YouTube -- TRIDUUM: Good Friday Tenebrae (April 3, 2026)

Here is the Tenebrae service from Good Friday -- April 3, 2026.

Sermon -- Good Friday Tenebrae: The Sixth Word (April 3, 2026)

Good Shepherd celebrated a Tenebrae service in which we heard the seven words from the cross, followed by a brief homily on each word.  

THE SIXTH WORD — John 19:30

     Everything Jesus ever did was done intentionally.  He was fully obedient to God’s commandments.  He recognized that the traditions of the Pharisees were customs.  Even if those traditions were helpful for exercising piety, they were not commandments.  It is like teaching our children to pray before meals.  There is nothing in God’s word that commands us to pray before meals.  It is still a worthy practice, so we teach it.  But we cannot say a family is sinning against God if they do not offer up a prayer before digging into their salads.

     Everything Jesus ever did was done intentionally.  He did not waste his words when he taught about the kingdom of God.  No miraculous healing was done by accident.  His mercy toward the tax collectors and prostitutes was not to be confused with leniency, and his scathing rebukes against the Pharisees did not arise from rivalry.  Everything Jesus did was intended to lead people to repent and to find their hope in him.  Some did; others did not.

     Everything Jesus ever did was done intentionally.  His trip to the cross was done according to his own timing, done to fulfill all the prophets, and done as his Father willed it.  So, when Jesus uttered the words, “It is finished,” he stated that every little and last thing was done to perfection.  Not a single jot or tittle of God’s Law was bypassed; rather, every jot and tittle was fulfilled. 

     What this means for you is that there are no extra chores or challenges you must complete to be assured of eternal life.  There are no unpaid debts.  Everything God has demanded, he has received from Jesus. 

     “It is finished!”  This word Jesus uttered just before he died.  It is the word we cling to when we face death.  Because of this word, we do not have to invent virtues that we do not have.  Nor do we have to convince God and ourselves that our sins are excusable.  Are we sinners?  Yes, and Jesus came to save sinners.  Are we perfect?  No, but Jesus applies his holiness to us.  Jesus has removed from us all that condemns, and Jesus gives us all that saves. 

     “It is finished!”  The perfect life has been lived.  The cursed death has been died.  The sins of the world have been paid for.  Everything Jesus ever did was done with willful intention, with careful attention, and complete perfection. 

Sermon -- Good Friday Tenebrae: The Third Word (April 3, 2026)

Good Shepherd celebrated a Tenebrae service in which we heard the seven words from the cross, followed by a brief homily on each word.  

THE THIRD WORD — John 19:25-27

     When God created the world, he also created vocations for us to fill.  The second table of the Law says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Our vocations are the practical ways we do this.

     The first commandment in the second table is “Honor your father and mother.”  The family relationship is the most basic vocation in the world.  No one comes into the world without a father or a mother.  Children are taught to honor, serve, and obey their parents.  While the age of children may alter how they honor, serve, and obey their parents, the 4^th Commandment is never abolished.

     Even while he hung from the cross—weakened from the scourging, in agony from the nails, tormented by divine wrath—Jesus fulfilled his vocation as the firstborn son of Mary.  He kept the Commandment when we might have excused him because of his sufferings.  Nevertheless, he loved his mother.  He assured her that she would be cared for.

     Jesus had brothers, probably step-brothers, who could have taken up the obligation to care for Mary.  Instead, Jesus gave this responsibility to the apostle John.  John took her into his home and cared for her physical well-being. 

     But Jesus’ ultimate desire was for her eternal well-being.  He was dying for her sins.  He entrusted her to the apostle who would preach forgiveness, administer the Lord’s Supper, and absolve her in the stead and by the command of Jesus.  In this way, Jesus fulfilled his vocation as her faithful son and her faithful Savior.

     The Commandment is fulfilled by Jesus’ obedience.  The sins of abusive or negligent parents and the sins of disrespectful or rebellious children are paid for by Jesus’ death.  He reconciles to the heavenly Father.  We are adopted into his holy family.  We are gathered into the communion of saints.

Sermon -- Good Friday Tenebrae: The Second Word (April 3, 2026)

Good Shepherd celebrated a Tenebrae service in which we heard the seven words from the cross, followed by a brief homily on each word.  

