Sermon -- 5th Sunday in Lent (March 22, 2026)

THIS MAN HAS POWER OVER DEATH.

JOHN 11:17-27,38-45

In the name + of Jesus.

      It is almost impossible to underestimate how much went wrong back in the Garden of Eden.  Sin entered the world.  There were consequences to women, such as pain in child-bearing.  There were consequences to men.  The man’s role was to work and provide for his family.  But the Lord informed him, “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.  It will produce thorns and thistles for you” (Genesis 3:17-18).  The earth was not merely plagued with thorns and thistles.  The ground would know earthquakes, wildfires, and pestilence.  The earth would know blizzards, hail, and tornadoes.  Bodies would experience broken bones, allergies, genetic disorders, and physical disabilities.  Sin has brought on a death march for every living thing.  To top it all off, the curse that comes with sin is eternal.

     When Jesus entered the world to be our Savior, it was not just to deliver us from hell.  The goal is not just to evade punishment.  Think of it this way.  A man steps out of a tavern, having had way too much to drink.  He gets in his car to drive home.  But he crashes through a fence, runs his car into a house, smashes into the living room, is severely injured and severely injures others.  When the man goes to trial, the case is dismissed because of some technicality.  The man goes free, breathes a sigh of relief, and says, “Thank God I am not going to jail!”  Nevertheless, the damage he did remains.  The home is still damaged.  The car is still totaled.  And everyone still faces surgery, hospital stays, physical therapy, and counselling.  Would anyone conclude there was a happy ending because the man avoided jail, fines, and a criminal record?

     In the same way, if Jesus had done nothing but deliver us from hell, we would find some relief.  We might say, “No eternal punishment.  That’s good.”  But the damage done by sin would still affect our lives.  The world is still broken.  Hearts are still corrupt.  Words are still cruel.  Bodies still suffer pain, disease, and disorders.  And death still claims us all.  It is almost impossible to underestimate how much went wrong back in the Garden of Eden.  So also, it is almost impossible to underestimate how much Jesus does as our Savior.  Jesus has come to restore all things.  This man takes away the sin of the world.  This man will deliver us from all evil.  This man has power over death.

     Jesus got word that his friend Lazarus was ill.  In the days before modern medicine, even a fever could be life-threatening.  The message was an appeal for Jesus to bring the healing he had brought to so many others.  But Jesus delayed, and Lazarus died.  In Jewish culture, they did not waste time with burial.  Lazarus was wrapped in grave clothes and placed in a cave by that evening.  Lazarus’ body was already decaying by the time Jesus had arrived at Bethany.  Nevertheless, Jesus came for Lazarus because this man has authority over death.

     Death is cruel.  When Jesus came to the grave of Lazarus, he wept.  He felt the pain death inflicts on loved ones.  That pain is bad enough, but death is more cruel than that.  It does not care what schedule or responsibilities you have.  It does not respect feelings or friendships or fame.  Lazarus had two sisters, Martha and Mary.  It seems that they were both single.  If so, then Lazarus was responsible for their care and protection.  Lazarus’ death meant their lives would become a lot harder.  For Martha and Mary, Lazarus’ death was not merely the loss of a loved one; that was bad enough.  But now they had responsibilities thrust upon them that they were not prepared for.  Anyone who has had to pick up the pieces after the loss of a loved one can appreciate this.  Death of a loved one produces not only grief, but also additional burdens.

     “When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. …When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him…  Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died’” (John 11:17,20-21).  It does not seem that Martha was trying to lay a guilt trip on Jesus, as if to say, “Jesus, you failed us.”  Rather than an accusation, it was a confession.  “Lord, you have healed many people in Galilee and Judea.  I am sure that even with Lazarus at death’s door, you could have restored him to health.” 

     Martha’s confession continued, “‘Even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.’  Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’  Martha replied, ‘I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the Last Day’” (John 11:22-24).  Martha confessed what we all confess: “We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come” (Nicene Creed).  We confess that because that is what our Lord tells us.  He has promised: “This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me, but raise them up on the Last Day.  For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life.  And I will raise him up on the Last Day” (John 6:39,40).  This man has power over death.

     Jesus gave Martha a different promise.  “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies.  And whoever lives and believes in me will never perish’” (John 11:25-26).  Jesus said that he is the resurrection and the life.  He didn’t say someday she’ll see it.  He who is the resurrection and the life was standing right in front of her.  This man has the power to raise up Lazarus from the dead.  He not only could revive him, but he could renew him from decay and restore him to his loved ones.  He who created mankind can resurrect and re-create mankind.  This man has power over death.

     Out of compassion for those who were dear to him, “he shouted with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’  The man who had died came out with his feet and his hands bound with strips of linen and his face wrapped with a cloth.  Jesus told them, ‘Loose him and let him go’” (John 11:43-44).  He is the resurrection and the life.  His word overrules the stench, the decay, and the finality of death.  This man has power over death.   

     Although Lazarus was restored to his sisters and was able to continue caring for them, this was a temporary fix.  Lazarus was restored to a broken world.  He returned to a crooked and corrupt population.  In fact, when Lazarus’ resurrection resulted in more people believing in Jesus, the religious leaders deemed it necessary to kill off Lazarus, too.  Lazarus returned to live as a sinner among other sinners.  This return to life was temporary.  The grave would hold him again.

     For whatever reason, people are attracted to the idea of reincarnation.  Even Christians think returning to this world in another life is appealing.  But return to what?  This would still be a world of disease and disorder, corruption and chaos, war and poverty, trials and tears.  What is so attractive about reliving these things again and again? 

     God does not create people to be recycled.  You are a unique creation of our Lord.  You were placed in this world in a particular time and place on purpose, with your own interests, abilities, and personality.  God designed you to be you for eternity. 

     If there is anything about reincarnation we would agree with, it is that all people will be judged at the end of life.  The Lord who gives us life holds us accountable for how we live it.  Our Lord created a perfect world and put holy people in it.  Man’s sin has not changed God’s expectations.  Our Lord’s judgment will not be about a reboot so that we can try again to get it right, as if sinners will ever achieve holiness.  The Lord will call us what we are, and his judgment will be final.

