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. 

Sermon -- 4th Sunday in Lent (March 30, 2025)

This sermon was intended to be preached for the 4th Sunday in Lent.  An infection had me fever-stricken and reduced to bed rest instead of being at church to preach it.  This is a draft which would have been edited were it not for the infection, so it could stand some improvement.  Then again, I would say that about every sermon manuscript I prepare.  I would edit until Judgment Day if I did not have a deadline to preach it.

LUKE 15:1-3,11b-32

THE FATHER LAVISHES LOVE ON THE LOST.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The parable of the Prodigal Son is endearing to us because we all enjoy a happy ending.  We think that it is wonderful that a father would welcome home his wayward son and receive him with a warm embrace.  It warms our hearts to hear that the past has been forgotten and that all the blessings and benefits of sonship have been restored.  It is a wonderful story, but it is a story that we do not fully appreciate because it is mostly theory for us.  It is also because we tend to see ourselves in the wrong brother.

     Let’s rework this parable for just a moment.  Say you had a brother who complained about your family.  He hated the rules of the house and boasted all the time how he would do things better.  He does not want to be like your parents because they are too rigid, too controlling, and too boring.  There’s life to live, and they don’t get it.  So, he asks your father to cash in whatever money was saved up for his college education.  Stocks were sold and an IRA was cashed in with early withdrawal penalties and all.  Then he takes the family car and off he goes to live it up. 

     After another day on your father’s farm, sweating out in the field, you come home to see your brother’s posts on Instagram.  He is holding up his beer with bikini-clad women surrounding him.  Hashtag: ThisIsTheGoodLife.  It does not take long before he blows his money on booze and gambling.  He also totaled the car.  You aren’t surprised.  Your little brother never took life seriously, and it finally came back to bite him.  He found himself homeless and penniless.  Eventually, he decided to hitchhike back home.

     After another long day of labor, you head home and are greeted by the smell of barbeque and the sound of a DJ.  Then you learn that this is for your little brother.  Not only was he welcomed back home, but he was being celebrated.  There was no lecture, no punishment, nothing.  He was even given a new car to replace the one he totaled.  Would you join in the party?  Could you look at your brother without any feelings of resentment?  Would you give him a hug?  And what would you think of your father who, apparently, had no problems with your little brother’s debauchery and defiance?

     I think you can understand the older brother’s outrage—outrage toward the brother who dishonored his father and flaunted it; outrage toward the father who not only received little brother back but even celebrated his return.  Where is the justice?  Why does the greedy, perverted drunkard have the father’s favor when you have been diligently bearing the cross and laboring with no fanfare whatsoever? 

     The older brother has a point, doesn’t he?  Who could disagree with him?  Those who live obediently, morally, and decently should be rewarded and honored, right?  Those who are brazen sinners should be told that they made their choices and should suffer the consequences for them.  Would anyone take the employee that embezzles from the company and make him the vice president of operations?  And if it did happen, would you be happy for that man? 

     Jesus’ parables prove that we are not like the heavenly Father.  The Father lavishes his love on the lost.  The father certainly could have crushed his son in harsh judgment, and we would not have blamed him.  Even his own son would not have blamed him.  He discovered that a life of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll did not satisfy him.  “But,” you protest, “what if is money had not run out?  Wouldn’t he have found happiness in the life he had chosen for himself?”  The answer?  Even if he had continued to live in hedonism, gluttony, and drunkenness, what would he have gained from it?  What was his purpose in life—just to get his next drink?  Who did he have that loved him?  As long as he was buying, he probably had lots of friends.  So, why didn’t anyone take him in when he ran out of money?  What woman stuck by his side when times got tough?  The young man had squandered all his blessings.  He knew it, and confessed it to be so: “I will get up, go to my father, and tell him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son.  Make me like one of your hired servants”’ (Luke 15:18-19).  The younger son finally recognized that in his father’s house he had provision, protection, life, hope, and a noble purpose.  Separated from his father’s house, he was dying, hopeless, and helpless.

     The younger son had abandoned the father’s house and all its blessings.  We would expect him to get what he deserves.  But we are not like the heavenly Father.  “His father saw him and was filled with compassion.  He ran, hugged his son, and kissed him….  The father said to his servants, ‘Quick, bring out the best robe and put it on him.  Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it.  Let us eat and celebrate, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again.  He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:20-24).  The Father lavishes love on the lost.