THE SECOND WORD: Luke 23:38-43

     When Jesus was suspended upon the cross, “those who passed by ridiculed him…  In the same way, the chief priests along with the experts in the law mocked him among themselves” (Mark 15:29,31).  That does not surprise us.  But then Mark noted, “Those who were crucified with him also insulted him” (Mark 15:32). 

     Some people who sit on death row develop a sense of regret.  Hardened criminals go to the death chamber breathing out obscenities and cursing everyone within ear shot.  One criminal seems to have moved from one camp to the opposite.  He began the day with curses.  At least he could find some camaraderie among those who mocked Jesus, right?  But then came the change.  Why?

     Consider the words by which people mocked Jesus.  “He saved others.  Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, the Chosen One!  If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” (Luke 23:35,37)!  The mockers considered these claims worthy of scorn.  The criminal considered them worthy of further consideration.  And upon his consideration, he recognized that everything they said about Jesus was true.  He is the Christ.  He is the Son of God.  He is the King who has come to save his people and establish an everlasting kingdom.

     This criminal had given up all pretenses.  He would not pretend to be anything other than what he was—a sinner who was getting what he deserved.  But he saw that Jesus is the Righteous One.  Jesus had saved others.  Would Jesus save such a wretch as he was?  He asked Jesus for one thing: Remember me. 

     Whenever the Lord remembers in Scripture, he acts to save.  And that is exactly what Jesus came to do.  Jesus was mindful of sinners and took the curse of all, no matter what was on their record.  He died for the mockers, malefactors, and all mortals.  Therefore, we pray with the criminal: “Jesus, you have come to establish a kingdom.  That means you will live again to reign over it.  Remember me in your gracious reign.”

     The Lord Jesus would remember him.  The Lord Jesus is mindful of you, too.  You, too, will be with him in Paradise.

Adult Bible Class: Hard Sayings of Jesus

Sometimes we have a hard time understanding parts of the Bible.  Some of those words come from Jesus himself.  We will spend a number of weeks considering the Hard Sayings of Jesus.  

This session will begin on Sunday, January 4.  Adult Bible Class meets at 9:00 AM.  All from grade 7 on up are welcome to attend.

The schedule is below:

01/04          Translations! Traditions! Troubles! 

01/11          "If you don't have a sword ... buy one."

01/18          "Blessed are those who mourn."

01/25          "Out of men's hearts comes evil."

02/01          "I am coming back soon."

02/08          "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for you."

02/15          "No one is good--except God alone."

02/22          "Unless Your Righteousness surpasses that of the teachers of the Law..."

03/01          "Unless you hate your father and mother..."

03/08          "Be as shrewd as snakes."

03/15          "Pearls before swine and bread to dogs"

03/22          "Why have you forsaken me?"

03/29          "So they won't hear"

Sermon -- Festival of the Lutheran Reformation (October 26, 2025)

JOHN 8:31-36

REMAIN IN HIS WORD.

In the name + of Jesus.

    Today, we are commemorating the beginning of the Lutheran Reformation which is marked by Martin Luther nailing the 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg.  It was an effort to correct an abuse which had been practiced in the church for some time.  What began as an invitation to debate ballooned into a full-scale overhaul of false teachings and poor practices.  Not that he asked for it, but Luther ended up being the main voice to reform a church that had gone off course.  Luther never intended to start anything new, but to reform and correct what already existed. 

     This was not the first time something like this had happened.  There has never been a golden age in the Christian Church when everything was peaceful and all was right.  Before the apostles had even died off, they had to write letters to Christian churches to correct false teachings and poor practices.  So, you’d think once those letters had been written and the New Testament books were completed, everything would be right.  You’d think so. 

     The devil has sown false teachings throughout the history of the Church.  The Church has had to go back to the Bible again and again make a clear confession and to correct error.  This is why Jesus told us, “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples.  You will also know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).  In order to be free from false doctrine and practice, we must remain in his word.

     When the devil sows false teachings, he does not usually tell bald face lies.  Those are easy to expose and refute.  So, the devil tries to make his voice sound like Jesus’ voice.  He will say things that sound true and reasonable and feel right.  That is why they are so dangerous.  If you lived down south, you’d be familiar with two snakes that look similar.  One is a water snake which is not venomous; the other is a cottonmouth which is venomous.  They may look similar, but one is deadly.  In the same way, Satan’s words sound good, but they are deadly.  That is why it is imperative to remain in Jesus’ word.