     Jesus came to do more than give us temporary relief from sin and death.  While we are grateful for momentary relief and for happy times, Jesus came to deliver to us eternal joys and everlasting peace.  He came to rescue us from death and a damning judgment.  In order to do that, Jesus had to address the problem that started it all—our sinfulness.

     If this man will have power over death, then this man must also have authority to forgive sins.  That authority was earned by Jesus taking sin and death into himself.  This man stood in place of mankind to suffer what mankind deserves.  The Bible testifies, “God made him, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Jesus became our sin and, therefore, had to suffer what sin brings—death and a damning judgment.  That is what Jesus endured on the cross.  When Jesus cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), it is because he was absorbing the torments of hell for every sinner who has ever lived.  No matter what disgrace has stood against you, Jesus has paid the price for it.  In turn, Jesus washed you clean of every spot and stain of sin when you were baptized into his name.  Now you bear a holy status.  So, at the final judgment, Jesus will call you what you are—a saint cleansed by his innocent blood. 

     This man has power over death.  Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies” (John 11:25).  Jesus is the resurrection.  He will raise you up on the Last Day, but not to come back to a world of sorrow, suffering, and loss.  The Lord Jesus will not only raise your body to be forever flawless, he will also restore this whole creation back to the Paradise he had intended it to be.  For, if sin is taken away, so are all the evils that come from it.  Jesus will bring you a new and holy creation. 

     This man has power over death.  Jesus is the life.  Jesus already calls you what you are—a saint cleansed by his innocent blood.  Therefore, consider this marvelous promise.  Jesus said, “Whoever lives and believes in me will never perish’” (John 11:26).  If you are cleansed of sin, then death cannot have you.  Life on earth may come to an end, but life in God’s kingdom will go on without interruption and without end.  For the Christian, death is but the gate to life in heaven.  When you close your eyes in death here, you will open them to see Jesus.  You will live with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven.  You will take your place at the heavenly feast.  You will enjoy peace in a sinless existence, and death will flee away.  The man who has power over death gives you endless life.  He will restore all that went wrong because of sin, and he will make it all right.  Since it is almost impossible to underestimate what Jesus has done as our Savior, we will need eternity to rejoice in it and to sing in endless praise.  Thanks to Jesus, you will have it.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Divine Call to St. John's Lutheran Church in Lake City, MN -- What does it mean?

NOTE: This letter will be mailed out via snail mail to all members of Good Shepherd, recognizing that not everyone will find this on my blog.

Greetings in the name of our Savior!

Dear Members of Good Shepherd,

            I announced to the congregation after the services on Wednesday, March 11 and Sunday, March 15 that I have received a Divine Call on March 10 to serve as the pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lake City, Minnesota.  In addition, my wife, Laura, received a Divine Call to serve as the 4^th and 5^th grade teacher in St. John’s elementary school. 

            St. John’s has been vacant for almost two years.  It is a congregation of about 550 and has an elementary school (K-8) of almost 80 children, with an additional 26 in their pre-K program.  Lake City is a city of just over 5,000, located on the shore of the Mississippi River.

            Over the next few weeks, I will be contacting leaders at St. John’s to ask questions about their ministry, its challenges, and its potential.  I welcome members of Good Shepherd to share their concerns with me, as well as considering the challenges and potential of the congregation here.  I will not be making any decisions about this Divine Call until after Easter, and I will likely set deliberations aside during Holy Week.  I have not, however, set any deadline for myself.

            Since not everyone at Good Shepherd is familiar with our synod’s call system, I will address it here.  What does this Divine Call mean, and how does it work?

            There are currently about 160 pastoral vacancies in our synod.  When a congregation’s pastor vacates his position for any reason (accepts a new call, retires, dies, etc.), the vacant congregation arranges a local pastor to help cover the most essential duties for that congregation such as leading worship and attending Church Council meetings.  The congregation asks their district president for a list of pastors who are from our synod to ensure consistency in the doctrine that is taught and preached.  A list of three names is usually given.  The congregation has a brief description of the pastor, his family, his strengths, and his preferences, and selects from one of the three.  Then they extend a call to the pastor they have chosen.  In this way, the Holy Spirit works through the Church to call pastors to serve in a particular place.

            Once that call has been extended, the pastor has two calls—one to the congregation he had been serving, and one to the new place hoping to fill their vacancy.  The pastor, then, prayerfully deliberates where he may serve the Lord best in his Church.

            Laura has been called to be the 4-5 grade teacher in their elementary school.  The call system for teachers works similarly to that of pastors.  She has been told that she could decline her call and it would not prohibit me from accepting the call as pastor to St. John’s.

            The pastor’s decision is not based on where he will receive the best income and benefits.  The pastor’s decision is not based on which place has the prettier church or scenic views.  The pastor’s decision is not based on which congregation is bigger or deemed more glorious.  The decision is focused on where he may best serve the Lord in his Church.

            There are circumstances which must be taken into consideration.  In my case, does my continued care for cancer (although I am in remission) make a difference in where I live?  Do I have the energy to serve a congregation of that size with 45 shut-ins?  Do I have the temperament to deal with the challenges that lie ahead or the skill set to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves?  Can a pastor outlast his stay at one congregation?  Would having a new pastor give a congregation a shot of adrenaline?  These are issues I am sifting through in regard to both places.

Laura and I will be praying for St. John’s, for Good Shepherd, and for St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Livonia as we assess where we can serve the Lord best in his Church.  We thank you in advance for your prayers for us.

            God bless and keep you. 

In Christ,

Pastor Thomas E. Schroeder

"And they crucified him."

I had found this (or someone sent it to me), but I never wrote down the original source.  I am also too lazy to Google it.  Nevertheless, here is a description of what happens to the victim who is crucified.

     What is crucifixion?  A medical doctor provides a physical description: 

     The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood.  The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist.  He drives a heavy, square wrought iron nail through the wrist deep into the wood.  Quickly he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement.  The cross is then lifted into place.  The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees flexed.  The victim is now crucified.