     We are not like the heavenly Father.  We think in terms of fairness and consequences.  Good people go to heaven; that’s fair.  Bad people go to hell; those are the consequences.  It makes sense, doesn’t it?  Not to the Father.  He lavishes love on the lost. 

     Well, it sure did not make sense to the older brother.  When he heard how graciously the father had taken back his younger brother, he was upset.  When he learned that the father did not hold little brother responsible for his actions, he was incensed.  The older brother had been the good son.  He protested to his father, “Look, these many years I’ve been serving you, and I never disobeyed your command” (Luke 15:29).  He was convinced that he had earned better treatment.  Once again, that seems fair, doesn’t it?

     Dear Christian friends, repent!  You may credit yourself with obedience to the Father because you have not been guilty of the brazen sins of others.  You are no criminals.  And you may take pride in the way you have served your Father in heaven.  You have done good works, and others have benefited from them.  But you and I fail to understand this: We are not the natural-born children of God.  Our place in his family has not been earned, and it is not deserved.  As St. Paul reminds us, “We carried out the desires of the sinful flesh and its thoughts.  Like all the others, we were by nature objects of God’s wrath” (Ephesians 2:3).  

     The older brother forgot his place in the father’s house.  He was not there because he had worked his way into it.  He did nothing to belong to the father’s house, except be born into it, which is an act of grace.  We often think of people who have been born into families of affluence.  They are often vilified as people who have won life’s lottery, as if they filled out the right forms or paid off the right people to be born into that family.  The rich kid is in the rich family because of God’s doing.  While the rich kid benefits from his father’s wealth, he really owns nothing.  It is all the father’s possession, and he shares it with his children.

     This is the case with the older brother.  The father even told him so.  Trying to appease him, “The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours’” (Luke 15:31).  Whatever the son had was his by grace.  All the goods and the blessings belonged to the father who graciously bestowed them on his son.  And he was not stingy.  All that the father had belonged to the son as well.  The father’s lavish love was given to him, too.

     The Father lavishes his love on the lost.  This grace is even more evident when it comes to the family of God.  For, no one is automatically in God’s family.  We are by nature sinful, objects of wrath, and outside of God’s kingdom.  All are lost.  And yet, God has been pleased to bring us into his family.  He gives us new birth to a new life.  This was done for us through Jesus Christ.

     Jesus is the son who left the mansions of heaven to go to this world where he associated with prostitutes, tax collectors, and sinners.  He squandered all he had on these sinners, including you and me.  Jesus poured out his life, his breath, his body, and his blood for the sake of sinners.  The payment he made for your sins and mine and for the sins of the whole world is the life of the Son of God.  It is this reckless love that sent Jesus to the cross where he was forsaken by his Father because of our sins.  Cut off from his Father, there was only death and damnation for Jesus.  This is the ransom price for you.  This is Jesus’ reckless spending which purchased and won you from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil.  This is his lavish love for you.

     Then the Son, who squandered all things to redeem you, rose from the dead.  He ascended to heaven where his Father received him back with joy and celebrating.  Jesus of Nazareth was given all majesty, power, and glory.  He has been given all authority to rule over heaven and earth and to forgive sins.  In both cases, he lavishes his love on the lost.  And he continues to squander his grace upon all people.  When he covered your debts and paid for all your past sins, he did not say, “Okay, your debt has been covered.  But now we are done.  Rather, he continues to apply the ransom price for the sins you still commit.  He has even spent himself on the sins of people who prefer a life apart from the Father’s house.  Since they continue in stubborn unbelief, they receive no benefit from Jesus’ payment, but the payment was made for them.  And he does not regard this grace as a waste.  This lavish love is for all the lost.

     The Father lavishes his love on the lost.  He sent his Son to ensure that you would not be left outside of the Father’s house.  Outside of the Father’s house is only death, hopelessness, and helplessness.  Inside the Father’s house is all that you need for body and life, for time and eternity.  Jesus has poured out his life, his breath, his body, and his blood to win it for you.  And now he bestows on you new life.  He breathes his Holy Spirit into you.  He gives you his body and blood for your forgiveness.  All this so that you would be his.

     The apostle John promises us, “To all who did receive him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).  And if you are God’s children, then all that is the Father’s is yours.  His love is yours.  His mercy is yours.  His kingdom is yours.  And thanks to Jesus’ reckless spending and lavish love, you are his forever.

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

YouTube -- 3rd Sunday in Lent (March 23, 2025)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, March 23, 2025.