     In the early church, there was a teacher named Arius.  He taught that Jesus is not eternal God.  He argued that, if he is the only begotten son of the Father, then he had a birthday.  If he had a birthday, there was a time he did not exist.  That sounds reasonable.  So, the pastors of the day turned to God’s word to show that God the Son is eternal.  The point of being only begotten is not when, but what.  “Only begotten” expresses the unique relationship between the Father and the Son, which is eternal.  Having corrected that, you might think that everything was finally right.  You’d think so.

     Later, another teacher came along named Nestorius.  He tried to reason how Jesus could be God and man.  Nestorius reasoned that Jesus was half man and half God.  The man part, he said, was born, grew in knowledge and stature, suffered, and died.  But the God part did miracles and rose from the dead.  This splits Jesus in half.  The pastors of his day turned to God’s word to see what it said.  They confirmed and confessed that Jesus is one person but has two natures—fully human and fully divine.  So, we can say that God was born of a virgin and God died at the cross.  We can say that a man did miracles and overcame death.

     Maybe this all sounds like the kind of stuff left for pastors to debate and not for you to worry about.  But the truth is that your very salvation is at stake in these matters.  If Jesus is not God, then his death did not pay for your sins.  If Jesus is not man, then he is not a true substitute for you and death still has power over mankind.  This is why we remain in his teaching.  Jesus promised, “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples.  You will also know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).  

     The teachings of Arius and Nestorius and others led the Church off track.  Each time, pastors turned to God’s word to expose the false teachings and to confess the correct doctrine.  Through them, God preserved his Church and kept his people as Jesus’ disciples.  Having done that, you might think the Church was finally pure, that all was right, and that everyone was at peace.  You’d think so.  But the Church is constantly in need of being reformed and course corrected.  Even things that begin as good practices can go off the rails. 

     Say a man in the Middle Ages was grieved by his sins.  He would go to his priest, confess his sins, and receive absolution.  This is the faithful practice of the Church.  The priest may have told the man to amend his sinful life.  After all, forgiveness is not a license to return to your sins.  God calls us to godliness.  So, the admonition to amend one’s sinful life is also good, Christian practice.  But what should one do to make amends?  Suggestions were given.  Suggestions turned into requirements.  Eventually, forgiveness hinged on one’s works of satisfaction rather than on the divine promise. 

     Now, what if a person did not have time to make amends?  He was relegated to purgatory where he would be tormented and purged of whatever wickedness still clung to him at death (even though there is no support in God’s word for purgatory).  After a while, gifts could be given to shorten one’s time in purgatory.  The sale of indulgences was born—a certificate pledging that the Pope would reduce one’s time in purgatory.  These indulgences were soon extended to cover deceased relatives.  Would you really let your mother languish in purgatory any longer than she had to?  Christians were being taught that freedom from God’s judgment was a commodity to be purchased rather than to trust in Jesus’ sufferings, death, and resurrection for the payment of sin.  Indulgences also encouraged Christians to give up good works and to engage in sins.  After all, if you could be exonerated for a few bucks, why strive for godliness?

     This is the church that Martin Luther grew up in.  He challenged all of this, even though it was a practice that had been established for years.  If the Pope truly had authority over the souls in purgatory, Martin Luther asked, “Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there”? (95 Theses, Thesis #82).  Luther returned to God’s word to uphold true doctrine and to promote practices that were in accord with it.  He did not seek to stir up trouble, but to correct a Church that had gone off course.  Sadly, the powers had no interest in this correction.  Luther begged to be shown from the Bible where he had erred.  He was not given an answer, just a command to be silent.  When he would not be silent because he sought to relieve troubled souls of their guilt and fears, he was excommunicated.  Nevertheless, he remained in Jesus’ words and fiercely proclaimed it so that people would remain Jesus’ disciples.  After all that, you might think that the Church finally had peace and all was right—at least, in one segment of the Church.  You’d think so.

     Satan never ceases to deceive.  The attack on the Church never stops.  More than anything, the devil wants people to be enslaved to him and blinded by his lies.  That is why we must always remain in Jesus’ word.  St. Paul wrote, “All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, well equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  We remain in Jesus’ word so that we receive the correction we need for doctrine, practice, and, in particular, for our own lives.  You may not have to give an answer for the faithfulness of the Church, but you will have to give an answer for the faithfulness of yourself.  Whenever God’s word corrects and admonishes you, repent.  This is crucial for salvation.