     As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain - the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the edian nerves.  As he pushes himself upward to avoid this trenching torment, he places his full weight on the nail through his feet.  Again he feels the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of his feet.

     As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through his muscles, knotting them deep, relentless, and throbbing pain.  With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward to breathe.  Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled.  He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath.

     Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subsided.  Spasmodically, he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.  Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-renting cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against rough timber.

     Then another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart.  It is now almost over.  The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level.  The compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues.  The tortured lungs are making frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air.  He can feel the chill of death creeping through his tissues.  Finally, he allows his body to die.

     All of this the Bible records with the simple words, "and they crucified Him." (Mark 15: 24)

But so what?  Many people were executed with this method.  Whom did they save?  No one.  The greatest agony Jesus endured on the cross was not the pain and agony of crucifixion.  It was heard in these words: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  “Your iniquities have separated you from your God.”  Jesus was God-forsaken.  Jesus went through hell on the cross--not just pain, but actual hell, paying the wages of sin, receiving the punishment due every sinner.  Hell is worse than any crucifixion.  And this he endured for us so that we would never be God-forsaken, so that we would have heaven.  What wondrous love is this!

Update from Good Shepherd (March 19, 2026)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE
Divine Service is Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School is Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Adult Bible Class is Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Lenten Vespers -- Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. (A supper is served at 6:00 PM.)
Bible Matters will resume on Wednesday, April 8 at 6:30 PM.

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

LENTEN VESPERS

          Our mid-week Lenten services ponder the sufferings and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The schedule is here for Lenten Vespers.
          Vespers will be at 7:00 PM. A Lenten dinner will be provided at 6:00 PM, allowing people to come from work and/or to not concern themselves with meal prep and clean up before the service.

LENTEN DINNERS
          We will offer dinners before each mid-week Lenten service at 6:00 PM.  You are welcome to offer assistance for any of these meals. This is especially necessary at our March 25 meal with the choir from Michigan Lutheran Seminary joining us.  To assist with food items, look at this SignUp Genius link or speak with Mary Mitchell.

          The choir from MLS will be here at 5:00 PM and will eat supper at 5:15 PM before their sacred concern.  Good Shepherd and any guests will enjoy supper at the usual 6:00 PM time.

HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS
          Martin Luther College is offering devotions throughout Holy Week. They will be available to you through daily emails. If you would like to receive them, you can register for them here. They are written under the theme: "Of First Importance: Christ's Death and Resurrection for Us." Feel free to share this link with anyone.

EVERY MEMBER VISITS

          Every four years or so, the pastor conducts visits at the homes of all the members.  It is intended to stay connected with everyone and to allow people to address any issues that may bother them or confuse them.  Every Member Visits will begin in February.  A sign-up sheet is posted at church (for March) to allow people to schedule their visit.  You can also sign up through the Sign-Up Genius link here.

EASTER FOR KIDS MEETING
          This Sunday (March 22), we will have our final meeting to prepare for our Easter for Kids event. We will need people to attend each of the five stations for our visitors, as well as others who can assist with crafts as needed and to interact with our guests. To find out how you can serve, join us this Sunday after church.

MICHIGAN LUTHERAN SEMINARY CHOIR AT GOOD SHEPHERD
          On Wednesday, March 25, Good Shepherd welcomes the choir from Michigan Lutheran Seminary (Saginaw) to perform a sacred concert. This 33-voice high school choir will sing hymns that reflect the Lenten and Easter seasons. Invite any others to join us for this concert. A free-will offering will be taken to help defray travel expenses for the MLS choir.

          Good Shepherd members are needed to host the choir members for an overnight stay and return them to church at 8:00 AM on Thursday, March 26.  If you are willing and able to host, you can indicate it on this Sign Up Genius form.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS

          Sometimes we have a hard time understanding parts of the Bible. Some of those words come from Jesus himself. We are considering the Hard Sayings of Jesus. The weekly schedule can be found here.  Adult Bible Class meets on Sundays at 9:00 AM. All from grade 7 on up are welcome to attend.  

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

           Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the Divine Service from March 8, 2026: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, March 8, 2026

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (March)

>  The postcards to invite people to our Easter Festival Service on April 5 have arrived!  Be sure to take as many as you can to invite friends, family, and coworkers to our Easter services. 

>  We approved spending up to $25,000 to get the windows replaced above the altar and the organ pipes.  The windows will have a bronze hue on the outside.  The windows above the altar will have frosted glass on the inside; the windows above the organ pipes will be clear glass on the inside.  Installation will take place after Easter, particularly when the lawn is not too soggy. 

>  Ladies of Good Shepherd, mark your calendars for our annual Ladies Brunch.  The men of Good Shepherd will be pleased to serve you brunch on Saturday, May 2 at 10:00 AM.  You are welcome to invite other ladies to join us for this event.

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD
          We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd. Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets. Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here. For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad. We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here. But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place. It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.
          Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events are canceled. If there is no email about it, it is not canceled. But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS

          For the most part, the pastor will be observing formal office hours (Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon). Occasionally, duties will take him away from the office during these scheduled times, so you will still want to call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

DO YOU LIKE US?

          Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
          We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==================

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Sunday School -- Sundays at 9:00 AM 

Adult Bible Class -- Sundays at 9:00 AM 

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.

Lenten Vespers -- Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.  (Supper served at 6:00 PM)

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG

www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com  

Sermon -- Lenten Vespers (March 18, 2026)

This sermon was preached at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Michigan.

IT IS FINISHED: The Kingly Priest.

ZECHARIAH 6:9-13

In the name + of Jesus.

      “The people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel.  Instead they said, ‘No, we want to have a king over us, so that we also can be like all the nations, and our king can judge us and lead us out to fight our battles.’  Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.  The LORD said to Samuel, ‘Listen to them, and appoint a king for them’” (1 Samuel 8:19-22). 

     In their request, the people themselves gave the job description for the king.  He was not just a law-giver and enforcer.  He was also the leader of the people in times of war.  The king did not merely send troops off to fight and die for him.  He himself would lead those troops into battle.  He would fight for the people he ruled.

