YouTube -- Palm Sunday (April 13, 2025)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Sermon -- 6th Sunday in Lent / Palm Sunday (April 13, 2025)

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11

THE OBEDIENT SERVANT COMES TO DIE.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming Messiah more vividly than any other prophet.  He recorded five servant songs.  The first one was in our Old Testament lesson, beginning, “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight” (Isaiah 42:1).  While many Jews in Jesus’ day were looking for a Messiah-King, Isaiah alerts us that we should be looking first for a servant.

     The crowds who celebrated Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday had their focus on a king, on a problem-solver, and on glory.  They were not entirely wrong, but they were not right, either.  St. Luke tells us, “As he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God joyfully, with a loud voice, for all the miracles they had seen” (Luke 19:37).  I suppose you can’t blame the crowds for such praise.  Just ask the people whose sight was restored, whose limbs were made strong enough to walk, whose cleansing of leprosy allowed them to return to their families and communities, or whose bodies were freed from demon possession.  Or ask the families who got to see their loved ones restored to health.  How could they not praise Jesus for the miracles they had seen? 

     The praises continued with the crowds saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!  Peace in heaven and glory in the highest” (Luke 19:38)!  It was foretold that the Messiah would establish a kingdom that would enjoy unending glory and uninterrupted peace.  Who does not pray for such things to this day?  No matter who is protesting about what, all people want peace and glory even if they have different ideas about what that means.  The Messiah-King is supposed to usher in a kingdom of peace and glory that is eternal.  The crowds were not entirely wrong to expect that, but they were not right, either.  Although Jesus came to establish a kingdom, he comes first and foremost as a servant.

     St. Paul reflected on this when he wrote: “Though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed, but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:6-7).  Even though God the Son is King of the Universe, full of glory, power, and majesty, he emptied himself of those things.  That does not mean he lost them or was stripped of them.  God the Son never stopped being God the Son.  Rather, he emptied himself by taking on the nature of a servant.  That means that Jesus did not make regular use of his glory, power, and majesty.  We do get a glimpse of that in his miracles.  But even when Jesus made use of his glory and power, it was not to dazzle or amaze.  He is not an entertainer, but a servant.  He used his miraculous powers to serve people in need—the sick, the demon-possessed, the dying, and even for those who had already died.  Jesus is an obedient servant.

     Now, if Jesus is a servant, that means he has come to do the will of someone else.  A servant follows the orders of his master.  So, Jesus came in obedience to his heavenly Father.  That meant more than just keeping the Commandments.  “When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8).  Jesus came as an obedient servant, and the obedient servant came to die. 

     Other kings have demanded unquestioned obedience from their subjects.  I recall hearing a story about Alexander the Great (and this may be an urban legend) who was preparing to lay siege to a city.  The king of that city was not ready to just roll over and surrender.  But to demonstrate how committed his troops were to him, Alexander had them line up and ordered them to march.  Dutifully, the soldiers marched single-file, right off of a cliff.  There was no hesitation or resistance.  They followed Alexander’s orders until he gave the order to halt.  Once the king saw that Alexander’s soldiers would obey his orders even in facing certain death, he recognized that he could not resist Alexander’s army.  He surrendered immediately.

     The death of Jesus, however, is not just a show of allegiance.  Yes, Jesus went to the cross as his Father commanded.  He went without hesitation or resistance.  He proved himself an obedient servant.  Jesus served in obedience to his Father, but he served for the benefit of you.  Jesus did exactly what he was sent for, anointed for, and ordered to do: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).  Jesus willingly gave up his life to be the ransom price that delivers you from your sins, from death, and from the devil.  The obedient servant had come to die for you.

     You and I have not been the willing and obedient servants that God wants.  We bristle just hearing the word, “servant.”  Americans have been trained: We are not servants of anybody.  From cries of “Don’t tread on me” to “My body, my choice,” we have embraced the spirit that refuses to submit to others.  But here is the stark reality: You are a servant no matter what you think.  The question is: What do you serve?  Who is your master?

     St. Paul asks, “Do you not know that when you offer yourselves to obey someone as slaves, you are slaves of the one you are obeying—whether slaves of sin, resulting in death, or slaves of obedience, resulting in righteousness” (Romans 6:16)?  We all want to believe that we are free to do whatever we want.  And in some respects, it is true.  You are free to serve your ego which riles up your anger when others do not honor you with what you believe is proper respect.  You are free to serve your selfish motives which cause you to manipulate others so that you get your way.  You are free to serve your pride which causes you to be jealous of other people’s success because you want that praise for yourself.  But this is not freedom at all.  Do you know why?  Because you cannot turn off your sinful inclinations.  You continue to sin even when you don’t want to.  This means you are enslaved to sin.  You are a captive of the devil because you are doing what the devil desires.  Even if you would be foolish enough to boast that you are free from keeping God’s word, you are not free from his judgment.  Repent.

     The obedient servant has come for you.  He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to present himself as the sin offering for you.  The obedient servant came to die for you.  By taking up your sin, Jesus went to the cross to be forsaken by the Father and to suffer the cursed death.  This is where the Father dealt with the penalty for all your sins.  By sacrificing himself for you, Jesus has set you free from your sin, from its curse, and from its penalty.  Although it meant a death of shame, pain, torment, and damnation, Jesus went to the cross.  He went without hesitation and without resistance because it meant your salvation.  The obedient servant came to die for you.

     “Therefore” (Philippians 2:9).  This is the conclusion that Paul highlights.  Because Jesus willingly obeyed his heavenly Father, because Jesus died a sacrificial death to set sinners free from their sin, “therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).  The obedient servant was raised from the dead and lives.  More than being raised from the dead to live, Jesus is also exalted and reigns over all things.  Jesus, the man from Nazareth, possesses all glory, power, and majesty.  He is the Messiah-King, reigning over heaven and earth and everything that has been created, seen and unseen. 

     Even though Jesus possesses all authority, he is still a servant because he lives to serve you.  He lives to proclaim a full pardon from all your sins.  He lives to assure you that you will be delivered from death.  He lives to silence every accusation of the devil.  He lives to guide you, direct you, and protect you so that you will not be swept away by your sins again.  Jesus releases you from captivity of the devil and from slavery to sin.