Sermon -- 3rd Sunday in Lent (March 23, 2025)

LUKE 13:1-9

THE LORD USES EVILS TO WORK FOR YOUR SALVATION.

In the name + of Jesus.

      People have always wanted to know why God does what he does, especially when tragedies occur.  When you experience some hardship, whether a health-related concern or a natural disaster, you want to know: Did God send it or did God allow it?  Is God responsible, or is it the devil’s work?  The Bible teaches this: “On a good day, enjoy the good, but on a bad day, consider carefully.  God has made the one as well as the other, so no man can find out about anything that will come later” (Ecclesiastes 7:14).  So, we should never get the idea that God lost control and that the devil had his way with us.  Jesus lives and reigns over all things.

     This is not a reason to assess blame.  This is a reason to take comfort.  For, Jesus promises you this: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…  And surely I am with you always until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18,20).  So, no matter what happens, it only happens with Jesus watching over every aspect of your life and, in fact, of this whole world.  Jesus promises you, “Not one (sparrow) will fall to the ground without the knowledge and consent of your Father” (Matthew 10:29).  Nothing happens apart from the Lord, whether good or bad.  And nothing happens with Jesus being apart from you.  The Lord uses even evils to work for your salvation.  With this in mind, you can face each day with confidence and peace. 

     Still, we try to figure out what God is doing and why he is doing it.  We long to peak behind the curtain, thinking that we will find comfort and peace if we know the secret things of God.  Well, there’s a reason God keeps them a secret.  It is the same reason parents don’t sit down with their 10-year-old children to explain their credit card debt or the difficulties of their marriage.  The children don’t need to know that.  They only need to know that their parents are with them, love them, and will care for them.  That is exactly what Jesus promises you.  So, fear not.

     “At that time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices” (Luke 13:1).  We don’t know why this bloody tragedy in the temple occurred.  Did Pontius Pilate feel the need to flex some Roman muscles?  Maybe.  Or did these Galileans provoke it?  The Galileans were known for being revolutionaries.  Did some Zealots go to the temple to stage an uprising, causing Pilate’s soldiers to crush it?  Maybe.  Either way, it was a big story, and some wanted to hear what Jesus had to say about it.  Why did this happen?  Why did God allow it?  What was God doing?  Jesus, what do you think?

     Jesus “answered them, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered these things’” (Luke 13:2)?  From Jesus’ answer, we might infer that people thought these Galileans had it coming to them, that they were receiving their just desserts.  Jesus did not fault the Galileans or curse the Romans.  What Jesus’ answer does teach us is that we should not concern ourselves with why tragedies happen to other people.  Is it God’s judgment?  Is it Satan stirring up trouble?  If you knew the answer, would that make you feel any better about yourself?  If so, you missed the point completely.  Jesus warned, “Do you think that (they) were worse sinners…?  I tell you, no.  But unless you repent, you will all perish too” (Luke 13:2-3).  

     Jesus, then, mentioned another tragedy.  This one was not an act of violence but an accident.  The tower of Siloam had collapsed and crushed 18 people.  Jesus had them consider: “Do you think that they were worse sinners than all the people living in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no.  But unless you repent, you will all perish too” (Luke 13:4-5).  Once again, people must have been thinking that sudden or tragic death reflects God’s judgment.  But we don’t know the mind of God.  He does not tell us why people die suddenly, tragically, or in infancy.  All our groping for answers produces only frustration and suspicion.  When we speculate, we might conclude that God is wicked because we deserve better.  But if you don’t know why something happened, how can you assess blame?

     All we can know about tragedies is what God tells us.  Job reminds us, “Man born of woman has a few short days, and they are full of anxiety.  He blossoms like a flower, but soon withers.  He recedes like a shadow and does not remain.  …Certainly his days are determined.  The number of his months has been set by you.  A limit is set, which he cannot exceed” (Job 14:1-2,5).  So, we know that life is full of anxiety.  Bad things happen.  We know that all lives end in death, and there is no promise about how many days you get.  Meanwhile, all the days leading up to death are a mix of joy and pain, blessing and suffering. 

