Luther's words...For Comfort Come Back to Christ

We should forget about our sin (for there is a time to think of sin, and there is also a time not to think of sin) and not follow up the gnawing and biting of our conscience nor judge according to our feeling but according to the Word. 

 (WLS #956)

GOSPEL: Matthew 15:21-28

EPISTLE: Romans 3:19-31

Reading: 

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Commentary: 

 While the law of God reveals righteousness, namely all that is good and holy, the law never makes us righteous or holy, rather just the opposite….it reveals our unholiness. When our conscience is thus smitten by the law, so the guilt of all our sins weigh upon us, we must turn our thoughts to the "righteousness of God without the law" namely our righteousness in Christ by faith. Faith itself does not make us righteous, but faith sees and understands Christ was righteous for our sake. Christ fulfilled all the righteousness the law demands. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." This righteousness which you, the guilty sinner desires, is the very righteousness Jesus is happy to give you. What you want to be is what He has been for your sake, and His righteousness is His free gift to you. Knowing Christ believers can speak this way, "Though I am unrighteousness and sin, Christ is my righteousness and life. For His sake, God will not condemn me for my unrighteousness, but He will count me as righteous for Christ's sake and take me to heaven when I die." Faith then finds no reason to boast or brag about the law and good works, rather faith can only boast of Christ saying, "Here is my righteousness and I am righteous through Him who loved me and gave Himself for me, that I may be His own."

OT: Psalm 130

Reading: 

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Commentary: 

The is a penitential psalm, for "out of the depths have I cried unto Thee O Lord." The psalmist here remembers his sins and mourns them. He is in the depths of despair, which is to wrestle with the thought there is no hope of mercy or forgiveness. "Lord hear my voice", not for the sake of my works, but for the sake of Thy Son, my Lord Jesus Christ, for "there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared." Note here the patient waiting of the soul for the Lord to come and rescue, help and deliver. "I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His Word to I hope." Hope is one part of faith, namely because God has promised us forgiveness, salvation, and everlasting life in His Word, we have a certain hope for a better life to come, with Jesus in heaven. With faith then there is a good and proper longing to be delivered from this evil world entering into the joys of heaven through the blood of Christ. Knowing Christ and His atonement for all our sins, we rejoice, for "with the Lord there is MERCY, and with Him is plenteous redemption." Though our sins stand as a mountain reaching high up into the sky, Christ lives in that sky, that heaven above us, and by the power of His blood we know, "where sins abounds, grace does much more abound." His redemption is indeed PLENTEOUS. 

SERMON: Luke 22:45-62

Reading: 

And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

Peter's Pride and Despair

Beloved of the Lord......Today's lesson is about pride and despair, and Jesus who has forgiveness for all our pride and despair.  Too often, and most often throughout life, we suffer greatly from pride as Peter and the disciples.  But there are also times when the magnitude of our sins hits us like a great rock bolder and like Peter who denied Christ, we despair and go out and weep bitterly.  Though our sins are great and we are in no wise different from Judas who coveted or Peter who feared, our humble Jesus made all these sins His own upon the cross and by His stripes we are healed.  Luther said regarding all of this, "A man should certainly be on guard against sin; but if he has fallen, he should not lost heart because of his fall.  For God has forbidden both despair and presumption….Toward the righte we should not presume, toward the left we should not despair.  Remain on th straight higheway: a sinner should nto lose confidence in the mercy of God; a just person should not be proud." What Luther Says, #961 Though all saints despair at some point in life, those who merely die in the faith of the Lord Jesus, live forever in the glories of heaven even now.  "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise".

Our lesson takes place Thursday night when Jesus and His disciples are in the Garden of Gethsemane.  As Adam and Eve yielded to temptation in that first garden, now for our salvation God permitted the devil to harass and vex Christ without restraint in the Garden of Gethsemane. Christ had to be tempted in every possible way and also overcome, so we His children never be tempted in a way more than we can bear.  As our High Priest Jesus was "touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."  As Jesus said, "Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."

        We might wonder after Jesus said this, did the disciples obey and pray God would help them be faithful that night?  Also how often do we pray that God will help and keep us from temptation?  By their behavior it certainly seems the disciples did not boldly go in prayer to the throne of God's grace to find strength to help in time of need.  Naturally by this time Judas Iscariot is even now found on the other side, approaching Jesus in the darkness with a band of soldiers.  He fell from grace by way of coveting a mere 30 pieces of silver, and unlike Peter, Judas did not return and trust in Christ for forgiveness.  When we consider the other ten disciples, we should realize by way of sin they too betrayed Christ that night.  After the betrayal of Judas with a kiss, after Peter's sinful outburst with the sword, Matthew writes, "Then ALL the disciples forsook him, and fled."  Every single disciple that night, even John who loved the Lord most, yielded to the devil's temptation, running away in fear.  When we are tempted to deny Christ out of fear, let us remember God's command and promise to Jeremiah

"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD."