     The obedient servant has made you obedient servants.  When you were baptized into the name of Jesus, you were united to Jesus in his death.  The sinful nature was put to death in you so that it no longer controls you.  God raised you up a new creation; sin is no longer your master.  Now you have a new master.  You are servants of righteousness.  That means you want to flee from all wickedness and to do what is good, right, and salutary.  Yes, you will struggle with sin as long as you are in this flesh.  But the Holy Spirit has worked in you a pure heart and a right spirit so that you are grieved by your sins.  You want to follow God’s word because you love your Savior and delight in his word.  The obedient servant has made you obedient servants.

     You recognize that God has a higher purpose for you than worshiping yourself, using people, or cursing strangers on the internet.  That is not how our Lord treats you.  He came as an obedient servant who died to save you, and you love him for it.  You recognize that his service and his attitude are noble, righteous, and beneficial.  Therefore, you concur with the words of St. Paul, “Indeed, let this attitude be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).  The obedient servant makes you obedient servants.  God the Son died for you so that you could live as obedient children of God now and forever, without hesitation or resistance.

     It is no wonder the crowds celebrated Jesus when he entered into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  They yearned for a king, for a problem-solver, and for glory.  They were not entirely right, but they were not entirely wrong, either.  For, Jesus has established an enduring kingdom.  He lives and reigns.  All people whether in heaven, in hell, or on earth will have to confess him Lord.  We rejoice to do that because our Lord was pleased to serve and to save us.  Every knee will bow before him.  We are honored to bend our knees before King Jesus, because we know that he will exalt us. 

     Our Messiah-King will come again.  Our hopes will be fulfilled.  Our praises will be vindicated.  Our glory will be unending.  Our peace will go on uninterrupted.  For the obedient servant is now the everlasting King.  Blessed is the King.  Peace on earth and glory in the highest!

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

Holy Week -- 2025

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

Palm Sunday
April 13 – 10:00 AM



Private Confession & Absolution
April 14 – 7:00-9:00 PM

Maundy Thursday
April 17 – 7:00 PM



Good Friday
April 18 – 7:00 PM

Easter Dawn

April 20 – 7:30 AM

Easter Breakfast (8:45 - 9:45 AM) 

The Festival of the
Resurrection of our Lord

April 20 – 10:00 AM

Sermon -- 6th Sunday in Lent / Palm Sunday (March 24, 2024)

MARK 11:1-10

HOSANNA TO THE KING!

In the name + of Jesus.

     With the Passover festival only days away, Jerusalem was already swelling with pilgrims.  People came from Judea and Galilee, and others traveled much farther distances.  People came from Egypt, from around the Mediterranean coast, and from nations east.  Historians have suggested that Jerusalem grew to a population of about a quarter million for the feast, although the estimates vary widely.  Suffice it to say: Jerusalem was surging with people.

     With all these people thronging into Jerusalem, the Romans would beef up security.  Pontius Pilate, who would usually stay in Caesarea on the coast of the Mediterranean because it was a much nicer place, made it a point to be in Jerusalem for Passover.  He was there to ensure that the crowds did not turn into mobs.  After all, Passover was a celebration of Israel being freed from slavery in Egypt.  God had granted deliverance through the prophet Moses.  If it were true that the Messiah had come, wouldn’t the Jews expect a similar deliverance from their enemies?  How much would it take for the Passover celebration to turn into a revolution?  The Romans were on hand to prevent any threats.

     But expectations were high.  Consider how Jesus was celebrated when he entered Jerusalem.  “Those who went before and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!  Hosanna in the highest’” (Mark 11:9-10)!  They were eager for a renewed kingdom.  They hailed Jesus as the king to bring it about.  St. Matthew noted, “When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up” (Matthew 21:10).  Both the size of the crowd and their sentiments had to get the attention of the Romans.  Oddly, the Gospel writers do not say anything about Roman soldiers called out to suppress Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.  The only people who commanded Jesus, “Rebuke your disciples” (Luke 19:39) were the Pharisees.  Although the Pharisees also longed for the Messiah King to come to Jerusalem, they denied the idea that Jesus was it.

     Jerusalem had seen its share of kings come and go.  For several centuries, different factions of Greek rulers took turns possessing Palestine.  Then the Romans came and seized control.  Once the rivals were wiped out, they enforced peace.  Eventually, Herod the Great became king in Jerusalem.  But Herod’s son proved to be incompetent, so Rome took over again which is why Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea.  All this makes us wonder: What was so great about Jerusalem that made so many different people want to be king there?

     Well, why does a king want to gain control of anything?  Money and power.  Major trade routes ran through Jerusalem and Palestine.  Routes from Africa to Asia and Europe had to go through Palestine.  Whoever controlled the land gained a lot in revenue.  The land was strategic and lucrative, and competing kings knew it.

     Certainly you can appreciate why kings vied for control.  After all, we all have a desire to be kings or queens of our own world.  We all want control.  We want everything done the way that we think they should be done.  The problem is that everyone else wants that, too.  When their will conflicts with our will, there are bitter words, rivalries, threats, law suits, and even violence.  We get angry over everything from politicians to coaching decisions to people playing music too loud to who took the last piece of dessert.  When we do not get our way, we let other people know it.

     This goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden.  When the devil tempted Adam and Eve to reject God’s word and to do what they wanted, he told them, “God knows that when you eat of (the forbidden fruit) your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5).  We all want to be kings, queens, and gods of our own world.  Even God falls under our scrutiny.  When God’s word does not agree with our will, we conclude that God has it wrong.  His word is too mean, too restrictive, or too outdated.  Every heart has one throne in it, and we often tell God that he is sitting in our chair. 

     This is why God often lets you realize that you have no control.  Your word and your will carry no weight.  This is what the Lord says: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).  No matter what you strive to do, the Lord can derail it in a moment.  Your life can be up-ended by a virus, a thunderstorm, a company choosing to go in a different direction, or an unwelcomed phone call.  This is when you are forced to give up the illusion that you are king or queen of your own little world.  Your reign is temporary.  Whatever power you think you have is limited.  Jesus’ reign is the only one that matters.  No one can cast him from his throne, ever.  Since Jesus reigns supreme and forever, all must answer to him.  “Therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.  Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling…  Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 2:10-12).

