the idea that Jesus would die outside of Jerusalem is not accepted. It is inadmissible. A severe indictment of Jerusalem, after all, this is a city whose name means “city of peace”. God sent His message of peace by the prophets.

‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often I would have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”’ (Vv. 34-35)

The city of peace kills those sent to it by the true God, the God that is worshipped in Jerusalem! We see a reference here to what the Gospel of John tells us all about. There we are told of multiple visits by Jesus to Jerusalem during His years of ministry. Even as is true today, Jesus urgently desired the salvation of His wayward children. Jesus tried repeatedly to bring these hardened people to faith. Today Jesus reaches out to a lost and dying world through the work of His Church to bring that same old gospel message of rescue and salvation to a world that is ignorant of its need for such rescue. Today Jesus reaches out to you and me to sustain us in the faith and keep us returning to Him for that forgiveness that we daily need.

We are sent on this rescue mission that we may not arrive too late.

‘Of death I am no more afraid,
New life from Thee is flowing;
Thy cross affords me cooling shade
When noonday’s sun is glowing.
When by my grief I am opprest,
On Thee my weary soul shall rest
Serenely as on pillows.
Thou art my Anchor when by woe
My bark is driven to and fro
On trouble’s surging billows.’ (TLH 142:5)

In this lament of Jesus here, He is comparing His actions, both during His ministry but also previously through the prophets, to those of a hen who protects the chicks beneath her wings. There is a hawk set to destroy the chicks and she would gather them so as to protect them. So also, God has been acting the part of the hen seeking to protect the chicks from certain destruction. The devil is the hawk seeking to destroy us. Jesus would gather us under His wings that we might be protected by His life. Contrary to expectation, some of the chicks refuse to be gathered in by Jesus and willingly wait for their destruction.

Even the Israelites, Jesus’ own nation, did not want this. He wanted this people to be his own, even as they belonged to him. Yet, they would not. The words of Jesus are of the most tragic order. He states, ‘and you would not! Behold, your house is forsaken.’(Vv. 34-35) These people willingly allow themselves to be destroyed, and strangely, this is done not unknowingly. Their own prophets and Jesus had many times warned them of this. Yet, they would not. Instead, they seek to and succeed in destroying the One sent to rescue them from their sins.

But, then, it is the hardest thing of all for the human mind to admit to this. And so it is that faith is a miracle created in us by the Holy Spirit. It seems like pure madness to admit that something like forgiveness and rescue is what any of us need. Yet, all of us are here. The real miracle is that anyone is in this church at all! The greatest miracle is that faith exists in the world at all. By all rights, we should be no different in our response to the Gospel as these Pharisees. The Christian message of faith in Christ for the free forgiveness of sins and rescue for sin death and the devil along with the rewards of everlasting life and the forgiveness of sins is the most contrary to reason message of all (Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9). Praise God that you believe this! Praise God that He creates faith in each of you.

Praise the Christ with those on Palm Sunday, ‘“‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”’ (V. 35; see also Psalm 118:26)

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

Feb. 24-Lent 1 Midweek-St.Luke 23:39-43

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

We have probably all heard of such an episode as this before. There was a group of college boys on their way home for Easter vacation. They were driving along at the posted speed limit when they topped a hill and met a pair of cars, one passing the other. Everyone tried to stop in time. There was the screeching of brakes the attempt to dodge each other. They met head on anyway. Each of the cars was destroyed and three people were killed. One of the boys sitting in the back seat flew through the windshield and past the oncoming car by several feet.

There wasn’t a scratch on him. He was entirely unhurt. A few days later the boy was sitting speaking with his pastor, concluding with the remark, “It is a miracle of God that I am still alive.” “You were mighty close to eternity,” agreed the pastor, and added: “If you had died at that moment, where would you be today?” Without hesitation or doubt, the boy responded with, “Well, heaven of course.” This speaks of the most important of all doctrines (Augsburg Confession IV) from the Bible which some now no longer believe. Even some so-called Christian churches now reject this. That is, we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus.

‘And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”’ (V. 43)

In these words of Jesus, we find that this man was justified by faith in Jesus Christ and for no other reason. After all, what was this man, but the worst of unregenerate sinners? He was a hardened criminal there is no doubt. He had spent his entire life doing evil. He was so rotten that the government had found it necessary to sentence him to the worst of deaths. He admitted even, that he was getting what he deserved by being hung on his cross.

At first, this man joined in with the crowds and the other criminal in the bragging and false boldness, he also mocked Jesus. When the others cursed the Savior, he also cursed and blasphemed. This man was obviously not saved by what he did! What he did was nonstop evil. Yet, this evil man was being worked on by the Holy Spirit. What saved him were not his works or words, but rather the grace of God. It was by his repentance and faith that this man received the reward Jesus speaks of.