        This fearlessness however needs to be couple with humility, for God alone is our strength. In the height of our folly we dare not think ourselves a pillar of strength, lest in the hour of trial we be nothing more than a bowl full of wobbly Jello at a church potluck.  Therefore "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."  Only the grace of Christ can uphold us in such an hour and it is certain we cannot uphold ourselves.  Thus consider the words of John the Baptist who said, "Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low." When God brings low every mountain or hill, He is bulldozing level to the ground our swollen pride.  I would assume many or most of us have been severely humbled at various times in life. This is agonizing and painful, very embarrassing.  It might be the loss of a job, the loss of a house, a broken engagement, a divorce, a rejection by a dear friend,…. but the more public our sin, the more we want to hide and bury our head in the sand.  When God humbles us, everyone sees and knows what we have done, and our sin suddenly becomes open in the eyes of men. This hurts our pride deeply.  Sad to say, some people do not repent of their pride and they stay angry with God all their life. 

        When God humbles us however, we should really learn to be very thankful for what He has done, for "whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth."  Though it hurts….. God is performing a good work upon us, just as great as healing leprosy or taking away blindness.  By the chastening of the Lord, God keeps our pride in check so it does not overthrow our faith and we perish in unbelief.  When humbled, we learn better what sinful and proud fools we are and we see more perfectly our humble Christ, who desired our salvation so greatly He humbly suffered for our sinful pride upon the cross.  God empties us of pride only so "every valley shall be filled" with His grace and mercy.  Thus it was not God's will that the disciples forsake Jesus, but since they were proud God let them.  Likewise it was not God's will that Peter deny Christ three times, but since Peter was proud God let him.  They had to die in this high opinion of themselves, so they might live only in Jesus.  When God thus allows us to fall into foolish sins which hurt us, IT IS ONLY SO HIS GRACE WILL LIFT US UP.  Psalm 147:6 says, "The LORD lifteth up the meek."  God is the Potter and we are the clay.  By this good but bitter medicine, God will mold and form us into something better, a better vessel more fit for His glory.  When you thus find you have fallen into a grievous sin, don't discount or make excuses for the great evil you have done, but acknowledge it, confess it, for "God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

        Looking now more perfectly upon Peter, after abandoning Christ both Peter and John "followed afar off."  They stayed in the shadows a certain distance from the band of soldiers, but close enough to know Jesus was taken to the house of the High Priest.  John knows this household and goes in first, and it is he who causes the maid to let Peter in shortly thereafter. Why was Peter there?  No doubt he felt very guilty.  He knew well how he had so loudly confessed he would never deny Christ.  By Peter going to the very place where Jesus was, with all its guards and soldiers, Peter may have been convincing his conscience that he was still bold and faithful.  This is comparable to Judas who tried to return the 30 pieces of silver that night. The price of our sin however is much greater.  "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin."  Simply put, we cannot undo nor rectify our sins of betrayal or denial.  If we deny Christ three times, confessing Christ three times cannot buy forgiveness, nor can 30 pieces of silver returned. 

        As Peter now sits by a fire warming himself, a maid earnestly studies his face.  She recognizes him and publicly says in front of others "this man was also with Him."  Being filled with fear, Peter quickly denies the first time.  In doing so he breaks the eighth commandment which says "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."  Not long after this a man makes the same charge against Peter.  Peter denies again and answers, "Man, I am not." Fearing man more than God Peter's soul is in now in turmoil.  After this a whole hour passes and because Peter has a Galilean accent another man says, "Of a truth this fellow also was with Him: for he is a Galileans".  In his third denial Peter answers, "Man I know not what thou sayest".  Peter now "began to curse and to swear" "and immediately the cock crew."  By swearing here, Peter was making a public oath that if he knew Christ, may God punishing him now and into all eternity for such a lie!  Peter damned his own soul by such words.

        It was just after the second crow of the rooster, Jesus now comes into view, being transferred from the room of Annas (Trial #1) to Caiaphas (Trial #2).  Knowing all things, the Lord "turned and looked upon Peter".  Their eyes meet and Peter remembers God's Word, "Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice."  With horror Peter's faith in himself is finally broken.  He rushes away from the scene of the crime into the darkness of night.  "Peter went out and wept bitterly."