     Hosanna to the king!  Jesus was received as king when he entered Jerusalem, but Jesus is unlike any king this world knows.  All the other kings came to Jerusalem to take from the people.  They took freedom and wealth and even dignity.  When Jesus came to Jerusalem, he did not seek to take anything from the people, except their sins and the punishment that those sins deserve.  When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he was being presented as a sin offering.  Kings don’t go out and die for their people; kings sent out their people to die for them.  But Jesus comes to suffer and die for us. 

     In our sinfulness, we have pushed others around to try to control our world.  Jesus did the opposite.  Jesus offered himself to be pushed around by leaders who thought they could control their world by killing Jesus off.  His willingness to suffer for us atones for our unwillingness to be inconvenienced by other people.  In our sinfulness, we have refused to honor God’s word whenever he has told us to do things that we deemed unfair or unsavory.  Jesus did the opposite.  He willingly suffered a punishment that was unfair and died a death that was unsavory.  The innocent one was condemned for our guilt.  The man from heaven suffered hell for all people on earth.  All this so that we would not suffer the judgment our sins deserve.  “Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 2:12).

     Hosanna to the king!  “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David” (Mark 11:9-10)!  Jesus suffered and died to deliver us out of a kingdom of darkness and death.  But in order to establish a kingdom that endures, Jesus rose from the dead.  As we confess in our prayers every Sunday, Jesus lives and reigns.  He holds authority over death and the grave, sin and Satan, and over everything else in heaven and on earth.  Do not be deceived by the wickedness in the world, thinking that it proves there is no way Jesus reigns and controls all things.  The wickedness in this world comes from the sinners in it, not from Jesus.  How do we get what we want in this world in order to establish our own little kingdoms in it?  We have to dominate, destroy, defame, or denigrate other people.  We try to establish our little kingdoms by sinning against others.  Not so Jesus Christ!

     Hosanna to the king!  The kingdom of Jesus is ruled by grace and mercy.  First, he sets people free from the tyranny of death, from the oppression of guilt, and from the taunting of the devil.  You do not need to live your life with fear or shame.  Jesus has defeated your enemies for you.  Sin and death and the devil cannot harm you.  Your king, Jesus, has conquered and crushed them.  And so, you are free.  But secondly, Jesus also bestows upon you amazing gifts.  He blesses you with divine favor.  As you go through life, you never have to wonder what God thinks of you.  Jesus tells you that you are beloved by the Father in heaven.  He regards you as his very own children.  He may discipline you with various hardships, but he will never disown you.  He may withdraw some blessings from you to show you that you do not need them, but he will never withdraw his love or his promises.  He may remind you that you are still not in control with circumstances that are overwhelming and stressful, but Jesus never loses control.  He even uses the evils we endure for his own purposes and for our ultimate good.

     Hosanna to the king.  Jesus lives and reigns for you.  His love is boundless, and his faithfulness is firm.  If Jesus loves you this much that he would rescue you from your sins, then everything he decrees to you is for your good.  His word is true, and his ways are always right.  Jesus never gives us instructions just to play with us or mess with our lives.  If we struggle to see how God’s word is good, it is because we are still vying with Jesus over who is right and who will rule in our hearts.  The sinful part of us is never willing to surrender.  We must drive it out.  And we must learn to trust that the Lord who owed nothing to us but suffered everything for us, who died to win us for himself, and who lives to deliver all his gifts to us—we must learn to trust that his word and his ways are always good.  They may not be popular.  They may seem unfair and even unsavory, but they are always good.  His word is good because God is good.

     When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crowds “who went before and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!  Hosanna in the highest’” (Mark 11:9-10)!  Whether or not they understood all that Jesus had come to do, I don’t know.  In either case, they were right.  “Hosanna to the king!” was their cry.  “Hosanna” means, “Lord, save us.”  Well, that is who he is, and that is what he does.  He is not a king who comes to increase his own good, but to secure ours.

     We join in with their prayer.  We unite with their praises.  Lord, save us.  Hosanna to the king who lives and reigns over all things.  And since he lives and reigns for our good, we will live and reign with him forever.

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

YouTube -- 6th Sunday in Lent: Palm Sunday (April 2, 2023)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunay, April 2, 2023.  You may want to jump ahead to the 2:00 mark for the beginning of the service.

Sermon -- 6th Sunday in Lent: Palm Sunday (April 2, 2023)

MATTHEW 21:1-11

BEHOLD!  YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU.

In the name + of Jesus.

      More than four centuries before Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the prophet Zechariah foretold it.  “Behold, your king is coming to you” (Zechariah 9:9)!  Now, this could be good news or bad news.  A town might be excited when the king comes to visit, or a town might be terrified when a king comes to visit.  It depends upon both the nature of the visit and the nature of the king. 

     At the time Jesus was born, Jerusalem had a great king.  At least, that was in his title: Herod the Great.  If you consider what he accomplished during his reign, that title was deserved.  Herod’s greatest accomplishments were his many construction projects.  The crown jewel of his construction work was the repair and enhancement of the temple.  The temple was an engineering marvel.  The apostles certainly were impressed with it.  They said to Jesus, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings” (Mark 13:1)!  As they sat on the Mount of Olives and looked across the valley to the temple mount, they gazed at the gorgeous building, gleaming in the sun light. 

     But Herod the Great was a wicked man.  He gained his position through political intrigue, bribery, smooth talk, and killing off many competitors.  Once he was granted the title of King by the Roman government, Herod ferociously maintained his authority.  If Herod feared that anyone was disloyal to him or posed a threat to his throne, he was quick to imprison or execute that person.  Among his victims were advisors, confidants, several of his sons, and even his favorite wife.  Now, if you got word that Herod the Great was coming to your town, would you be excited or terrified?  Again, it depends upon the nature of the visit and the nature of the king.  But the nature of Herod the Great would fill anyone with terror.

     Behold!  Your king is coming to you.  Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  And Zechariah removed any suspense regarding the nature of the visit and the nature of the king.  Four centuries in advance, he wrote, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9). 