     But now, the why.  Why do sorrows and sufferings occur?  Because it is a sinful world and we are sinners in this sinful world.  Sin corrupts everything.  Sorrow and suffering are evidence of it.  They are reminders that the end of our lives and the end of the world is coming.  If we are continually reminded that all that we see and possess and experience will come to an end, we will be forced to look for comfort and peace from somewhere outside ourselves and from outside this world.  We will also learn to not be attached to this world or attracted to its blessings.  While we can appreciate the blessings, they are temporary.  The happiness they bring is temporary.  It can be destroyed without notice—like a tower collapsing on eighteen people in Jerusalem.  If you want lasting happiness, it must come from somewhere else.  God uses evils to highlight this and to work for our salvation.

     The only lasting happiness, in fact, ever-lasting happiness, that you will find is through Jesus Christ.  Jesus promises you a joy that cannot be killed off by death.  Jesus issues a sentence which wipes away all guilt.  Jesus gives you a treasure which never loses its value and a peace which will never be interrupted by war, terror, or tragedy.  Although we are familiar with such evils in this world, Jesus will bring you into a kingdom that will be forever free from them all.  The evils you experience here make you long for what is better.  So, God uses these evils to work for your salvation.

     God used evil to secure your salvation.  Although Jesus only ever did good to the people he encountered, he still gained enemies.  They tried to trap him in his words so that they could accuse him as a false teacher.  They slandered him and plotted against him.  They arrested him without charges and unjustly sentenced him.  His death sentence was not done for the sake of justice but for the sake of appeasing an angry mob.  All these evils piled up against Jesus, but all were used by the Lord to work for your salvation. 

     At the cross, a strange justice was carried out.  It has the appearance of evil because the innocent are not supposed to be condemned and the guilty are not supposed to get off scott free.  St. Peter wrote, “Christ suffered once for sins in our place, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18).  So, the righteous, innocent man was condemned and the unrighteous have been set free.  This shows you God’s love for you—that he was willing to have his only begotten Son slain for you so that you will not perish but have everlasting life.  That love remains, that salvation stands, that mercy endures even when tragedies and sufferings strike.  Even though they are painful, those hardships are temporary.  God’s love, however, endures forever.  He promises an eternity whose joys are beyond comparison to any sufferings we face here.

     While it is true that Jesus has done all things that need to be done to win your salvation, the Lord still looks for repentance in your life.  Repentance and faith are not merely mental exercises.  They do not just lay there; they produce results.  Repentance puts to death the sinful desires that bring on God’s judgment.  Faith produces a life that does what is good, honorable, generous, and pure.  The Lord looks for these things which prove that our repentance is genuine.

     To make this point, Jesus told the parable about the fruitless fig tree.  The man said, ^“Look, for three years now I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and I have found none.  Cut it down.  Why even let it use up the soil” (Luke 13:7)?  Just as you plant a fruit tree to enjoy its fruit, so the Lord has planted you in his kingdom to do works that he delights in.  He has planted faith in you so that it will produce fruits which are evidence of your faith.  If the Lord has been pleased to set you free from all the curses—and eventually all the consequences—of your sins, then the Lord has also set you free to live a life that renounces those sins and lives a life that is godly, productive, and beneficial to others. 

     And he has made this promise to you: “I am the Vine; you are the branches.  The one who remains in me and I in him is the one who bears much fruit” (John 15:5).  So, if your faith is being informed by God’s word and being fed by God’s sacraments, the good works will come forth.  For “it is God who is working in you, both to will and to work, for the sake of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).  Just as Jesus provides the very righteousness you need to stand before the Father at the final judgment, so also Jesus produces in you the very fruits the Father delights to see in your life.  As long as you are being nurtured by God’s word and sacraments, the good fruits will come forth and prove your repentance and your faith to be genuine.

     Even while you strive for good, bad things will still happen to you.  In a sinful world, it is inevitable.  Just as good works are evidence of a living faith, so also tragedies and suffering are evidence of a sinful world.  But God uses these evils to work for your salvation.  They cause you to focus on the glories of the heavenly kingdom.  They also give you opportunities on earth to love and serve your fellow man in his need.  Tragedies experienced by others are ways for fruits of faith to be seen in you.  And tragedies that you experience are ways for you to confess your confidence in God’s promises. 

     So, do not fear.  Jesus lives and reigns in you and for you.  Nothing happens apart from Jesus.  And nothing happens with Jesus being apart from you.  Therefore, you will not perish.  God works all things for your good.

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

YouTube -- 2nd Sunday in Lent (March 16, 2025)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, March 16, 2025.

