Month: April 2014

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Objections Overruled

Text: John 20:19-31
Date: Easter II + 4/27/14

He never did it. Though Thomas insisted on examining the evidence, seeing in His hands the mark of the nails and placing his finger into them, and placing his hand into the wound in Jesus’ side, when Jesus appeared he never did it, he never followed through. Jesus even invited him to do it. But that invitation sounded almost more like deserved mockery when the risen Lord suddenly was standing right in the middle of them all in that upper room. With a word the objections Thomas raised were overruled and he believed. Continue reading “Objections Overruled”

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Jesus Christ, NIKA

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:53-57
Date: Easter + 4/20/14

In Greek Orthodox iconography or church art there is the most interesting symbol. Surrounding a cross are Greek capital letters which stand for the phrase, “Jesus Christ” “NIKA” or Victor. If you search on the internet for the word NIKA you either get a listing of women models with that name or the famous athletic shoe company. In Greek, however, “NIKA” is translated “victory,” “victor,” “conqueror” or “to overcome.” On Easter we sing and proclaim the victory of Jesus Christ and of a creation redeemed and reclaimed as belonging once again to God its Creator. “This is the feast of victory for our God, Alleluia!” Continue reading “Jesus Christ, NIKA”

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"Peter, While His Conscience Slept"

Text: 1 Peter 3:21
Date: Good Friday St. John Passion + 4/18/14

Our dear fellow Lutheran and world famous musician Johann Sebastian Bach has done a marvelous work of weaving hymnic theological comment into the hearing of the apostolic record of the Lord’s Passion according to St. John. Well-known stanzas of Lenten hymns have us begin, as if announcing a prayer, “Jesus, I will ponder now On your holy Passion” (LSB 440:1). Of the betrayal by Judas Iscariot and the band of soldiers arresting Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane Bach has us remember that it was still a result of God’s wondrous love controlling events “That brought Thee here, by foes and thieves surrounded!” (LSB 439:7). Continue reading “"Peter, While His Conscience Slept"”

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"Peter, While His Conscience Slept"

Text: 1 Peter 3:21
Date: Good Friday St. John Passion + 4/18/14

Our dear fellow Lutheran and world famous musician Johann Sebastian Bach has done a marvelous work of weaving hymnic theological comment into the hearing of the apostolic record of the Lord’s Passion according to St. John. Well-known stanzas of Lenten hymns have us begin, as if announcing a prayer, “Jesus, I will ponder now On your holy Passion” (LSB 440:1). Of the betrayal by Judas Iscariot and the band of soldiers arresting Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane Bach has us remember that it was still a result of God’s wondrous love controlling events “That brought Thee here, by foes and thieves surrounded!” (LSB 439:7). Continue reading “"Peter, While His Conscience Slept"”

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The Rest of the Story

Text: St. Matthew Passion
Date: Passion/Palm Sunday + 4/13/14

Every year we hear the sad story of the Passion of Jesus, on Sunday according to the synoptic evangelist (this year St. Matthew) and again on Good Friday according to St. John. The Great and Holy Week is designed for us to make an extended meditation on our Lord’s death. No matter which way you look at it it is a very sad and heartrending story. Yet we know, God willing, that Easter is coming. And so it’s like the saying I heard some time ago and has now been turned into a song by a quartet named Legacy Five:

I’ve been readin’ in the Bible,
’bout the ending of the age.
And one thing that’s for certain,
it grows closer every day.
But I am not concerned about,
the way it’s gonna end.
‘Cause I’ve read the back of the book and we win.[1] Continue reading “The Rest of the Story”

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"Never Was Love Like Thine"

Text: John 11
Date: Lent V + 4/6/14

Are you looking forward to Easter? The catechumens have been slowly drawn and taught and enlightened by the Word of God in preparation for their Holy Baptism at the Vigil and joining the fellowship of believers that is the Church. Recall with me briefly the curriculum: Lent 1—Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness and won the battle. We are preparing for a constant battle with Satan being equipped with the very same weapons that Jesus had, namely, the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Lent 2 – like Nicodemus we were told that we would receive God’s Word and Spirit by means of being born again by water and the Spirit. Lent 3—like the Samaritan woman at the well we were told that Holy Baptism isn’t just a one-time thing, even though it is administered only once, because the Christian life is supplied and empowered by living water, that is, by God’s gift and working and creation and sustaining of faith in your heart. Lent 4—more than that, like the man born blind, we were told that this faith lifts the veil of our former blindness and receives “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor 4:3-4). So now today, Lent 5, on our last Sunday before entering the Great and Holy Week you may be getting a little excited anticipating almost a miracle to happen to you as you are baptized. And it is, and you will. (A little note here that some have suggested that, in ancient times, the candidates were not told beforehand that they would be plunged under the water, a sort of surprise that would not be forgotten). Continue reading “"Never Was Love Like Thine"”

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"Never Was Love Like Thine"

Text: John 11
Date: Lent V + 4/6/14

Are you looking forward to Easter? The catechumens have been slowly drawn and taught and enlightened by the Word of God in preparation for their Holy Baptism at the Vigil and joining the fellowship of believers that is the Church. Recall with me briefly the curriculum: Lent 1—Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness and won the battle. We are preparing for a constant battle with Satan being equipped with the very same weapons that Jesus had, namely, the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Lent 2 – like Nicodemus we were told that we would receive God’s Word and Spirit by means of being born again by water and the Spirit. Lent 3—like the Samaritan woman at the well we were told that Holy Baptism isn’t just a one-time thing, even though it is administered only once, because the Christian life is supplied and empowered by living water, that is, by God’s gift and working and creation and sustaining of faith in your heart. Lent 4—more than that, like the man born blind, we were told that this faith lifts the veil of our former blindness and receives “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor 4:3-4). So now today, Lent 5, on our last Sunday before entering the Great and Holy Week you may be getting a little excited anticipating almost a miracle to happen to you as you are baptized. And it is, and you will. (A little note here that some have suggested that, in ancient times, the candidates were not told beforehand that they would be plunged under the water, a sort of surprise that would not be forgotten). Continue reading “"Never Was Love Like Thine"”