     Behold!  Your king comes to you.  His royalty is confessed by the people who laid down their coats and palms on the path as he entered Jerusalem.  In the ancient world, the king would not touch the ground.  Touching the dust of the earth was beneath him.  So, the people saw to it that not even the donkey Jesus rode on would touch the ground. 

     Behold!  Your king comes to you.  He comes without an army.  Rather, he comes with disciples.  He comes without a war cry.  Rather, he comes to the sound of children singing his praises.  He comes without brandishing any weapons or issuing a threat.  The way he comes shows you both the nature of the visit and the nature of this king.  While Herod the Great would reign by conniving and killing, Jesus comes in humility. 

     Behold!  Your king is coming to you.  He comes to you in mercy.  It is important to recognize and to remember that.  There is always a danger in thinking that we have God’s favor upon us because we deserve it or because we have behaved better than others.  If that were the case, we would want Jesus to come with payment, not mercy.  But mercy is not a payment or a reward.  It is never deserved.  Rather, it is given to the undeserving.

     When Herod the Great learned that his own sons were plotting against him, Herod did not show any mercy to them.  He had caught them red-handed in conspiracy.  His sons could not plead, “We deserve better than this!”  They were guilty of treason, and there was no denying it.  They could beg for mercy, but they could not demand it.  Not even their royal lineage was enough to spare them.  Herod showed no mercy for those who crossed him.  That was the nature of King Herod.

     Behold!  Your king is coming to you.  He comes in mercy.  He answers the prayers of his people, “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9).  Hosanna means, “Lord, save us.”  It is the cry of those who need mercy.  We plead for it the Lord’s mercy because we have rebelled against the king of heaven and earth.  There are people who can fault us for sins we have committed against them, but every sin is rebellion against God.  If I sin against my wife, I also sin against God who gave her to me.  If I am impatient with other people, I sin against God who gave me my neighbor to love.  Therefore, we confess with Psalm 51: “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment” (Psalm 51:4).  This is what we deserve because we have been caught red-handed in rebellion against God, in criticism of him, and in neglect of keeping ourselves pure.  If we are condemned for our sins, we bear the blame for it.  God is blameless in that judgment.  If the nature of the king is that he is righteous, as Zechariah says, then it is also his nature that he must punish the guilty.

     Behold!  Your king is coming to you.  Behold!  He is righteous and having salvation!  Jesus maintains his righteousness and holds forth mercy at the same time.  This is the nature of his visit.  While some kings come to slaughter those who have crossed them, Jesus goes to the cross to be slain for sinners.  When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he knew what he was about to endure.  He was going there to take on the guilt of all sin and bear the curse for all sinners.  Jesus becomes the guilty one on behalf of all of us.  Now, if all guilt rests upon Jesus, then Jesus suffered what the guilty deserve.  Jesus died with our guilt, therefore he upheld righteousness.  But you and I receive mercy.  For, we truly do deserve the damning death.  But our king, in his mercy, pardons our offenses and lets us go free.  This is our salvation.

     Behold!  Your king comes to you in answer to your prayers.  “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9).  Hosanna!  “Lord, save us!”  And he has.  And he who died to save you now lives because he has risen from the grave.  Jesus has established a kingdom which will endure forever because Jesus lives and reigns forever.  There is no higher power.  There is no greater authority.  There is no other refuge.

     Your king lives and reigns for you.  The whole world can conspire against him, deny him, refuse to honor him, and try to establish their own power over him.  In fact, much of the world seeks to overthrow God’s truth and tries to enforce its own beliefs upon us.  Cancel culture has been put in place to silence anyone who even questions the world’s new truths.  We have good reasons to pray so that we would remain faithful to our Lord and so that we will be willing to confess God’s word as we have opportunity.  We have good reason to attend church and Bible classes for strengthening our faith and for mutual encouragement. 

     But we do not need to fear.  This is what the Lord says: “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”  He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.  Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill” (Psalm 2:1-6).  Jesus lives and reigns.  Both his kingdom and his word endure forever.  Herod the Great attempted to destroy the Christ and failed.  Many have attacked Christ’s Church to snuff it out, yet the Church endures.  No king, no matter how wicked, will destroy the kingdom of God.  And no king, no matter how violent, can rip you out of it.  Even if they end your life in this world, they cannot rob you of eternal life with Jesus. 

     Behold!  Your king is coming to you, and he still comes to you in the sacrament.  We join the Palm Sunday crowd and sing, “Hosanna in the highest!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”  The Lord Jesus comes to us veiled in the bread and the wine.  We rejoice because we recognize the nature of our king.  He comes in the name of the Lord—righteous, merciful, and having salvation.  We rejoice because we know the nature of the visit.  This is for you, for the forgiveness of sins.  He delivers to us the body and blood which have overcome death and supply eternal life.  He feeds us and strengthens us so that we are able to stand faithfully against the enemies of Christ and his Church.  If Jesus Christ is our refuge, we will be suffer no real harm.

     Behold!  Your king is coming to you.  Jesus still rules by mercy.  He guides us on paths of righteousness so that we honor him with our lives.  And even though we do not do this perfectly, we do not need to fear his righteous judgment.  For, “the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).  Your king is kind and compassionate.  He is patient with you and speaks tenderly to you.  For, Jesus paid a great price to win you as his own.  He sustains you through your struggles.  He is faithful to you and will not forsake you.  He is eager to keep you as his own.

     Behold!  Your king is coming to you.  He will come again to judge the living and the dead.  And just as the people of Jerusalem received Jesus eagerly and with great joy, we will be even more eager to see Jesus return.  For, we know the nature of our king: he is our merciful Savior.  And we know the nature of his visit: he will bring us into everlasting glory.  Jesus has already told us what he will say to us at the final judgment: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). 

     Therefore, our songs of praise continue: “Hosanna in the highest!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”  For, Jesus comes to save us.  He comes for our good.