Sermon -- 2nd Sunday in Lent (March 16, 2025)

JEREMIAH 26:8-15

THE MAN OF SORROWS YEARNS TO SAVE JERUSALEM.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The prophet Jeremiah had a ministry that no one would envy.  The Lord had told him, “You must go to everyone to whom I send you and say whatever I command you” (Jeremiah 1:7).  So far, this sounds like a great honor.  Not only was it a great honor, but it sounds like a pretty easy job.  The Lord gives you the word, and you repeat it.  Easy, right?

     But the Lord told Jeremiah what he was in for.  “I will pronounce my judgments against Judah because of their wickedness.  They have abandoned me. …Rise up and tell them everything I am commanding you.  …They will fight against you” (Jeremiah 1:16,17,19).  Jeremiah was told that he would be hated and attacked for preaching the word of the Lord faithfully.  God was not lying.  Several times, people in Jerusalem including even Jeremiah’s family members plotted to destroy him.  They despised the word of the Lord and wanted to silence the prophet who preached it.  No wonder Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet.

     Jesus was known as the man of sorrows.  It was not only because of the sufferings he endured, but also because of his grief over the unbelief of the people.  Just as Jesus wept over Jerusalem because of their unbelief, so Jeremiah also wept over Jerusalem.  The man of sorrows yearned to save Jerusalem.  So, despite how much people hated to hear his preaching, Jeremiah faithfully delivered the message which the Lord gave to him.  He yearned to save Jerusalem.

     The Lord had sent Jeremiah to the temple courts to preach to the worshipers and to the priests that God’s judgment was about to fall down hard on them.  If they were going to live according to the word of the Lord, the Lord would not accept their worship.  He would dismantle the temple himself.  It would become like Shiloh.  That was where the Lord’s tabernacle had once stood, but it was overrun and destroyed by the Philistines.  Jeremiah warned the temple would suffer the same fate by the Babylonians.  Jesus also warned the Jews that their temple would soon suffer that fate.  “As some were talking about the temple, how it was decorated with beautiful stones and offerings, Jesus said, ‘These things that you see here—the days will come when there will not be one stone left on another—every one will be thrown down’” (Luke 21:5-6).  It was a stern warning, calling people to recognize the depth of their sin so that they would repent.  The man of sorrows yearned to save Jerusalem.

     Out of love for sinners and out of a great desire to see no one perish because of his sin, the Lord sent prophets to preach the word.  Jeremiah was in a long line of preachers whose message was consistent.  He yearned for the people to heed the whole word of God and to repent.  How was it received?  “The priests, the prophets, and all the people seized him and said, ‘You must die!  Why do you prophesy in the name of the Lord that this house will be like Shiloh and that this city will be desolate with no one living here?’  All the people crowded around Jeremiah in the House of the Lord” (Jeremiah 26:8-9).  The man of sorrows yearned to save Jerusalem, and they hated him for it.  Why?  Because they hated God’s word.  They did not believe it was true.  Oh, there were certainly parts of God’s word that they did like.  They liked that God had put his name on their temple.  They liked that God had called them his people.  They probably even liked the pageantry of the worship in the temple.  But they did not like the parts of God’s word which commanded chastity, charity, sobriety, humility, honesty, and the like. 

     This still occurs today.  People like to hear that God loves all mankind.  They believe that Jesus is a really nice man who never makes anyone feel bad about themselves.  They claim that Jesus would never condemn anyone.  People like the parts of God’s word that speak of love and mercy and welcoming.  But that doesn’t mean people like all of God’s word. 

     Everyone likes the part of God’s word that speaks of heavenly peace and glory.  People are repulsed by the teaching of hell and reject its existence.  Everyone loves to hear that God pours out gifts upon us.  People hate to hear that God has expectations of us.  Everyone likes to hear that Jesus forgives all sins.  People do not like to hear that Jesus tells us that we should also renounce and flee from them. 

     The Gospel shows us God’s love for mankind and demonstrates God’s goodness.  What seems to be lost is that God also gave his Law out of love for us and that it also shows God’s goodness.  Both God’s Gospel and God’s Law are God’s word.  Both God’s commands and God’s promises are good and true.  You cannot believe one and reject the other.  It is either all true and all good, or it is not. 

     When we see people who are dear to us adopting behaviors or accepting beliefs that contradict God’s word, we are torn.  On the one hand, we want to believe that God’s word is true.  On the other hand, we love those who are dear to us.  We want to see them happy.  It is unthinkable to us that God would condemn them because we love them.  The temptation is to deny or ignore the parts of God’s word that convict them.  We do this in the name of freedom, or happiness, or harmony.  That makes it sound noble.  But if you were asked, “Do you believe that God’s word on this issue is true?” and you answer, “No,” that is unbelief. 