     “Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples.  You will also know the truth, and the truth will set you free’” (John 8:31-32).  We might ask, “Free from what?”  Jesus sets us free from our sin.  We rightly stand under God’s judgment for our sin because we are guilty.  As we confess, we deserve his punishment both now and in eternity.  But Jesus has delivered us from the punishment and the curse of sin.  He bore the curse in his body when he hung from the cross.  He absorbed God’s condemning wrath for us so that we receive a pardon for all our guilt.  You are not condemned; you are free.

     Jesus also sets us free from death.  Sure, the grave may hold you for a brief while, but Jesus has overcome death in his resurrection.  This man assures that all mankind will escape the grave.  All will be raised up by his command on the Last Day.  In the end, death and the grave get nothing.  All who believe in Jesus and are baptized, however, will be given life everlasting.  Death does not own you.  Jesus does.  You are free.

     Jesus also sets you free from your fears.  There is a lot that can strike fear into our hearts—death, war, virus, violence, loss of a job, loss of a familiar lifestyle, loss of loved ones, and so on.  While all of these can be painful and sorrowful, none of these moves God’s promises even one inch.  An older translation of Martin Luther’s hymn, A Mighty Fortress, says, “And take they our life, goods, fame, child, and wife, let these all be gone.  They yet have nothing won” (stanza 4).  That’s not to say Luther did not love his wife and children.  It is to say even if they were taken from him or killed, God’s promises still remain.  As dear as our family and friends are, they don’t save us.  Jesus does.  And if our family and friends believe in Jesus, we actually don’t lose them at all.  They may be taken from this world, but they are not lost to Jesus.  At the resurrection, we get them back.  So, you need not fear.  If you are in God’s hands, you are safe.  To remain in God’s hands, remain in his word. 

     The devil will always deceive.  Jesus always tells you the truth.  His word corrects us and his Church when we begin to wander.  This correction is necessary and should be welcome so that we do not lose what we have been given.  And perhaps something that deserves correction for us is our reluctance to confess God’s word.  In an effort to preserve God’s word among us, we can find ourselves in a holy huddle of sorts, reluctant to let others in.  Dear Christian friends, God has not entrusted us with his word to hoard it, but to proclaim it.  The devil has influenced many Christians to alter God’s word.  Many prefer what feels good, what sounds good, or what our society says.  These are the very things that misled God’s people in the past.  The only way Satan’s lies can be countered is by God’s truth.  It is ours to confess.  So, remain in God’s word so that you remain Jesus’ disciples, so that your confession is true, and so that you confidently live in the Lord’s favor.

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

Bible Matters -- Winter Session 2025

Bible Matters is a discussion group that enables God’s people to become more comfortable in discussing matters of the Christian faith and more confident in defending the Bible’s teachings.  We encourage open dialogue and welcome bold questions.  All are welcome to consider how God’s word addresses various topics.

This winter’s topic will be “Jesus responds to challenges by his enemies.”  These challenges were hurled at Jesus during Holy Week in an attempt to accuse him of false teaching and practice.  Our winter sessions will be:

January 8             Hosanna’s forbidden (Matthew 21:12-17)

January 15           The withered fig tree (Matthew 21:18-22)

January 22           Where does Jesus’ authority come from? (Matt. 21:23-27)

January 29           The parable of two sons (Matthew 21:28-31)

February 5           Paying taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:15-22)

February 12          Life after the resurrection (Matthew 22:23-33)

February 19          What is the greatest commandment? (Matt. 22:34-40)

February 26         David’s Son and David’s Lord (Matthew 22:41-46)

March 5 is Ash Wednesday.

Something from ... Rev. Normal Nagel on God's Word

Rev. Normal Nagel served as a pastor and professor in Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  A book was published of his sermons, covering the years from 1949 - 1999.  I never met Rev. Nagel, but I have heard about his prowess as a preacher and teacher.  I had received a copy of the book, "Selected Sermons of Norman Nagel" when Pastor Gregory Gibbons invited me to purge his library upon his retirement.  Having heard about Rev. Nagel's preaching, this was an easy one to pick out.

Below is a quotation from a sermon for the 5th Sunday of Easter, preached in Cambridge, England in 1967.  The whole sermon would be worth quoting, but I will limit it to a few paragraphs regarding the Word of God and the confidence it gives us, especially when it is connected to the sacraments.

Here is something from Rev. Norman Nagel.