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

Holy Week 2023

Holy Week schedule for 2023

Sunday, April 2 -- Palm Sunday (10:00 AM)

Tuesday, April 4 -- Private Confession & Absolution (6:30 - 8:30 PM)

Thursday, April 6 -- TRIDUUM: Maundy Thursday (7:00 PM)

Friday, April 7 -- TRIDUUM: Good Friday (7:00 PM)

Sunday, April 9 -- TRIDUUM: Easter Dawn (7:30 AM)

Sunday, April 9 -- Easter Breakfast (8:45 - 9:45 AM)

Sunday, April 9 -- Easter Festival Divine Service (10:00 AM)

YouTube -- 6th Sunday in Lent / Palm Sunday (April 10, 2022)

Here is the service from Sunday, April 10, 2022.

Sermon -- 6th Sunday in Lent / Palm Sunday (April 10, 2022)

LUKE 19:28-40

JESUS IS THE RIGHT KING FOR YOUR SALVATION.

In the name + of Jesus.

     When Jesus healed people of various diseases and disabilities, he regularly told them not to tell anyone about it.  I suppose we should not be surprised that they talked about it anyway.  The blessings we have with medicine and surgery were unthinkable in Jesus’ day.  So, they had a disease or disability, there was no hope of getting better.  Jesus’ miracles were both beneficial and bewildering. 

     We often wonder why Jesus would have discouraged spreading the news about the miraculous healings.  Jesus’ own brothers were convinced not only that Jesus’ miracles should get more press, but that he should take his miraculous signs to Jerusalem to gain a larger audience.  They advised him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing.  For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly.  If you do these things, show yourself to the world” (John 7:3-4).  If Jesus’ goal was only popularity, this advice is perfect.  But Jesus did not want to be known for his miracles.  He wanted to be known for his teaching.  And he did not want his reputation to be miracle worker, but Savior.

     The crowds on Palm Sunday show us exactly why Jesus commanded people to be silent about his miraculous healings.  Jesus was hailed by the crowds as a king.  “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 20:38) the people cried out as they walked in front of him and behind him.  Why did they hail Jesus so gladly?  St. Luke records the reason for their jubilant praise: “The whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen” (Luke 20:37).  The wanted a king who would work miracles.  Jesus was received as a king for the wrong reasons.  But Jesus is the right king for your salvation.

     Throughout his life, Jesus did not act like a king.  He did gather followers, but it was for teaching, not martial training.  Jesus did criticize the Pharisees and priests for their pride and hypocrisy, but he made no effort to remove them from their offices.  And while he could have picked apart Herod, Pontius Pilate, and Caesar Augustus for all their faults, Jesus never posed a threat to any of them.  Jesus is a king, but Jesus’ goals were never political.  Jesus is not a good king for worldly powers and empires, but Jesus is the right king for your salvation.

     We can’t fault the crowds completely for their misguided praise.  What did they praise Jesus for?  For doing what Isaiah had foretold: “‘Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God.  He will come and save you.’  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy” (Isaiah 35:4-6).  Who could not rejoice that Jesus brought healing and relief to so many people?  Every miraculous healing was cause for joy, and we would rejoice the same. 

     That is the kind of king they wanted.  Sad to say, we also want the same.  If you don’t think so, consider what you daydream about and even what you pray about.  When you daydream, what do you wish for?  Isn’t it that you are pampered with fortune and fame?  You are the hero in all of your daydreams and receive all the glories a hero deserves.  And when you pray, what do you ask for?  You want God to fix the sickness, the broken heart, or the broken home—either your own or for a loved one.  This, of course, is not wicked.  You are free to pray for anything because you have a good and merciful Father in heaven who delights in your prayers and will always give you what is best.  But what we think is best is usually what makes our life easy.  Like the crowds in Jesus’ day, we want food and health to be supplied, and tears and pain to be removed.  If that is all you want Jesus for, you are not receiving him as a Savior, but a miracle worker.

     But Jesus may not cure all your ills.  Your greatest good in this world is not a sound mind, a sound body, and a fat wallet.  In fact, Jesus tells you through the Apostle John: “Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 3:15-17).  Jesus teaches you to detach yourself from a world that is corrupted by sin and doomed to destruction.  He teaches you to take up your cross.  Rather than doing what brings comfort and ease in this world, Jesus tells us to set our minds to doing what is right in God’s sight.  Rather than build our own kingdom in this world, we long for the kingdom of God which comforts, saves, and endures forever.  Jesus is not the right king for worldly gain, but he is the right king for your salvation.

     Throughout his life, lived and acted like any Jewish peasant.  Jesus walked everywhere he went.  But Palm Sunday was the one time Jesus acted like a king.  He mounted a donkey to ride in Jerusalem.  As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the crowds laid down in his path their garments.  They also cut palm branches to lay down.  Kings, you see, were not supposed to touch the ground.  They were regarded as too high and mighty to be soiled by the dirt.  The crowds saw to it that not even Jesus’ mount would touch the ground.  Jesus accepted such praise from the crowds who surrounded him.  Even if they received Jesus for the wrong reasons, they hailed him correctly, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord” (Luke 20:38)!  

     He comes in the name of the Lord.  That is, he comes to do the Lord’s work.  The Lord sent Jesus to do the work to save sinners.  Jesus rode into Jerusalem to do exactly that.  He knew what he was going to suffer there, but he dutifully went in order to establish his kingdom.  Jesus’ kingdom delivers what the crowds sang about, repeating the song of the angels at Christmas: “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest” (Luke 20:38)!  

     The peace is from heaven to you.  If God declares his peace to you, then there is no hostility from God toward you.  That means that God has no reason to be angry with you.  For that to be true, you must be pure and without sin.  So, Jesus comes to take your sins away from you.  Jesus does that by taking your sins upon himself.  He bore God’s wrath instead of you.  He was curse, forsaken, and condemned so that you would not be.  Jesus also reveals the glory of God, which is that he loves sinners and saves them.  Jesus is the right king for your salvation.

     When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the Passover was still several days away.  But the crowds were already in town to prepare.  The Sunday before Passover was the day on which the people selected their lambs for the slaughter.  Jesus entered Jerusalem as the Father’s Passover Lamb.  He was anointed for this very purpose—to be slain in order to deliver all people.  The blood of those first Passover lambs was put on the doorposts of the people so that death would pass over them.  It is the blood of Jesus which was shed for you.  In your baptism, you were marked with the blood of the Lamb so that death will pass over you.  At the Lord’s Supper, you partake in the blood the Lamb which cleanses you from sin.  It delivers you from the devil.  It marks you as the redeemed children of God.  And it brings you into a kingdom that is ruled by peace, mercy, and grace.  If this is what you desire, then Jesus is the right king for you and for your salvation.