     If we truly love those who are dear to us, we will not excuse their sins.  If we yearn for them to be saved, we will confess the truth and issue the warning.  And you might be hated for it.  But this betrays the true problem: They hate God’s word.  They reject it, and they want you to reject it for their sake.  But even if the whole world rejects God’s word, it is still true and God will judge everyone accordingly.  If you end up being hated for upholding God’s word, Jeremiah and the prophets of old will tell you that you are in good company.  In our sorrows, we will still yearn for the salvation of sinners.

     Our Lord demonstrates a perfect love for both his word and for the sinners who live in opposition to it.  Out of love for the sinners, he called us all to repent.  That’s what Jeremiah did for the people of Jerusalem.  He said, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the things that you have heard.  Now reform your ways and your actions, and obey the Lord your God.  Then the Lord will relent and not bring about the disaster he has pronounced against you” (Jeremiah 26:12-13).  The Lord did not want to destroy Jerusalem.  He sent the weeping prophet, Jeremiah, for their good.  The man of sorrows yearned to save Jerusalem.

     The Lord yearns to save all mankind.  When he issues warnings, he does not send empty threats.  The warning for the people of Jerusalem was genuine.  Moses had warned that failure to follow the word of the Lord would result in the destruction of Jerusalem and its people.  Jeremiah was only repeating what the Lord had promised.  That’s why Jeremiah was able to say, “As for me, look, I am in your hands.  Do with me whatever seems good and right in your eyes.  But you can be certain of this.  If you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live here, for it is true that the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing” (Jeremiah 26:14-15).  

     Jesus could say the same about Jerusalem.  The man of sorrows yearned to save Jerusalem, but they were not willing.  They rejected every overture that God made.  And while Jeremiah was spared on this day, Jesus was not.  They shed his innocent blood—the blood of the very one who had come to save them from divine punishment.

     Some people ask, “If God loves everyone, then why didn’t he save everyone?”  The reality is that he did.  Regarding God’s desires for the salvation of all mankind, this is what the Bible says, “God our Savior … wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4).  Regarding God’s action in winning salvation for all mankind, this is what the Bible says, “[Jesus Christ] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2).  Regarding our Lord’s sincerity about the salvation of all mankind when they reject the gift that could be theirs, this is what Jesus said, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, …how often I have wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing” (Luke 13:34)!  Let it be known and make no mistake: God has done everything to secure the salvation of every person on earth.  Let this truth also stand: People reject God’s gift because of their stubborn unbelief.  It grieves our Lord that this happens, because he takes no delight in the death of anyone.  But God’s word is true, and he will uphold it.  So, Jerusalem was destroyed as Jeremiah had forewarned.  The man of sorrows took no joy in it.  The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed a few decades after Jesus’ ascension.  Most apostles did not live to see it, having been killed for their testimony.  Still, they would have take no joy in it.  And God will damn all who do not believe in Jesus.  We take no joy in that, either.

     Only Jesus has the words of eternal life, and he commissions his people to go into the world and proclaim them to as many as we can.  These are the words that show us how dearly God loves us.  These are the words that expose the devil’s lies and show us that his promises end up in death.  These are the words that guide us in lives that honor God with loving obedience and benefit our fellow man with loving service.

     It grieves our Lord when his words are rejected.  It grieves our Lord when the love he pours out on all mankind is met with ridicule and rebellion.  The man of sorrows yearns to save all people.  But our Lord has never considered his lavish grace a waste, and Jesus does not regret his sufferings and death for sinners.  That grace has been poured out upon you.  That grace covers over all your sins.  That grace leads you to trust God’s word is always good and true and brings a blessing to all who live according to it.  And that grace in intended for all.

     Jesus is the man of sorrows—dying in innocence on behalf of the guilty, and grieved that many would rather die in their guilt than confess it.  But that man will come again, not in sorrow, but in glory.  He will come to deliver you to the heavenly Jerusalem which will forever be the dwelling of the redeemed.  By God’s grace, that means you.