This man may have heard from his mother about the coming Messiah when he was still small. He surely heard of Jesus those past three years of teaching ministry. It may even have been an early Christian who spoke to this man about the folly of his sins and the joy of salvation in Jesus Christ. What ever it was, death brings upon us all earnest and serious thoughts, thoughts about God and where we will end up. This man new his life was slipping away.

What must have been this man’s reaction when the Roman soldiers came with three scrolls and nailed one to the top of each cross? He could look up and not be at all surprised with the list of his crimes. He must have been truly amazed at the statement put above Jesus; “This is Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”. This after Jesus prayed for those who cursed and mocked Him. He did not curse back.

God by His grace was taking hold of this man’s heart and changing it from stone to living flesh. How much remorse must have washed over him? He surely could not speak for a moment. Then when he did speak he rebuked the other criminal. ‘“We are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”’ (V. 41) What Christian courage and faith! Everyone else was cursing and mocking Jesus and this man alone spoke in Jesus’ defense. All the so-called “righteous” rejected the Messiah, only an evil criminal would speak for Him! Have you ever done as much?

So, having made his confession of sin and faith, this man turned to Jesus and begged, ‘“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”’ (V. 42) This man alone calls Jesus Lord in this scene. Jesus responds to him by stating, ‘And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”’ (V. 43) How these words of Jesus must have thrilled this sinner, how they thrill and comfort you and me as well!

To be sure, none of us has gone to such length in our wickedness as this man. Yet, you too have your sins. We easily could have turned out like him. Sinfulness is frequently a matter of degree. Only, even the smallest so-called “small” sin is equal to the worst before God. This man’s greatest sin consisted in this, almost all of his life he trusted in himself and not in Jesus. Sound familiar? We often find ourselves thinking the same way! (Small Catechism 1: 1st) You too have your sins. You too need a Savior. Thank God, in Jesus we have forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus forgives this man, just as he also forgives you and me. Your assurance consists in this ‘Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.’ (Rom. 3:28) And, again ‘By grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.’ (Eph. 2:8, 9)

Do not let the devil or anyone else ever create doubt in your mind about this, it is as sure and certain as the nose on your face. This most glorious of all Christian doctrines found in God’s precious Word: A man is justified by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. This mean’s you. Your peace, your hope, your salvation depend on it.

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

February 21-Lent 1-St. Luke 4:1-13

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Grace, mercy and peace will be with you, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.’ (2 John 3) Amen.

‘And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil.’ (Vv. 1, 2)

As we read the several accounts in the Gospels of the temptation of Jesus, we learn something about the devil, our adversary. This is nothing new; we know this about the devil from our own experience. The difference in this case is how Jesus responds to the tempter’s working against Him.

Our adversary, the devil, is a clever debater. If you grant him one false premise, he will then run with that opening. He will draw thousands of false deductions, that is conclusions, from it[1]. Notice what Jesus does here. He does not seek to argue with the devil.

Instead, Jesus simply quotes from the fifth book of Moses each time, Deuteronomy. That is Jesus only and always combats the devil with Scripture. He gives you a picture here of how you should combat the attacks of Satan.

Luther gives the same advice. He tells us when the devil comes around and tries to tempt us to doubt our Savior or fall away from the faith, we are told not to disagree or argue. Dr. Luther’s advice is very simple. He instructs you to respond in this way. “Yes, devil, you are right. I am a poor miserable sinner. However, I am baptized my heavenly Father has granted me forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. I now belong to Jesus and you cannot snatch me away (St. John 10:28-29). Now be gone!”

Notice that this advice does not say argue with Satan? It is good advice. Luther is simply telling you the same thing that Jesus your Savior tells you in this account from Luke’s Gospel. When the devil comes and tells the very hungry Jesus to command some of the stones to turn into bread, this was a very real temptation. In His human-ness, Jesus would have been sorely tempted to do exactly this. He had eaten nothing for forty days. This was a real temptation.

Again, the devil tempts Jesus to fall down and worship the devil in order to gain power and prestige in this world. These are temptations that we can all relate to. This is probably why the Holy Spirit picks out these three as a sort of summing up of all the temptations that Jesus was attacked with. These are very familiar temptation for all of us.

Even if you have never been tempted with world domination, you can relate. It would be nice to be in charge. We all like to act as arm-chair politicians and criticize those in power, whatever their political party may be. We tend to assume that the grass is greener over in some other yard than it is in ours. We all have been hungry in our lives. Each of you has been hungry in your lives. Very likely we have all had opportunity to be tempted to take food that is not ours in order to satisfy that hunger.