     Jesus may not grant the salvation of your momentary problems and pains.  His focus is always for your eternal good.  The hope of those eternal joys will strengthen and sustain you through your momentary trials.  If you should suffer, the sufferings of Jesus assure you that God loves you.  If your mind is consumed with worry, you know that Jesus’ mind was focused on fulfilling God’s will to make all things work for your eternal good.  If your body is weak or sore or failing, Jesus bore in his body the wounds which will provide everlasting healing at the resurrection.  If you are feeling alone or abandoned, you know that God does not forsake his redeemed people.  Life in this world will not be perfect, but your perfect Savior has guaranteed your place in his perfect, heavenly kingdom.  Jesus is the right king for your comfort now and your salvation eternally.

     Even though Jesus triumphant entrance into Jerusalem was celebrated by many who were there, some were disgusted by the praise Jesus was receiving.  “Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples’” (Luke 19:39).  In other words, “Jesus, tell them to shut up!”  But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out” (Luke 19:40). 

     The reason the stones would cry out is because it is not just people which have been affected by sin.  All of creation has fallen under the curse of sin.  That’s why we have tornado season, allergy season, and cold and flu season.  St. Paul reminds us, “the creation was subjected to futility … in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption” (Romans 8:20-21).  This is also why the Psalmists also call upon creation to praise the Lord: “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it!  Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth” (Psalm 96:11-13).  The creation rejoices that its Savior comes, too.  So, even if the people will not sing the praise of the one who comes in the name of the Lord, the stones and the trees and the fields will.  Jesus is the right king for the salvation of all things.

     Jesus is the right king for your salvation.  Even if he does not make everything right for you in this moment, he will make everything right for eternity.  He has delivered you from the realms of sin, death, and the devil.  He will bring you into a kingdom of uninterrupted peace and everlasting glory.  Rejoice, O daughter of Zion.  Rejoice, O disciples of Jesus.  Rejoice, you too, O earth and seas and rocks and trees.  Your king comes to you to bear the curse that has affected you, to deliver you from the wrath that would have destroyed you, to mark you with innocent blood so that judgment passes over you, and to bestow unlimited grace upon you.  Jesus is the right king for your salvation.  And his kingdom endures forever.

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

Sermon -- 6th Sunday in Lent / Palm Sunday (March 28, 2021)

ZECHARIAH 9:9-10

SEE HOW YOUR KING COMES!

In the name + of Jesus.

     When Zechariah preached, Israel had no king.  They had returned from exile in Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, but not to be a sovereign nation.  From their return to exile and into the future, Israel would always be subject to some ruling power.  First, under the Persians.  Then, under the Greeks.  Later, under the Romans.  Even though Herod the Great was granted the title king, he was no Israelite.  The throne of David was cut off, and there was no one who had come along to reestablish it.

     Zechariah’s prophecy was cause for rejoicing.  “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you…” (Zechariah 9:9).  Then again, was this good news?  Jerusalem had seen kings come to them before.  Israel had been under the dominion of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.  But eventually they grew tired of paying tribute to him, so they rebelled.  Nebuchadnezzar would not tolerate rebellion.  Previously, he had taken the royals and the rich into exile.  But this time, his anger would not be quenched.  The king came to Jerusalem, burned the temple on Mt. Zion to the ground, and left Jerusalem a pile of ruins.  To hear that a king is coming might not produce shouts of joy.  It might be screams of terror.  See how your king comes.  Would he be any better?

     I remember seeing a bumper sticker that said, “Jesus is coming, and is he ever ticked off.”  After a good chuckle, I thought about it a little more.  Is there any reason Jesus shouldn’t be angry about what he sees in this world?  Aren’t you?  The news daily reports violence, hostility, bitterness, slander, dissension, and outrage.  Courts deal with people who lie, cheat, steal, abuse, and kill.  Truth and morality are constantly reshaped.  It is not hard to understand why Jesus would be angry when he looks at the world.  We roll our eyes at people who have made a mess of their lives, but we have our own mess to contend with.  We hold grudges toward loved ones.  We harbor bitterness toward neighbors.  We reshape the truth to benefit our agendas.  We take up sides among the factions in our country and we embrace animosity toward the other side, as if rage were a virtue.  God commands much better of us—loving our neighbor without terms of conditions and loving God and his word even more than that.  God commands better, but he does not get it.  We, too, are rebels.  If Jesus is ticked off, we have given him reasons for it.  And kings don’t tolerate rebels.

     See how your king comes to you.  Zechariah declared, “Your king is coming to you” (Zechariah 9:9).  This king is one of us.  A foreign king would have no pity.  Nebuchadnezzar did not come to Jerusalem to win friends.  He destroyed Jerusalem, Mt. Zion, and the people there.  But your king gives you reason to rejoice and shout; for, he does not come to destroy.  See how your king comes: “having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).  When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he did not come to Mt. Zion trying to impress anybody.  If he had been trying to do that, he made some strange choices about how he entered—not on a war horse or in a chariot, but on the colt of a donkey.  Jesus has come meek and humble to rebels.

     Perhaps that is why those who think they can rebel against him do.  Sinners who delight in their sins still pursue their sins without shame or apology.  They challenge the authority of God’s king.  Since he comes in meekness, they think he is harmless.  Therefore, they boast about their rebellion.  They expect that you will support them in their rebellion.  Do not be deceived by this king’s humble appearance.  When your king comes again on the Last Day, his authority and power will be undeniable and inescapable.  He will be neither unwilling nor unable to crush those who persist in stubborn rebellion or unbelief.  When judgment comes against those who remain stubborn in their rebellion, it will be deserved.