     Israel’s first king, Saul, was a reluctant fighter.  When he was anointed to be Israel’s king, Samuel commissioned him with this promise: “The Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you with power, … and you will become a changed man.  When you have received these signs, do whatever is appropriate for the occasion, for God is with you” (1 Samuel 10:6-7).  “Doing what is appropriate for the occasion” meant going to fight to deliver God’s people.  God would be with him.  God would grant him the victory.  When Goliath rose up and demanded a challenger, however, Saul did not venture out.  In many ways, Saul proved to be unfaithful to the word of the Lord.

     Therefore, the Lord raised up a new king—a man after the Lord’s own heart.  David served as a faithful king.  As the Lord’s anointed, David did go out and lead the battle for God’s people.  The Lord also gave David an additional promise: “When your days are complete and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your seed, who will come from your own body.  I will establish his kingdom.  He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:12-13). 

     But this seemed to be a failed promise when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem.  The royal house of David was either killed or taken into captivity.  No longer did Isrel have a king.  Even when the people of Israel returned to rebuild the city and the temple, they did not install a new king.  Zerubabbel served as a governor, but not king. 

     Israel was not able to restore the kingship, but they did restore the priesthood.  They reconstructed the temple and rebuilt the altar.  The high priesthood was reestablished and the sacrifices resumed.  The high priest was anointed to represent the people before the Lord.  He made the sacrifices on their behalf.  He was vested in garments which bore the names of the tribes of Israel.  He was designated by God as the one person who could enter the Holy of Holies and stand in the presence of the Lord with blood to atone for all the people.  He stood before God on behalf of all the people.

     The high priest also stood before the people on behalf of God.  He wore the sacred vestments which was crafted as the Lord had directed.  He presided over the sacrifices as the Lord had directed.  After performing all his duties in the temple, he exited and proclaimed the Lord’s blessing upon the people.  The words were spoken by the high priest, but the benediction was from the Lord.  You might be familiar with that benediction: “Tell (Aaron and to his sons) to bless the Israelites with these words: The LORD bless you and keep you.  The LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.  The LORD look on you with favor and give you peace.  In this way they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them” (Numbers 6:23-27). 

     The king of Israel and the high priest of Israel each had their own distinct roles.  The king did not have the right to enter the Holy of Holies or to make the sacrifices.  The high priest was not given the authority to punish lawbreakers or to summon the armies of Israel.  Therefore, the word of the Lord through Zechariah is an astounding message.

     The word of the LORD came to me: “Take an offering from the exiles—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon—and on that very day go into the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.  Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and place it on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest” (Zechariah 6:9-11).  This was an unprecedented decree.  The Lord declared he would establish a priestly king in Israel.

     This could be good news or bad news.  It is like headlines that try to spark your interest in a story.  While the headlines may be true, you don’t know if the story is good news or bad.  Over the years, I have read reports about the water levels of the Great Lakes.  At one point, they were high.  Then they dropped and were low.  Back and forth it went.  So, the story may have reported the facts, but without knowing the impact of the rising or falling of lake levels, I didn’t know if I was supposed to be scared or relieved.  So, Zechariah declares that the high priest will be fitted with the king’s crown.  Is that good or bad?

     The role of a king includes establishing laws and then enforcing them.  The King of heaven and earth has established his laws.  The Psalms testify: “To eternity, O LORD, your word is fixed firmly in the heavens.  For generation after generation, your faithfulness remains.  You established the earth, and it stands.  As for your judgments, they stand to this day, because all things are your servants” (Psalm 119:89-91). 

     The word of the Lord is supreme.  The word which brought this world into existence still sustains it.  God’s word causes the sun to rise and set at precise times.  It causes the seasons to come and go.  It enforces gravity, enables the union of a man and a woman to produce offspring, and ensures that the rain and the sun will cause the plants to sprout, bloom, and produce food.  All these occur because the word of the Lord declares it to be so. 

     The seasons, the sun, and the laws of physics obey the King’s decrees, but we do not.  The King of Heaven and Earth has decreed that his creatures are to live godly lives.  We know what is good, but we fail to live up to it.  We know what is evil, but we fantasize and give into it.  Our problem is not ignorance.  Our problem is a heart that is rebellious and stubborn.  We may confess that we deserve God’s punishment both now and in eternity, but when we suffer, we change our confession and accuse God of injustice.  But God’s word is not altered by our protests.  He does not make concessions to rebels.  God takes his own word seriously.  The King will surely enforce his Law, and his judgments will be just.

     Zechariah declared that the office of King would be bestowed upon the high priest.  So, the crown should be placed upon the head of Joshua.  He became the kingly priest.  And do not overlook the name of this kingly priest.  He is Joshua, which means “the Lord saves.”  He foreshadowed a future kingly priest with the same name.  The letters would be the same, although the pronunciation would change a bit.  The kingly priest would be called Yeshua in Aramaic, although you are much more familiar with the Greek version of his name: Jesus.  This is the kingly priest whom Zechariah said was coming.  This is good news, indeed!

     “This is what the LORD of Armies says: There is a man whose name is the Branch, because he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD.  He is the one who will build the temple of the LORD.  He will be clothed with majesty, and he will sit and rule on his throne.  He will be a priest on his throne, and there will be peaceful relations between the two offices” (Zechariah 6:12-13). 

     This kingly priest represents the people before God.  He fulfills the role of the high priest.  The high priest made sacrifices to atone for sins.  He slaughtered the sacrificial victim.  God’s wrath was redirected to the sacrificial animal; it no longer rested upon the sinner who presented it.  This substitution allowed God to be merciful to the sinner.  For, judgment was carried out.  Blood was shed.  The life of the animal was sacrificed according to God’s command.  Our kingly priest put all our sins upon himself.  He stood before God the Father in place of us all.  All God’s wrath was transferred from us to him.  Jesus died willingly for us who had willingly defied the King’s Law.  The King’s Law was fully enforced in the death of Jesus.