"The greatest gifts are all given by the Word of God.  The Word of God not only tells what these gifts are but also conveys them.  When the word of forgiveness is spoken to you, forgiveness is given to you.  When the Benediction is spoken to you, the blessing of God is given to you.  In the sacraments, the Word is joined with extra means of conveying the gifts.  It is then as if God takes your hand and presses His gift into it with the assurance, 'Now you have really got it.  Without a shadow of doubt, it is surely yours.'

"Jesus would be nothing for us if the Word of truth did not tell of Him and gives Him to us.  A silent movie of Calvary would be nothing more thana tragic piece of newsreel.  The soundtrack of God's Word tells us what is going on there, what is achieved, and gives it to us with the words 'for you.'" (p 134, Selected Sermons of Norman Nagel.  Concordia Publishing House: St. Louis, MO. (c) 2004.)

Better than "He Gets Us"

Someone put this together.  This should have run on Super Bowl Sunday.  This should run now.  Well, it will run here.

BIBLE BITS -- Matthew 19

This post of Bible Bits also serves as a pastoral concern about marriage and divorce.

When the Pharisees came to Jesus to ask about marriage and divorce, Jesus made it clear that divorce was not a part of God's plan.  Moreso, divorce is rebellion against God's plan.  When Jesus declared, "What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate" (Matthew 19:6), it was not a mere encouragement.  It was divine Law.  It still is divine Law.  Marriage is a gift of God.  Marriage is blessed by God.  Marriage has been established by God to be a life-long union between one man and one woman.  People who dissolve a marriage for any reason rebel against and reject what God has established.  

God has designed marriage to be a great blessing for a man and a woman.  That does not mean it is easy.  Two people, both sinners, often compete with each other for preference, for pride, and for personal interests.  Both can be lazy, selfish, sarcastic, and resentful.  Both husband and wife have goals and can look at the other as a hinderance to those goals.  Such sins make marriage bitter.  

The Pharisees sought a way out of that.  Moses was their out.  “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away" (Matthew 19:7)?  This was a concession, not a command.  A certificate of divorce was only given as a way for a woman to be publicly known as a divorced woman.  It was done only for the sake of order.  The Pharisees seemed to think this was God's stamp of approval on divorce.  But that would be like saying vandalism is okay as long as one pays the fine for it.  A fine is not a fee which grants permission to vandalize.  It is a punishment and a deterrent because vandalism is wicked.

Even the apostles seemed to be alarmed by Jesus' words when he spoke so strongly against divorce.  When they recognized that God offers no escape clause, they said, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”  But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.  For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it” (Matthew 19:10-12).  

Jesus' point about eunuchs is mainly that most people are not designed for a celibate life.  God created us to be sexual beings.  That was established by God's blessings back in the Garden of Eden.  "God said to (Adam and Eve), 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it'" (Genesis 1:28).  Therefore, the sexual drive to reproduce is common to all people.  There are some who do not have a drive and are perfectly content to remain single.  They are the eunuchs Jesus spoke about in the verses above.  This contentment is a gift.  The norm, however, is to be marriage, then sex, then--as God chooses to bless it--children.

The sexual drive God instills in people is properly carried out in marriage.  It is for the mutual benefit of husband and wife who work together for the good of their family.  It is especially good for children to have this father-and-mother care.  Those who chose to act outside of God's design subject themselves hardships that God did not intend.  And God's wrath runs hot against the men who impregnate women, abandon them, and reject any responsibility for their actions.  There is nothing manly about this.  It is selfish and cowardly at the highest level.  If a man is unwilling to bind himself to a woman for life, he should not do it for a night either.  Women, it is for your benefit that God forbids sex before marriage.  You will spare yourself much fear and grief if you refrain from the bed until marriage.

So, why does God make such a big deal about marriage being an unbreakable bond?  Because it is a reflection of Jesus Christ and his Church.  Jesus is fully committed and faithful to his Bride, the Church.  The Church, then, is also to be faithful to her Groom, Jesus.  The Church is by no means the best Jesus can do until he finds a better option.  He does not use the Church for his own selfish gains.  He loves his Church despite its weaknesses and blemishes.  He continually forgives the sins against him.  Jesus gave up everything for the Church so that she can be his for all eternity.  The Church, in turn, recognizes that there is no greater love than what Jesus gives to her.  The Church willingly submits to Jesus Christ for her own blessing and benefit.  Marriage is to be a reflection of that mutual love.