Yet, that first temptation is not simply one of satisfying physical hunger. Though that surely would have been in the mix. No. There is more involved in Satan’s temptation. Jesus, during that time of fasting, was focused on prayer and communion with His heavenly Father. Jesus was doing what we can all do. In your case or mine, we read a devotion and some Scripture passages, we pray for ourselves for others and for all the world. This is what Jesus was doing when the devil comes and interrupts Him. So it makes sense that Jesus answers the way that He does. ‘The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”’ (Vv. 3, 4)

The devil is seeking to tempt Jesus away from trust in the Father. It is the same temptation that you face. The devil says to Jesus, “If…” It is that “if” which is the catch. It carries with it all the freight of doubt that it did when the devil tempted Eve. He is trying to sow that little seed of doubt in Jesus’ mind. The devil is actually doing here the same thing that the Pharisees and the people of Nazareth (see St. Luke 4:23) and others would later also try. The devil is saying, “If, you are really God’s son, perform for me! Perform a miracle and then I will believe”.

In Jesus’ response, from Deuteronomy 8:3, we are reminded of the Manna that the Israelites were given. The words that Jesus quotes are the teaching of the Israelites that the bread from heaven was given by the power of God’s word. The Israelites in the form of manna were really being fed on the word of God. This response reminds us of the words of Dr. Luther’s great hymn: ‘one little word can fell him’ (TLH 262).

It is this way of responding to temptation that you also can use to combat the devil and your own sinful flesh. We can all respond to temptation with God’s word. ‘And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I will give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”’ (Vv. 5-8)

As if the devil had not already done this, in this temptation the devil clearly reveals what he really is. This temptation reveals the devil as the liar that he is (St. John 8:44). This is like a second of time or a single tick of the clock. The panorama that the devil shows Jesus is a moment a great feat of imagination, a mental satanic “movie” performance[2]. As we know, God has allowed to the devil a “little season” to tempt and be in control of this earth. Yet, it is not as the devil would have us believe. This power is not his by right. It is his because the Father has allowed it for this time (St. John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). This power and authority that he tries to say to Jesus, and you, that he has are false. The devil does not really have the power to give control of the kingdoms of the world to whom he will. That power has always and will only belong to God. What the devil is trying to do here is a bald and obvious lie. What he tries to claim he has authority to give to Jesus is not his to give. Again, this is a real temptation for Jesus. After all, this triumph and rule of all the world would have provided an easier route than the way which led to the cross and sufferings. It would not have been a real victory or triumph though. Jesus would have been the slave of Satan by this so-called “easy” route. It would have been a lie.

The devil tries to do this with you and me. He may not take you to a high mountain and show you all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The devil will try to draw you into a pact with him. He will try to get you to put your trust in him, or in money, or in ambition, or in some one or thing other than the Triune God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He will try to get you to break the first commandment: ‘ “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”[see Deut. 6:3]’ (V. 8)

‘And he took him to Jerusalem and set him up on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down form here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”’ (Vv. 9-12)

Again, the devil puts Jesus’ trust in the Father to the test. In the first temptation, he had called Jesus’ trust into question. Here he puts that trust to the test. As we saw from the Introit, this Psalm has to do with trust in God’s loving care. Satan misapplies this Psalm and twists it to mean presumptuous trust and reliance on God[3]. The devil wants Jesus to put that trust to the test, but Jesus in His answer points out, again from Deuteronomy (6:13), that testing is not trusting.

Often times, when we are trusting in God to care for our needs and provide for us, it does not happen on the timetable we have. We often are tempted to demand of God that He care for us rather than patiently waiting on His promise (see Exodus 17:7). It may be an illness, the raising of children, work, or just one season of life or other that is dragging on beyond what you or I think it should[4].

So, you and I are tempted not to trust our heavenly Father to provide what it is that we need. We demand as the Israelites did when they demanded water of God rather than waiting patently for Him to provide according to His promise. Again, when we find ourselves demanding something from God. Remind yourself that you are baptized. Because of that your Father will provide what you need. May it be comfort. May it be food and shelter. May it be whatever.

‘And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.’ (V. 13) The final words from Luke’s account of the temptation of our Lord are very instructive. Here the Holy Spirit points out that this temptation did not end here, rather it became more subtle. It is the same way for you and me. We may go through a season of great temptation, but it never ends as long as we are in this life. The devil and his angels only go away and watch for an opportune time. In Jesus’ case, we know of at least one other opportune time the Garden of Gethsemane. At the arrest of your Savior, at that most trying of times, the devil returns.

When the devil returns to tempt you it is still true that you now belong to your Father in heaven through the promise of your baptism. You have now been made a son of God (Galatians 4:4-7) and nothing can snatch you from the Father’s hand (St. John 10:28-29). Amen.

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

[1] Encyclopedia of Sermon Illustrations, p. 60, entry #246.
[2] Word Pictures in the New Testament, vol. II, p. 50.
[3] Word Pictures in the New Testament, vol. II p. 52.
[4] Sermon Studies on the Gospels, Series C, NPH. p. 126.