     This kingly priest also represents God before us.  Having died in obedience and innocence, Jesus was raised from the dead.  And God the Father entrusted all authority to Jesus.  Our great high priest is now Sovereign.  His decrees stand firm.  Because he has made the atoning sacrifice which pays for our sins—in fact, he IS the atoning sacrifice which pays for our sins—his royal decree is mercy, pardon, and peace.  For, he did not nullify the demands of the Law; he fulfilled them.  And he did not erase the judgment the Law lays on the guilty; he suffered that judgment for us.  He did all this so that you can live under him in his kingdom and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness—just as he has risen from death and lives and rules eternally.  This is most certainly true; and this is most certainly good.

     This Joshua, this Yeshua, this Jesus is your kingly priest.  “He is the one who will build the temple of the LORD.  He will be clothed with majesty, and he will sit and rule on his throne.  He will be a priest on his throne, and there will be peaceful relations between the two offices” (Zechariah 6:13).  He is the kingly priest.  Jesus faithfully fulfills the duties of both offices.  He has established his Church by his sacrificial death.  He bestows the benefits of his death in the Holy Supper.  “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).  Your kingly priest lives.  His royal decree is mercy upon all who are gathered to him.  His reign extends to the ends of the earth and will endure into all eternity. 

     Zechariah foretold it.  The high priest Joshua foreshadowed it.  The Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled it.  And we will rejoice in it forevermore.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Lutheran Satire: St. Patrick's Bad Analogies

How could we come to St. Patrick's Day and not enjoy our favorite Lutheran Irish folk, Connall and Donnall?  St. Patrick teaches about the Trinity.

Divine Call received to St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lake City, Minnesota

On March 10, I received a Divine Call to serve as the pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church  of Lake City, Minnesota.  I will be deliberating where I can best serve the Lord in his Church -- whether continuing at Good Shepherd in Novi, Michigan or moving to St. John's in Lake City.  A decision will not be rendered until after Easter, but I welcome any insights or words of encouragement during this time of deliberation.  Prayers are always welcome.

Below is the letter of acknowledgement which was read this past Sunday.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

March 12, 2026

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
520 W. Chestnut Street
Lake City, Minnesota 55041-1515

Dear members of St. John’s,

            I am writing to you to acknowledge the Divine Call you have extended to me on March 10 to serve as your pastor, as well as the Divine Call you extended to my wife, Laura, to serve as the 4^th and 5^th grade teacher in your elementary school.  We are both humbled that you have extended these calls to us, and we will give prayerful deliberation to them. 

            I have received your email with the attachments and am gaining some information about the ministry at St. John’s.  I am looking forward to conversations with your leaders, as I will also be consulting with members of my current call at Good Shepherd in Novi, Michigan.  Feel free to contact me with any information you feel would help in this time of deliberation. 

My wife and I will be praying for you, for Good Shepherd, and for St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Livonia as we assess where we can serve the Lord best in his Church.  We thank you in advance for your prayers for us.

            God bless and keep you.

In Christ,
Pastor Thomas E. Schroeder

Worship Notes: Passiontide

            Sunday, March 22 is the 5^th Sunday in Lent.  This marks the beginning of Passiontide (the final two weeks of Lent), in which the Passion of our Lord intensifies.  Therefore, the Lenten fast also intensifies which we can observe in our worship setting.  The sights and sounds in God’s house are muted even more.  For the past number of weeks, our celebration has been muted in the following ways:

                              There are no Alleluias. 

                              We do not sing the Gloria in Excelsis after the Absolution.

                              There are no flowers on the altar.

            During Passiontide, you will note these additional practices.

                              The Gloria Patri (Glory be to the Father) is omitted from the Psalms

                              All artwork or icons have been removed or veiled.

                              The ringing of the church bell ceases.

                              All music is muted except for the support of congregational singing.

            Our services will practically be barren of celebration, but that is the point.  We are fasting.  We are penitent.  We are intently focusing on the sufferings and death of Jesus.  Ceremony and celebration will return with vigor on Easter Sunday when we rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord which declares that sins are forgiven and that death is destroyed.

Sermon -- 4th Sunday of Lent March 15, 2026)

CONDUCT YOURSELVES AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT.

EPHESIANS 5:8-14

In the name + of Jesus.

     St. Paul wrote many letters to the Christian churches he served.  For the most part, there was some controversy which inspired the occasion for his letters.  They remind us that no Christian congregation is perfect.  There is a perfect church, but you have to die to enter it.  On earth, the church is filled with sinners.  The Church faces pressure to change its teachings with each generation.  It is infiltrated by false teachers and false teachings.  It usually begins by some saying that there should be room for alternative views of God’s word.  They claim that the Church should do all it can to preserve unity and peace.  “By their love you will know them,” they say.  While we pray for unity and peace, that is not the chief goal of the Church.  The chief goal is to be faithful and to hold firmly to God’s word.  No false teaching is harmless, and we cannot make peace with it.  St. Paul wrote, “All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, emphasis added).  So, when St. Paul saw that a congregation needed correction, he wrote a letter.

     Even though these Christians needed correction, St. Paul did not treat them as enemies or suggest that they were outside of the Christian Church.  He greeted them as brothers and sisters in Christ.  He thanked God for them.  He prayed for them.  And he reminded them who they were.  He wrote to the Ephesians, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).  

     Just as our Lord had enlightened the Ephesian Christians, so he has also enlightened you.  Many of you have lived your entire life in the light of Christ.  Having been baptized as infants and having been taught the Christian faith, you have been light in the Lord for as long as you can remember.  If you were enlightened to know God’s word later in life, you are just as much a child of God as any other Christian.  There are not degrees of being saved.  There are not levels to the kingdom of God; there is just the kingdom of God.  You are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light.

     If you want to be particular about St. Paul’s exhortation, he tells the Ephesians Christians, “Continue to walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8, emphasis added).  They were already doing this.  St. Paul urged them to continue in the word they believed.  To “walk” as children of light means to conduct yourself and your whole life as children of light.  To put it succinctly, he says, “You are Christians.  Act like it!”  Conduct yourselves as children of light.