Just as Jesus does not look for ways to get out of his commitment to the Church and just as the Church will find no greater love than in Jesus, neither should husbands or wives flee from their marriage vows.

Yes, marriage can have its challenges.  But there is no greater earthly bond than a husband and wife.  Each serves the good of the other.  Each is to seek the good of the other.  Each should confess their sins against the other so that each can forgive each other and strive for a joyful union.  

Rather than seeking to get out of a marriage, each should be concerned about what he or she is putting into the marriage.  That will result in the blessings God has always intended them to have.

BIBLE BITS -- Matthew 5

There has been a trend of people claiming that Jesus never said he was God.  If you want to find a verse in the Bible where Jesus states, "You know what?  I am God.  For real.  Divine through and through.  The Lord Almighty.  That's ME!", you won't find it.  However, if you consider Jesus' words, they can only be uttered by someone who is God--or by someone who is guilty of rank blasphemy.  The charge of blasphemy was made by Jesus' enemies repeatedly.  So, they understood what Jesus was saying, even if Jesus' enemies today do not.

As one example of Jesus' words being a claim for divinity, consider the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5.  Jesus quoted the Law of Moses six times, and each time, Jesus commented on the Law and strengthened it.  He taught that our attitudes and thoughts are just as damning as our actions if they violate the Law of God.  But consider how Jesus made his claims.

"You have heard that it was said..." (verses 21,27,31,33,38,43) and then Jesus quoted the Law.  But he followed up, "But I say to you...." (verses 22,28,32,34,39,44).  What gives Jesus the authority to intensify the Law?  And not only to intensify it, but to base his intensifying on a "because I said so"?  It can only be this: He is God.  

As God, he offers commentary on his own word.  He does not nullify the Law or overturn it.  He restates and reinforces it.  Only God has the authority to do that.  Therefore, by his words, Jesus declares, "I am God."

Our Good Shepherd gives peace

Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi.  Feel free to share it as much as you can.  

Shout out to Kaitlyn Cole for her work on its production!

BIBLE BITS: Matthew 5-7

One of the claims that is often made against Jesus is that he never claimed to be God, and that this title was assigned to him later by his apostles and the early Church.  If there is any truth to this claim, it would only be that you will never find a verse in the Bible where Jesus says, "Ahem.  Let me make this as clear as I possibly can: I am God Almighty, Immortal, Eternal.  And don't you ever doubt it!"

Nevertheless, Jesus makes many statements that he could only make if he is God.  If he is not God, then his statements are rank blasphemy and he can be dismissed as a nut-job.  Well, Jesus' enemies DID understand his words clearly enough.  Therefore, they DID accuse him of blasphemy, making himself equal to God.  And since there is only one God, not several who share equal status, then by making himself equal to God, he is saying he IS God!  And while Jesus' enemies did not use the phrase "nut-job," they did accuse him of being possessed by a demon.

So, while people today insist that Jesus never made any claims to be God, his enemies recognized that he did just that.

In today's personal Bible reading, we have one of those instances where Jesus says something that only God could say.  Several times in Matthew 5, Jesus utters a phrase like this: "You have heard that it was said....  But I say to you."  In most cases, the "it was said" phrase is one of the Ten Commandments.  Verse 21 is the 5th Commandment.  Verse 27 is the 6th Commandment.  Verse 38 paraphrases the 8th Commandment.  Jesus does not deny the Commandments.  He intensifies them.  By saying, "But I say to you..." he seems to be trumping the very words of God.  Who would dare do this--unless Jesus IS God?

But that is precisely the claim.  Jesus can speak as one having authority because he does have divine authority.  Jesus has divine authority because he is divine.  

Jesus has, indeed, claimed to be God.  I suppose many will dismiss him as a nut-job or demon-possessed.  It is the joy of the Church to confess with the apostle Thomas, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28)!  And those who refuse to confess Jesus as Lord and God now will be forced to do it one day (Philippians 2:10-11).

Adult Bible Class: New Series begins January 29

He Went Throughout Their Towns and Villages

           Throughout his ministry, Jesus never traveled more than 100 miles from his hometown of Nazareth, yet he covered a lot of ground. 

          Starting Sunday, January 29, we will consider the various places and events which marked Jesus’ life and ministry. Travel along with Jesus throughout Judea and Jerusalem, Samaria, the villages of Galilee, and a few areas beyond Palestine. 