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

YouTube -- 1st Sunday in Lent (March 9, 2025)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Sermon -- 1st Sunday in Lent (March 9, 2025)

1 Samuel 17:4-11,32-40,45-59

THE LORD’S ANOINTED HAS SLAIN THE ENEMY OF GOD’S PEOPLE.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The story of David and Goliath is often used as a locker room pep talk.  A smaller school or less talented team is assured that the little guy can beat the giant.  Sometimes God’s name is even invoked, implying that God is on their side and they will defeat their opponent.  If this is how the Biblical account is taught, then it is woefully misapplied.  The Holy Spirit did not have this event recorded for the sake of locker room pep talks.  St. Paul wrote, “Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that, through patient endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we would have hope” (Romans 15:4).  Our hope is not that we can defeat an opponent.  The fact is, mankind has been overcome by the devil.  We have not overcome temptations.  And we will not escape death.  But our Lord Jesus Christ has.  That is our hope.  Since Scripture was written to give us hope, all Scripture points us to Jesus Christ.

     To appreciate the account of David and Goliath, we need to go back one chapter.  In 1 Samuel 16, the Lord sent the prophet Samuel to the little town of Bethlehem to anoint one who would be king in place of Saul.  When the youngest of Jesse’s sons appeared, “the Lord said, ‘Get up!  Anoint him, because this is the one.’  So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers.  The Spirit of the Lord rushed on David with power from that day forward” (1 Samuel 16:12-13).  David had become the Lord’s anointed.

     It was after this that the Philistine and Israelite armies lined up for battle.  Rather than have full armies engage in battle and suffer numerous deaths and casualties, they could follow the custom to have a champion from each side represent his people.  The two would fight, and only one would have to die instead of thousands.  The winner would claim victory for his nation; the loser’s people would be subjugated to slavery.

     Goliath, all six and a half cubits of him (over 9 feet tall), was the Philistines’ champion.  He issued the challenge for Israel to present their champion.  No one from Israel dared to face the giant.  Who could blame them?  Goliath had thorough military training, displayed great strength, and was enormous.  Day after day, Goliath issued his challenge—insulting the people of God and, by extension, God himself.

     Military age for Israel was 20 years old, so David was probably in his late teens.  David was not in Saul’s army, but when he heard the defiant challenge from Goliath, he told King Saul, “Do not let anyone lose heart because of this Philistine!  Your servant will go and fight him” (1 Samuel 17:32). 

     Goliath was insulted at David’s appearance.  This is Israel’s champion?!?!  Then he insulted David to his face.  David replied, “You come against me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Armies, the God of the ranks of Israel, whom you have defied. …The battle belongs to the Lord, and he will deliver you into our hand” (1 Samuel 17:45,47).

     This man, lowly in appearance, went forth on behalf of all the people of God.  The odds seemed heavily in favor of Goliath.  The Philistine army must have thought it laughable.  Goliath’s taunting seemed justified.  “When you presented a challenger, I thought this showdown would at least be a challenge!”  But remember who went forth to face the enemy of God’s people.  It was the Lord’s anointed.  The Lord’s anointed slew the enemy of God’s people. 

     “Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that … we would have hope” (Romans 15:4).  Our hope is in the name of the Lord, in the one who comes in the name of the Lord.  Jesus has instructed us that “(the Scriptures) testify about me” (John 5:39)!  The events of the Old Testament point us ahead to Jesus who comes to fulfill them all.  So, when we hear how the Lord’s anointed went out by himself to slay the enemy of God’s people—that is, when David went out to battle Goliath—this foreshadows what Jesus would come to do.

     Jesus, the Lord’s anointed, was sent to rescue you from your enemy.  Your enemy is the devil who had taken mankind captive back in the Garden of Eden.  He seduced the man and the woman to believe that disobedience to God’s word was the path to happiness and a better life.  So, they rebelled against God’s word.  From that moment on, all mankind has been held captive by him.

     The devil still uses seduction and deception to lead you into sin.  “Why would God put restrictions on you?  Who is God to tell you what you can or can’t do?  What matters is your happiness, so do whatever makes you happy!”  It all sounds good, doesn’t it?  The devil always has you question God’s wisdom and doubt God’s love.  The devil promises you so much more, so much better. 