     Before we are told to act like Christians, we ought to remember what made us Christians to begin with.  St. Paul wrote, “You were once darkness” (Ephesians 5:8).  That refers to our natural sinful condition.  The sinful hearts is a dark place.  Even though the Holy Spirit has created in you a clean heart and a right spirit, it does not take much for that to be eclipsed by wickedness.  Just think of how easy it is for you to assume the worst of other people or to despise them when they infringe upon your time.

     Consider how Jesus’ disciples misread the situation with a blind beggar.  Jesus and his disciples were on their way into the temple when they saw the man who was born blind.  Being blind, he had been reduced to begging for alms.  He was a fixture at the temple gate, deposited there by friends.  He sat there, hoping that those who came to worship would be compassionate and generous to him.  Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind” (John 9:2)?  Since most people have sight, the disciples concluded that this must have been some special punishment that God had inflicted upon this man.  They had the idea that people who suffer are getting what they deserve. 

     We make similar judgments about other people because the sinful heart is a dark place.  This darkness is what produces not only wicked thoughts, but it also gives us our excuses for them.  Our compassion for the down-trodden is withheld because we believe they are getting what they deserve.  To be fair, that may be true.  If people blow their money on gambling, drinking, or needless Amazon purchases, they may be unable to pay their rent, their insurance, or their utilities.  We deem them unworthy of pity.  Granted, they created their own misery, but it is still misery. 

     Of course, we are responsible for much of our own misery.  People sabotage their own marriages by looking at computer generated images and fantasizing about other people.  People nurse grudges and withhold forgiveness, insisting that a rift in the family is justified and reconciliation is unreasonable.  Then there is the shame that you keep to yourself.  Even if you don’t suffer consequences for the sins of your past, you still endure the shame of them.  You crave mercy, but you fear the judgment of friends—perhaps even the abandonment by those friends if they ever found out.  If people get what they deserve, we know we deserve a damning judgment.

     The sinful heart is a dark place, but God sees and he knows.  And it will get worse.  St. Paul wrote, “Everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes things visible” (Ephesians 5:13).  Everything will be exposed.  Perhaps you can keep your secrets hidden and take them to the grave with you.  But in the end, everything will be revealed.  St. John was given a vision of Judgment Day.  He wrote, “Then I saw a great white throne and the one who sat on it.  The earth and the sky fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.  I also saw the dead, great and small, standing in front of the throne, and books were opened. …The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and the Grave gave up the dead that were in them, and they were judged, each one according to what he had done” (Revelation 20:11-13).  At this public reckoning, everyone will be fully exposed.  God’s light will shine on each, and each dark deed and secret thought will be made known.

     How terrifying it would be for people to learn about every secret you hide!  But you don’t have to answer to other people.  You may have sinned against them, and you are accountable for that.  But it is God to whom you must give an answer.  And there is no hiding anything from him.  The Bible reminds us, “Death and Destruction lie open before the LORD—how much more human hearts” (Proverbs 15:11)! 

     The sinful heart is a dark place.  It fails to have pity on those who are held captive to their sins.  It claims the right to hold in contempt those who have made a mess of their lives.  God be praised that he does not treat us that way!  The Lord did not abandon us to our foolish errors or filthy judgments.  He continues to shine his light upon us—not just to expose our guilt, but to show us the way out. 

     Of all the people who could have looked down on us in judgment, Jesus is the one.  He kept all of God’s Commandments and did not cave into any temptations.  He could have looked on us in derision and withheld his pity.  We were too lazy to fight.  We caved in under pressure.  We know it was wrong and did it anyway.  Jesus could have insisted that we should get the judgment we deserve.  Instead, he came and suffered the judgment we deserve. 

     But the light of God’s love is seen in Jesus Christ.  God’s grace radiates from him.  In order to deliver us from the damning judgment for our sins, the Lord took away our sins.  So that we would not be banished to the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, Jesus took up our sins.  He was banished by his Father as he died on a dark Friday when the sun’s light failed.  That is where the Lord took care of your sins and altered your judgment.  You have been cleared of all charges.

     The Lord applied all of this to you in your baptism.  He changed both your status and your heart when he made you children of light.  St. Paul noted that “the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth” (Ephesians 5:9).  God’s goodness has atoned for wickedness.  God’s righteousness covers over your sin.  God’s truth guides those who are saved to godly living.  In the end, God’s light will expose you for what you are—children of God purified in Jesus’ blood.  You will highlight God’s grace.  You will reflect the image and innocence of Jesus Christ.

     That is why the Lord urges you to conduct yourselves as children of light.  St. Paul urges you, “Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord, and do not participate in fruitless deeds of darkness.  Instead, expose them” (Ephesians 5:10-11).  Continue to walk as children of light.  Continue to hear and meditate on the word of the Lord.  This will guard you from error and guide you in truth and goodness.  Many voices will try to convince you to bless what God does not bless.  The appeal for the Church to get with the times or to allow for alternative views of God’s word will always go on.  Those appeals can be crafted to sound very sensible.  Only by adhering to the word of the Lord are those appeals exposed for the lies that they are.  Only by learning what is pleasing to the Lord will you continue to conduct yourselves as children of light.

     The world will always be a dark place, but the Psalms remind us, “Your words are a lamp for my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).  That is the light that keeps us secure and ensures that we are on the right path.  God gave his word to show us his love.  His love is surely made known in the promises, but it is also revealed in his commands.  God gave those commands to us to direct us away from sin.  Sins do not produce anything good.  The Commandments, however, direct us to lives that will be blessed.  Martin Luther reminds us: “He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments” (Luther’s Small Catechism: Conclusion to the Commandments).  If you conduct yourselves as children of light, you will spare yourself of many griefs. 

     Continue to walk as children of light.  Paul wrote, “Do not participate in fruitless deeds of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11).  He could have just as easily said, “Do not drink poison.  Do not play with fire.  Do not stick a fork in an electric outlet.”  You have been rescued from sin death, and destruction.  Do not return to them; for you are light in the Lord.  You are Christians.  Rejoice in it.  You are Christians.  Act like it.  Conduct yourselves as children of light. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Update from Good Shepherd (March 12, 2026)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE
Divine Service is Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School is Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Adult Bible Class is Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Lenten Vespers -- Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. (A supper is served at 6:00 PM.)
Bible Matters will resume on Wednesday, April 8 at 6:30 PM.