     See how your king comes!  Although Jesus came meekly and humbly, Jesus could be harsh.  He was particularly harsh toward the religious leaders.  It was not because Jesus was about sticking it to authority.  He told his followers to honor them.  But those who held authority did not have mercy on others.  They continued to pound on their laws and traditions, chastising and condemning people because they were not doing better.  The priests and Pharisees did not rejoice that King-Messiah had come.  Rather, they mocked him, smeared him, and attacked him.  And they threatened to excommunicate any who would confess Jesus as the Christ.  They robbed people of salvation, mercy, and comfort.  To these, Jesus was harsh.  To the merciless, Jesus did not show mercy.

     You, however, know your guilt, and you are grieved over it.  You have wanted to be better than you are, and you are disappointed in yourself that you have fallen so easily and so often.  It has even become predictable.  What sins ensnare you?  The same ones that always have.  Since you and I are repeat offenders, we might wonder if we are truly repentant.  And if you are wondering if we are truly repentant, you may even wonder if you are truly a Christian.  When you feel your guilt, you know Jesus has good reason to be ticked off, and you wonder how harsh his judgment will be.

     But see how your King comes to broken sinners.  To Zacchaeus the tax collector, to Mary Magdalene the demon possessed, to the woman caught in the act of adultery—to these, Jesus was meek full of mercy.  He did not dismiss their sins, but neither did he rub their sins in their face.  They were already miserable and guilt-ridden.  They knew they had failed.  So, instead of highlighting their guilt, Jesus showed them that he came to take guilt away.  And rather than letting you wonder if you have been good enough to truly be called a Christian, Jesus treats you with meekness.  He is not angry, but merciful. 

     See how your king comes to you!  Zechariah prophesied the king’s decree, “I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations” (Zechariah 9:10).  He declares that the hostilities are over.  God is not a vengeful tyrant; he is a loving Father.  Jesus was not sent to wage war, so the horses, chariots, bows, and arrows are cut off, cut apart, and cut loose.  Instead of telling you over and over again how you have failed to live up to his word, he delivers this word: Peace to his people and to all the nations.

     See how your king comes!  Jesus came into Jerusalem not against the rebels, but for the rebels—having salvation, and prepared to secure peace.  So, Jesus came to establish terms of peace from the Father in heaven.  But since rebellions must be crushed, Jesus was crushed for you.  Jesus entered Jerusalem to present himself as the sacrifice willing to be slain in order to set the rebels free.  Whereas Nebuchadnezzar shed the blood of others and obliterated the temple on Mt. Zion, Jesus shed his own blood and obliterated the need for any more sacrifices on Mt. Zion or anywhere else. 

     On the day Zechariah’s King entered Jerusalem, the people were designating their Passover lambs.  Each family set apart a lamb for slaughter and marked it for the feast at which they celebrated God’s great deliverance.  As Jesus entered Jerusalem, he was designating himself as the true Passover Lamb.  Jesus was set apart for slaughter so that by his blood, all people would be delivered from death.  His holy, precious blood is the payment for your sins.  His innocent sufferings and death atone for all of your guilt.  Jesus knew what he was doing when he entered Jerusalem.  See how your king comes—not as a hostage being dragged into Jerusalem, kicking and screaming, but righteous and having salvation, willingly going forth to be slain.  This King suffered for the rebels.  This King laid down his life so that the rebels can go free.

     See how your king comes to you.  He is righteous, doing all the Father has given him to do to forgive sinners.  He is having salvation, for he saves you from the wrath of God, from the curse of hell, and from bitter judgment.  He does not judge you based on how good of a Christian you have been.  “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,  O Lord, who could stand?  But with you there is forgiveness,  that you may be feared” (Psalm 130:3-4).  Our fear is not terror, but awe.  We stand in awe that this King would endure all torment and death for us.  We marvel that God’s love would drive him to save rebels.  And we are amazed that he does not judge us by how well we respond to his goodness, but that he judges us according to his own goodness which covers us and declares us righteous.  He is not ticked off that you sin or bear a grudge over your weaknesses.  This King remains merciful, is ever-compassionate, and grants clemency.  For he is righteous and having salvation, and he bestows these gifts upon you.

     See how your king comes to you!  His kingdom is ruled by grace and mercy.  He continues to proclaim royal pardon for you.  Your king still comes to you, and he still comes in meekness and humility.  “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you” (Zechariah 9:9).  “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest,” God’s people sing as he comes in the flesh—under the bread—and with his holy, precious blood—under the wine.  Behold, the Lamb of God which has been marked for you to feast upon.  We don’t merely remember his deliverance, by we partake of it and receive its benefits.  Here, Jesus delivers his righteousness and salvation to you.  Here the forgiveness he won for you is given to you personally. 

     Even if you are disappointed in yourself as a Christian because you have not lived up to what you know you should be—and who of us could claim otherwise?—your King is not ticked off at you.  He bears no grudge.  His message is not that you should have done better; his message is that he has done all things to save you.  God’s wrath has been appeased.  The weapons of war have been destroyed.  He assures you of peace with God.  The King’s word is firm.

     “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you” (Zechariah 9:9).  And he comes for your good.

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

YouTube -- 6th Sunday of Lent: Palm Sunday

Here is the Palm Sunday sermon from Good Shepherd, Novi.

The bulletin can be found here: http://goodshepherdnovi.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/WORBulletinPalm_Sunday_4520_FB.9493124.pdf

Sermon -- 6th Sunday in Lent: Palm Sunday (April 5, 2020)

MATTHEW 21:1-11

BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES TO SAVE!

In the name + of Jesus.