        While it appears Peter despaired for a time, it is also certain Peter returned or went back in faith to the Lord Jesus for forgiveness.  While the time of his reconversion is not so important, it is of the greatest importance we see Jesus has forgiveness for such great sins as this threefold denial.  This lesson is not just about pride or denial, but what should be emphasized here is no matter how far we have fallen short of the glory of God, God's grace can restore and lift us up. Peter denied Christ.  David committed adultery.  Moses struck the rock.  Christ disciples ran. Noah got drunk.  Paul persecuted Christians and Thomas doubted.  Luther thus writes, "These examples are very necessary for the Church.  For where should we stay?  What hope would remain for us if Peter had not denied Christ and if all the apostles had not been offended at Him and if Moses, Aaron, and David had not fallen?  Therefore God wanted to comfort sinners with these examples and say 'If you have fallen, return; the door of mercy stands open to you.'"  Thus if God can receive such horrible sinners as David and Peter and those fearful disciples, won't God receive you also, even if you have fallen?  Jesus sinners doth receive, and "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."

        Thus while God does not want us to be proud and presumptuous as Peter, let us learn here also God does not want us to despair.  His blood still covers and atones for ALL OUR SINS, EVEN if we have fallen.  God forgives unbelief just as much as He forgives pride because "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" for "God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

        When we thus hit rock bottom, and we go out and weep bitterly over our sins as Peter, it is like we are in the bottom of a deep pit.  We look to the left, we look to the right and we look down, and there is only darkness.  In the midst of such despair however, we need to look up to heaven, looking up to Christ who is called the "Light of the world."  When you are afraid of God's wrath then, and you feel as though any moment He will turn on you, stop "feeling" for forgiveness, and have FAITH in the many WORDS OF GOD which declare you forgiven. What does it mean to your soul, when Jesus in the Word declares, "Son be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee!"  Why does Jesus speak this way, if not to forgive and assure your heart of His mercy?  And still yet, if you are not sure if God will forgive you, then why is the Bible filled from one end to another with passages like, Isaiah 1:128, " though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Likewise if you are yet tempted to believe you must do something to earn heaven, why then does God say in Romans 4, "To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."  Needless to say, for God has said it, God's salvation through Christ is free.  Therefore dear brothers and sisters in Christ, while it is true only believers in Christ go to heaven when they die, God's Word gives you every reason to believe and look up to the heavens in hope.  "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"  Jesus forgives your pride, your despair, your betrayal, and even your unbelief, therefore "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."  Amen.

GOSPEL:Luke 18:31-43

Reading: 

Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Commentary:

When we see Christ prophesying His future suffering and death, and then we see prophecy fulfilled, such always proves the truth of God's Word, and the necessity of faith in His promises. In like manner God has foretold our own suffering on earth (ye shall have much tribulation), but He has also promised our cross leads to glory. "When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away". May we always find great strength to endure suffering, by thinking of how Christ suffered first for our sake. His grace then given us will enable us to endure all things for His sake. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps."

EPISTLE: Romans 5:1-11

Reading: 

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Commentary: 

This text is a perfect summary of our faith. We are justified by faith alone in Jesus Christ, and with this justification we have peace with God. Being secure in His grace, we rejoice "in the hope of the glory of God." God's glory is our salvation, and our hope is in the world to come, which cannot perish or fade away. All our trials and tribulations then here on earth, work only to our glory. Therefore we glory in tribulation, by which we learn patience, then experience and hope. Since Christ is our hope, we are not ashamed to confess His saving name before men, even if they persecute us to death, "because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Our perpetual comfort is "in due time Christ died for the ungodly". Hence, "being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." What more needs to be said? We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us!

OT:Jeremiah 8:4/12

Reading: 

Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return? Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD. How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them? Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

Commentary: 

When a person stumbles and falls to the ground it is natural and expected for them to stand up again. In like manner the Lord here rebukes the Israelites in that they had fallen from grace (stumbling into idolatry), yet even when God punished them (so they would return and repent) they didn't have the wisdom to repent and rise up. "Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return." Note also God's visitation and judgment. Since they remained impenitent in their wickedness, an enemy would come and take the wives away from the husbands, making such their own wives. Likewise their fields (land) would be taken away by the enemy. Such is God's justice in that they had coveted their neighbor's land, possessions, and wives. This lesson teaches us God's perfect justice and punishment of sin. We too (like the Israelites) merit the same punishment every time we covet our neighbor's property, possessions, or wives. Whatever blessings we then have today, such comes only from God's mercies through Christ, never our merits.