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

LENTEN VESPERS

          Our mid-week Lenten services ponder the sufferings and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The schedule is here for Lenten Vespers.
          Vespers will be at 7:00 PM. A Lenten dinner will be provided at 6:00 PM, allowing people to come from work and/or to not concern themselves with meal prep and clean up before the service.

LENTEN DINNERS
          We will offer dinners before each mid-week Lenten service at 6:00 PM.  The following people have agreed to provide food for these meals.  You are welcome to offer assistance for any of these meals.  To do so, consult with the people listed for the particular date you would like to help.

          March 18 -- Chris Gagnon & Ken Reisig

          March 25 -- Mary Mitchell w/ Ladies of Good Shepherd

HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS
          Martin Luther College is offering devotions throughout Holy Week. They will be available to you through daily emails. If you would like to receive them, you can register for them here. They are written under the theme: "Of First Importance: Christ's Death and Resurrection for Us." Feel free to share this link with anyone.

EVERY MEMBER VISITS

          Every four years or so, the pastor conducts visits at the homes of all the members.  It is intended to stay connected with everyone and to allow people to address any issues that may bother them or confuse them.  Every Member Visits will begin in February.  A sign-up sheet is posted at church (for March) to allow people to schedule their visit.  You can also sign up through the Sign-Up Genius link here.

EASTER FOR KIDS MEETING
          On Sunday, March 22, we will have our final meeting to prepare for our Easter for Kids event. We will need people to attend each of the five stations for our visitors, as well as others who can assist with crafts as needed and to interact with our guests. To find out how you can serve, join us this Sunday after church.

MICHIGAN LUTHERAN SEMINARY CHOIR AT GOOD SHEPHERD
          On Wednesday, March 25, Good Shepherd welcomes the choir from Michigan Lutheran Seminary (Saginaw) to perform a sacred concert. This 33-voice high school choir will sing hymns that reflect the Lenten and Easter seasons. Invite any others to join us for this concert. A free-will offering will be taken to help defray travel expenses for the MLS choir.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS

          Sometimes we have a hard time understanding parts of the Bible. Some of those words come from Jesus himself. We are considering the Hard Sayings of Jesus. The weekly schedule can be found here.  Adult Bible Class meets on Sundays at 9:00 AM. All from grade 7 on up are welcome to attend.  

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE

           Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the Divine Service from March 8, 2026: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, March 8, 2026

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (March)

>  The postcards to invite people to our Easter Festival Service on April 5 have arrived!  Be sure to take as many as you can to invite friends, family, and coworkers to our Easter services. 

>  We approved spending up to $25,000 to get the windows replaced above the altar and the organ pipes.  The windows will have a bronze hue on the outside.  The windows above the altar will have frosted glass on the inside; the windows above the organ pipes will be clear glass on the inside.  Installation will take place after Easter, particularly when the lawn is not too soggy. 

>  Ladies of Good Shepherd, mark your calendars for our annual Ladies Brunch.  The men of Good Shepherd will be pleased to serve you brunch on Saturday, May 2 at 10:00 AM.  You are welcome to invite other ladies to join us for this event.

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR SERVICES AT GOOD SHEPHERD
          We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd. Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets. Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here. For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad. We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here. But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place. It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.
          Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events are canceled. If there is no email about it, it is not canceled. But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS

          For the most part, the pastor will be observing formal office hours (Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon). Occasionally, duties will take him away from the office during these scheduled times, so you will still want to call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

DO YOU LIKE US?

          Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
          We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==================

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Sunday School -- Sundays at 9:00 AM 

Adult Bible Class -- Sundays at 9:00 AM 

DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM.

Lenten Vespers -- Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.  (Supper served at 6:00 PM)

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG

www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com  

Sermon -- Lenten Vespers (March 11, 2026)

This sermon was also preached at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MI on February 25 and at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belleville, MI on March 4.

WHAT IS HE WORTH TO YOU?

ZECHARIAH 11:7-13

In the name + of Jesus.

     History always has a way of repeating itself.  After the Israelites left Egypt, they did not obey the word of the Lord.  As a result, everyone who left Egypt at age 20 and older died in the wilderness.  They did not see the Promised Land.  After Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land, the people were faithful to the Lord until Joshua and his generation died.  Again, Israel did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, and the Lord handed them over to enemy nations who oppressed them.  In the era of the kings, unfaithful kings set the course for the people to be unfaithful.  The result was 70 years in captivity by an enemy nation.  Upon their return to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, the people quickly turned from the Lord to their own selfish ways.  It was to these people that the Lord sent the prophet Zechariah.  The faithful few were like sheep which had been abused and fleeced by faithless leaders.  Many others persisted in their faithless ways.  History had repeated itself. 

     The Lord still had concern for the afflicted ones.  Zechariah was called to serve them, but even the faithless few grew weary of God’s care.  Zechariah said, “I shepherded the flock which is to be slaughtered, especially the most afflicted of the flock.  I took two staffs for myself.  One I called Favor and the other Union.  Then I shepherded the flock.  I removed three shepherds in one month.  I grew very impatient with the flock, and they really detested me” (Zechariah 11:7-8).  Zechariah tended to them with a staff called Favor.  He removed faithless shepherds, too.  Nevertheless, he lost patience with them.  They despised the Lord’s care.  They detested the Lord’s prophet.  History repeated itself once again.

     This is the way of sinners.  History repeats itself.  We all have sins we are attracted to.  We aren’t usually innovative with our sins, trying out new and bold ways to offend our God.  We go back to the same sins, again and again.  We do them because we like them.  We may be repulsed by some sins because they are perverse or destructive.  But all sins are perverse and destructive.  Nevertheless, we go back to them.  The liar cannot help but tell biased and embellished stories.  The cheat always schemes how to take advantage of others.  If you are prone to jealousy, you continue to think evil of others and train yourself to despise them.  Eventually, you detest everything they say or do.  Whatever tempts you continues to pull you in.  You go back to your sins.  History repeats itself.  Repent.