      When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he was greeted as both a prophet and a king.  The crowds confessed with their words: “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21:11)  The crowds testified by their actions: “Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.” (Matthew 21:8)  For not even the king's mount should touch the ground.  The best and greatest statement they made, however, was the refrain which was commonly heard at the Passover: “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9)  
     The crowds were spot-on with their song of praise.  “Hosanna to the Son of David!”  While it was true of his genealogy, it was uniquely true of his Messianic office.  He is the Son of David and he is the King of Israel.  “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”  He was sent by his Father for the benefit of his people.  He is the Lord, and he comes to do the work of the Lord.  Hosanna!  “Lord, save us now!”  If they call upon him to save, then he is also a Savior.  All of these things were true, and true only of Jesus.
     Blessed he is who comes to save!  It was the cry of many people who were in Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday.  It is still the cry of many people today.  “Blessed is he who comes to save!”  But the question is this: saved from what?
     What do you want to be saved from?  COVID-19 rises to the top of the list these days.  We want ourselves and our loved ones spared from this highly contagious virus, especially since it endangers lives.  The medical staff who are dealing with this every day describe what a horrible death is brings.  And the COVID-19 virus is having residual effects on our lives as well.  Feelings of isolation and loneliness have been increased exponentially.  God designed us to have contact with other people.  When God says, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” that suggests that you will deal with others.  If that is cut off, loneliness sets in.  If someone is already struggling with depression, this only makes it worse.  Temptations for suicide become more intense.  Perhaps you have been laid off from work, or fear you will be soon.  Even if work stops, bills don't.  So we have the stress of running low on money.  All of these are problems you may wish to be saved from.  And who can blame you?  No one enjoys problems. 
     But all our problems are merely symptoms.  They all result from the fact that this is a corrupt world.  Even the creation desires to be set free from this corruption.  St. Paul writes to the Romans: “The creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption.” (Romans 8:19-21)  COVID-19, poverty, stress, depression, and death do not happen in a perfect world.  Our Lord taught us to pray, “Deliver us from evil,” for a reason.
     But if this is all you long to be saved from, you will find Jesus to be a very disappointing Savior indeed.  You my long to be saved from COVID-19, a thin wallet, loneliness, or the loss of employment, but these are short-term problems.  What if Jesus had you win the lottery?  What if Jesus miraculously emptied the hospitals?  What if Jesus got you your dream job and delivered all kinds of friends to you?  If that is all you want, then you will find Jesus useless.
     Blessed is he who comes to save.  Jesus comes in the name of the Lord to do what his Father sent him to do.  And it was not to make you rich, to provide health, to win you friends, or to produce an economy to guarantee jobs for everyone who wants one.  Politicians promise that.  We vote for the ones who sound the best making those promises, and then we mock them when they can't fix the world or our lives.  Jesus is no politician.  He never promises to make you rich, popular, successful, or even healthy.  That's because these are not your problems.  Your problem is not that you have struggles or even that the world is corrupt.  Your problem is that you are corrupt and that you are going to die.  Whether that is by COVID-19 or not is irrelevant.  “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)  Death comes to sinners.  Sinners stand under God's judgment.  That is the problem we all share.
     When you end up lying on your death bed, Satan will not mock you about your bank account.  He will not tell you that you should have had more friends or better job security.  He will not even belittle you if you die of COVID-19, as if there is great shame in it.  Satan will only be there to taunt you about your sins.  “You said that.  You did this.  You should have behaved better, and you didn't.”  The devil knows these are the things you will have to answer for.  Satan will be there to darken your mind with guilt, to burden your soul with fear, and the pierce your heart with guilt.  For Satan wants to squeeze every last bit of hope out of you.  He does not need pandemics to do it; he only needs to show you what you are.
     Fear not!  For behold!  You have a Savior!  Blessed he is who comes to save!  Jesus has come in the name of the Lord.  He comes meek and gentle.  Jesus does not come making threats, issuing ultimatums, or breathing fire.  He comes to do the work his Father has given him to do, and that is to bear the burden and to suffer the curse for sinners in order to save you. 
     Blessed is he who comes to save!  Jesus enters Jerusalem to answer your prayers of Hosanna!  Lord, save us now!  He comes to save you from matters much worse than the threats to your health, your wallet, and your isolation.  He comes to save you from divine wrath you have earned because you find more value in a government stimulus check than in divine mercy.  In order to save you from death and damnation, Jesus left eternal glory to come to the world corrupted by sin.  Jesus even denied himself the earthly glory that could have been his.  He knew what he was getting into when he rode into Jerusalem.  He could have rallied excited crowds to himself and brought a life of health and wealth to Jerusalem.  But his was not a parade of tossing candy and coins to appeal to the crowds.  His was a journey to suffer on behalf of those people to rescue them from death and damnation, even if they would have preferred candy and coins.  Instead of coming to receive a crown of gold and a throne, Jesus came to receive a crown of thorns and a cross.  Rather than bask in the praise of men, Jesus submitted to the wrath of God. 
     Blessed is the one who comes to save!  He comes to save you from your sin and from the cursed death that results from it.  Jesus makes himself a sin offering—designated to die on your behalf, shedding his blood as the payment for your guilt, and consumed in the fiery judgment of God's wrath.  Instead of leaving you to have your heart pierced with grief over sin and regret, Jesus' heart is pierced at the cross.  From his wound would pour forth blood and water to show you how the Lord delivers his forgiveness to you.
     Blessed is the one who comes to save!  It is one thing for Jesus to suffer and die at Mt. Calvary to make the payment for your sins.  It is another that Jesus actually bestows to you the gifts he has won for you.  In the waters of Baptism, he cleanses you of your sins.  In the sacrament of the Altar, he supplies the blood which has atoned for all of your sins and feeds you with the body that died and overcame death.  Behold!  Your King still comes to you in gentleness and meekness.  He still comes without threats or ultimatums or fire.  He comes in water, word, bread and wine to provide the forgiveness of all your sins and deliverance from death.  He even shushes every accusation from the devil by proclaiming divine pardon for every mark against you.  Jesus lives, and his word stands.  Hosanna!  Blessed is he!  For, he blesses you!
     Blessed is he who comes to save.  All the little things you long to be saved from, Jesus will finally grant those too.  He does not promise temporary relief, but everlasting glory.  He will deliver us from all evil for all eternity when he delivers us out of this world and to the glories of heaven, when he converts this corrupt world into the home of righteousness.  There, Jesus puts an end to all problems and pain.  There, we are united with all the saints, never to be parted again.  Even if you suffer crisis and chaos now, glory and grandeur are coming.  For the king who came in meekness to suffer and die for you lives and reigns.  He will come again in glory to bring you to glory with him. 
     Blessed is he who has come to save by his cross!
     Blessed is he who comes to save now by his word and sacraments!
     Blessed is he who will come again to save us from every evil forevermore!
     Hosanna!  Lord, save us!  Hosanna in the highest!

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