     David was seduced by the devil’s lies, most famously by having an adulterous affair with Bathsheba and then arranging the death of her husband.  Even though he was the Lord’s anointed, he proved he was a sinner.  You and I know better than to follow Satan’s lies.  Yet, we do.  Our problem is not ignorance of God’s word.  Our problem is the sinful condition which continues to question God’s will, doubt God’s love, and turn from God’s word.  If you have ever struggled with a particular sin, you know how intense it can be when temptation comes.  The devil entices, appeals, and afflicts you.  He convinces you that you have to sin in order to get relief.  But instead of feeling relief, you are left with shame and disappointment in yourself that you failed again.  When the battle against temptation comes, you must resort to prayer which is just as intense as the temptation you face.  You cannot stand on your own; you need your champion.

     Even though we have succumbed to temptation, Jesus did not.  Jesus went forth to slay the enemy of God’s people.  The deal that Goliath had given is similar to the rules of engagement between Jesus and the devil.  “Choose a man to represent you, and let him come down to me.  If he is able to fight with me and kill me, we will be your servants.  But if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our servants, and you will serve us” (1 Samuel 17:8-9).  God the Father made the choice for us.  The man who was chosen and anointed to act for us is Jesus. 

     God the Son was sent by his Father to be our champion.  He was sent to battle Satan on behalf of all mankind.  But the battle was not engaged by God the Son in his full glory, power, and majesty.  It was engaged by a man in meekness, weakness, and humility.  The battle is for mankind, so a man went forth to fight the devil with all his deep guile and great might.  We heard of one such battle in our Gospel reading.

     But just as we did for the account of David and Goliath, so here we need to peek back one chapter in Luke’s Gospel.  St. Luke recorded, “Jesus was baptized …and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove” (Luke 3:21-22).  This is when Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit and began his word as the Christ, the Lord’s anointed.

     Immediately after that, Jesus “was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days” (Luke 4:1-2).  This man—unimpressive, humble, and weakened by fasting—was to do battle with the foe who had taken the whole world captive by sin.  Just as he did with Adam and Eve, so the devil did with Jesus.  He tried to seduce him into using his miraculous power for his own selfish gain by turning stone to bread.  He twisted Scripture, hoping that Jesus would trust a false promise and test his Father’s care for him.  He even offered Jesus the easy way out of suffering and dying.  He told him, “I will give you all this power and the glory of (the world’s) kingdoms, because it has been entrusted to me, and I can give it to anyone I want.  So, if you worship me, it will all be yours” (Luke 4:6-7).  The devil promised Jesus he could have glory and power without suffering hell for sinners, many of whom still defy him and deny him.  It sounded like a win-win.  Unlike Adam and Eve, unlike David with Bathsheba, unlike you and me, Jesus stood on the words of God and held his ground.  The Lord’s anointed had overcome the enemy of God’s people.

     This, however, was just one show-down.  The devil knew it, too.  “When the Devil had finished every temptation, he left him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:11).  The opportune time presented itself when Jesus was about to suffer and die for sins and to drink the cup of God’s wrath.  Jesus, already experiencing the torment of the curse for our sins, prayed in Gethsemane, “‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me.  Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.’  An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  As he was in agony, he prayed more fervently.  His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:42-44). 

     Strengthened by prayer, Jesus endured the mockery, the lies, the unjust sentence, the flogging, and the agonizing death of crucifixion.  The final conflict between Jesus and the devil moved from Gethsemane to Calvary.  Satan dealt the death blow upon Jesus at the cross.  Jesus had taken all sin into him.  He made himself accountable for all Satan’s accusations.  Man must die for his sins, and so this man died for all the sins of mankind.  The devil, it seems, had conquered as the unimpressive, beaten, lifeless body of Jesus was wrapped for burial.  And if Jesus had been conquered in the battle, then Satan remains our captor and we are forever enslaved to sin and death.

     But on the third day, it was Jesus who stood alive having risen from the grave.  The devil had inflicted as severe a blow as he could, but Jesus overcame him.  Jesus has overcome sin and temptation.  Jesus has defeated death and the grave.  Jesus has conquered the devil.  The Lord’s anointed has slain the enemy of God’s people.  And as a result, you are not slaves of the devil.  You have been set free—free from sin, its curse, its consequences, and its Accuser.

     When all seemed lost to Israel, the Lord’s Anointed stepped forward and said, “Do not let anyone lose heart because of this Philistine!  Your servant will go and fight him” (1 Samuel 17:32).  The Lord’s Anointed then slew the enemy of God’s people.  And so the Lord’s Anointed has told you, “Do not let anyone lose heart because of your enemy, the devil!  Your servant has fought him and overcome.  Fear not sin, death, or the devil.  With me is life.  With me is salvation.  With me, you are safe.”

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

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.