     The Lord is slow to anger, but he does get there.  Zechariah declared that the Lord’s patience had been put to the test long enough.  Zechariah declared, “‘I will not shepherd you.  Whatever is dying, let it die.  Whatever is being destroyed, let it be destroyed.  And let those who remain devour one another’s flesh.’  I took my staff, Favor, and I broke it in two, to cancel my covenant that I had made with all the peoples.  So it was cancelled on that day, and the most miserable of the flock, who were watching me, knew that this was the word of the Lord” (Zechariah 11:9-11). 

     History repeats itself.  In this case, we should not be surprised.  Zechariah not only spoke of the past, he also foretold the future.  The Lord would raise up a shepherd for his people—a Good Shepherd who would tend the flock of God faithfully.  His staff is Favor; for he would proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.  He would have compassion on the poor and afflicted because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  But he would be despised by the very people he came to serve and to save.  Although he would be faithful to the covenant—for God’s promises cannot be broken—the covenant would be broken by those who despised and rejected God’s faithful servant.

     Once Zechariah renounced service to God’s flock, he asked for compensation.  “I said to them, ‘If it seems good to you, pay me my wages.  But if it does not, withhold them.’  So they weighed out thirty pieces of silver as my wages.  Then the LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter, this magnificent price at which they valued me.’  So I took the thirty pieces of silver, and I threw them into the House of the LORD, to the potter” (Zechariah 11:12-13).  The thirty silver pieces was the price of a slave.  Their compensation proved that the prophet had little value for them.  The Lord instructed Zechariah to forfeit this paltry salary.  This was fulfilled by our Lord Jesus Christ, who was betrayed by Judas Iscariot for thirty pieces of silver.

     Judas’ betrayal of Jesus is intriguing to me, because his motive is unclear to me.  When Mary anointed Jesus at the beginning of Holy Week, St. John reported, “One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray him, said, ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’  He did not say this because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief.  He held the money box and used to steal what was put into it” (John 12:4-5).  Perhaps Judas’ motive was as simple as making a quick buck.  But Jesus had wealthy women supporting him.  If Judas knew he could expect a steady stream of revenue from them, why would he betray Jesus for such a paltry sum?

     Perhaps Judas had taken Jesus’ words to heart about his upcoming death and reasoned that his opportunity to make money at Jesus’ expense was coming to a close.  Perhaps he had expected more from Jesus.  Most Jews expected the Messiah to establish a glorious kingdom in Jerusalem.  If Jesus established that kingdom, surely the apostles could expect positions of power and glory in it.  But if Jesus was going to die, Judas may have considered Jesus a failure of a Messiah.  If Jesus did not mean glory for Judas, Judas could at least get cash for him.  Whatever his motives, Judas certainly could have bargained for a greater payout from people who desperately wanted Jesus to be silenced and terminated.  Apparently, Jesus was not worth much to Judas or to the high priests.

     Another factor which intrigues me about Judas was his reaction once he saw that Jesus was condemned to death.  “When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he felt remorse.  He brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders and said, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’  But they said, ‘What is that to us?  That’s your problem’” (Matthew 27:3-4).  Did Judas not believe they would actually kill Jesus?  Did he assume that they would just rough him up or put him in prison for a little while?  I don’t know.  But once Judas discovered how cruel their plans were, he had deep regret for betraying Jesus.

     In an effort to alleviate his guilt, Judas tried to return the silver to the priests.  When they would not take it, he threw it into the temple, just as Zechariah foretold.  And what worthless priests!  A man came to them overwhelmed by guilt.  “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4), he confessed.  So, what is the job of the priests?  To make sacrifices to atone for sins.  To bestow God’s mercy on those who seek God’s forgiveness.  But just as they despised Jesus, so also they despised God’s forgiveness.  “Your sins are your problem,” they told Judas.  And being overwhelmed by guilt and sorrow, Judas went and hanged himself.  Such is the despair of one who is consumed by his sin.  The weight of sin and guilt is soul-crushing.  It robs you of self-worth and alerts you of divine wrath.  When there is no mercy, there is no hope.

     Neither Judas nor the priests thought Jesus was worth much.  What is he worth to you?  This is a question that cannot be answered until we answer a better question first: What are you worth to him? 

     Every human being has worth because he or she is a creation of God.  But our Lord has demonstrated that you have even greater worth than that.  Even though you and I have been corrupted by sin, the Lord does not regard us as worthless.  Rather, he invested heavily to redeem us.  Jesus preached about this in a parable.  He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again.  In his joy, he goes away and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44).  You are the treasure that Jesus found. 

     In order to purchase you for himself, Jesus gave up all that he had for you.  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).  He left the glories of heaven where he lived in majesty and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  He entered our world in weakness.  He subjected himself to all this world’s corruption and cruelty.  He who is the truth was subject to lies and slander.  He who healed the diseased and afflicted was beaten and bloodied.  He who is light and life gave himself into death while darkness covered the land.  He has redeemed you, not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent sufferings and death.  That was the price that he willingly paid to redeem you—an infinite cost borne of infinite love. 

     What are you worth to him?  You are worth the life of the Son of God.  He gave himself to wipe out every sin that stood against you—whether those sins are history repeating itself or were one-time offenses, whether you were dismissive of your guilt or were brought to despair, whether you were unaware of your guilt or someone replays it for you every day.  Do not measure your worth by what other people think of you.  Do not even measure your worth by what you think of yourself.  Jesus has shown you that you are worth his very life to ransom you from death and hell.  Jesus says you that you are worth receiving his body and blood to continually assure you of his mercy—the holy things for his holy ones.  Jesus has made you worthy of a place at the heavenly feast with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven.

     What is he worth to you?  Who could put a price on it?  Who could assess the value of the kingdom of God?  Even if it were possible to put a price on the Lord’s forgiveness, it doesn’t matter.  He delivers his grace and mercy for free.  You are the treasure that Jesus has purchased and won for himself.  Therefore, he is the priceless treasure that is ours forevermore.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.