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          He said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. (Mark 1:38-39)

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January 29            Jesus' Birth, Infancy, and Childhood

February 5            The Ministry of Jesus Begins

February 12          Early Ministry in Galilee

February 19          Visit to Jerusalem, Return to Galilee  

February 26          Second Tour of Galilee

March 5                Third Tour of Galilee

March 12              First Withdrawal from Galilee

March 19              Second Withdrawal from Galilee

March 26              Third Withdrawal from Galilee

April 2                  Perean Ministry -- First Tour

April 9                  Easter Breakfast -- No Class

April 16                Perean Ministry -- Second Tour

April 23                Holy Week: Sunday and Monday

April 30                Holy Week: Tuesday and Wednesday

May 7                   Holy Week: Thursday into Friday

May 14                 Holy Week: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

Something from ... Martin Luther on recognizing the words of Jesus

In an Easter sermon, Dr. Luther spoke of Jesus' resurrection appearance to his disciples.  At first, they were terrified by his appearing.  They were acutely aware of their sins, particularly of abandoning Jesus when he was arrested.  When Jesus appeared, they expected wrath.  Their guilty consciences had condemned them already.  Why wouldn't Jesus?

Instead, Jesus came and spoke words of peace to them.  He showed them his hands and side, which were the evidence of sins paid for.  Jesus did not come breathing fire, but proclaiming forgiveness and peace to troubled hearts, fearful minds, and condemning consciences.

The devil tries to mimic Jesus.  However, the devil reverses Jesus' words and works.  Jesus' ultimate goal is to bring comfort to the troubled sinner.  Sometimes, Jesus has to trouble that sinner first to make him aware of his sin and his need for a Savior.  The devil, on the other hand, comforts sinners in their sinful condition.  He speaks words of peace to them so that they will remain comforted in their sins and, therefore, will not repent of them.  On the other hand, the devil taunts those who are Christians.  He speaks no words of comfort, but convicts and condemns people so that they forget Jesus and despair over their guilt.

The sinner who is comfortable needs words of warning and condemnation so that he will not remain in his sin.  When Jesus does this, he seems like a vicious and cruel God.  The devil, on the other hand, seems friendly and loving because his words to the one who embraces his sin is so sweet and encouraging.

But the sinner who is troubled needs words of comfort, assurance, and hope so that he will not remain vexed by his sin.  Jesus is pleased to come with his, "Peace be with you," to these sinners.  The devil buries them in greater guilt; for he wants them to perish.

It is essential that we know the difference so that we are neither robbed of comfort nor strengthened in sin.  Here is Luther:

"(The devil) takes pleasure in deceiving us under the appearance and name of Christ.  He always wants to be God's ape and imitate what he sees Him do.  Now God's way of dealing with us is that he first frightens those who are not yet frightened, so that in additional naturally fearful hearts are always horrified at His words and works because of the timidity of their nature.  However, He again soon comforts those who are now frightened and speaks to them in a friendly way.  The devil certainly imitates this and also comes under the name and words of Christ, but with both false comfort and false frightening.  He turns both upside down, so that he makes those who are in need of comfort frightened and despondent and, on the other hand, comforts and strengthens those who should fear and be frightened with God's wrath." (Martin Luther, sermon on Luke 24:36-47, preached on April 11, 1531.  Pages 80-81.  Luther's Works: American Edition, Vol. 77.  Church Postil III.  Concordia Publishing House: St. Louis, MO.  (c) 2014)

Something from ... Veith's blog re: Hannukah and Jesus

I refer you to an article written by Gene E. Veith at his blog, and he links to another blog about Jesus and Hannukah.  It gives the background to Hannukah, but more importantly, it refers to the claims Jesus made during the festival of Hannukah.

Once in a while, we hear people make the claim that Jesus never claimed to be God, and that his identity as God was foisted upon him by later disciples.  (Such people claim that the Gospels themselves were more propaganda than historical accounts, so any of Jesus' claims of divinity in the Gospels are claimed to be later inserts and not historical.) 

The claim Jesus made at Hannukah (Feast of Dedication in John 10) is noteworthy both for its claim and the setting in which Jesus made this claim. 

The observations and insights were made by others, so I now refer you to their works.  Both are pretty quick reads.

Gene E. Veith (Cranah, the blog of Veith) is here:  http://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2017/12/jesus-and-hanukkah/

The original source that he sits is here (and linked in Veith's own article):
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/tomhobson/2017/12/jesus-shocking-words-hanukkah/