SERMON: Isaiah 2:2-5

Reading: 

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD. 

One Mountain Exalted Above All Hills

Beloved of the Lord......Sometimes in families there is a precious heirloom passed down from generation to generation.  It might be a large house or an antique car preserved and waxed a thousand times, but rarely driven.  When fathers pass on such an heirloom to their sons, it is hoped the next generation will take good care of it, yet sometimes they fail.  When people do not put their blood and sweat into something, but rather it is given or inherited, seldom is the treasure held dear.  One of the greatest problems in my own generation is our fathers have given us everything and we have worked for every little.  Like the prodigal son we've squandered our father's gifts, and a gift given is often a gift abused.

        Today marks the 54th anniversary of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.  What did the founders of our congregation give us, or better, what treasure did God give us through them? First and foremost they gave us the pure Gospel Word whereby we know, "a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."  This truth came to us and was given, because our forefathers fought and labored for the purity of the Word.  Though they were born and raised in Lutheran Synods which were once faithful, these Synods went astray.  After diligent labors and admonitions our fathers did as God commanded them: they marked and avoided those who stubbornly defended error.  This treasure came with a cost.  They broke fellowship with family and friends and they would no longer worship with them.  They marked and avoided.  They first organized a smaller fellowship called the OLC, and then when the devil divided that, Good Shepherd was eventually formed in 1959.  She joined the Lutheran Churches of the Reformation in 1964.  We emphasize "churches" in the plural because we are not a Synod with a hierarchy and power above a congregation, but every congregation is autonomous, a divine institution of God.  Christ alone is our Head, our Faithful Shepherd, as sung by our choir today.  "Fear not little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

        All this is said for the simple purpose that my generation today and the younger generation understand and appreciate the heritage of God's word given us.  If we don't appreciate and cherish the pure and unadulterated doctrine given us by God through the founders, we may lose it.   We are not to squander our father's inheritance by sinful living, compromising the Word for the sake of family or an easier life.  Rather each doctrine, every jot, tittle, and word spoken by inspiration of the Spirit, is worth fighting for…..not with our flesh but the Sword of the Spirit.  It is even worth dying for a thousand times.  True doctrine brings Christ and salvation, but false doctrine brings the devil and damnation.  Today then let us rejoice and give thanks to God for these 54 years of grace and truth, for "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake." 

        Our sermon today is divided into three parts:  1) The Lord's house at the top of the mountain, 2) All nations flow into Zion, and 3) Walk in the Light of the Lord.

I.  The Lord's house at the top of the mountain.  Today's verses are a good fit for our occasion, because God here teaches us Zion will endure forever.  Though God's children on earth are always persecuted, cast down, and despised by men, God will never allow His Church to perish. Through Christ it will always triumph in the end.  This is why the prophet Isaiah declares, "it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established." This is a prophecy about the New Testament Church.  These "last days" are the entire New Testament era in which we still live, where Christ has come and fulfilled all prophecies by the cross, and His Gospel is continually preached by His disciples to all four corners of the earth.  In this New Testament era, "the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains." 

        In order to understand this prophecy, first realize the prophet Isaiah lived in Jerusalem about 700 years before the Advent of Christ.  Isaiah was very familiar with Solomon's Temple which was situated on a hill called Mt. Zion.  This mountain of the Lord's house would be "exalted above the hills."  This does not mean (as many teach) that the earthly city of Jerusalem would be the center of some future millennial kingdom on earth, but rather this means God's Kingdom of believers would be exalted, high and lifted up in the New Testament era.  Whereas the Old Testament is a period of prophecy, the New Testament would be a glorious period of fulfillment. This is because Christ would be born, live, suffer, die, rise again for our justification, and ascend into heaven.  The believers in Isaiah's day then were to be comforted knowing the New Testament Church would be glorious because of all Jesus would achieve.  Jesus said, "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." M t. 11 

        While the physical Mt. Zion is really a very small hill in Jerusalem as opposed to the far greater mountains of the world; the spiritual Mt. Zion is exalted above all other mountains.  This means Zion, the True Church, all believers today, live in a high and lofty Kingdom of Grace which will outlast all other kingdoms in the world.  Just as the Roman Empire rose to power but then fell, likewise Napoleon's Empire and the Third Reich…. Zion triumphs over all, outlasting all, because Christ lives here in the midst of His Church, by the Means of Grace.   We are His own Body and Temple, a spiritual house of living stones.  As our Mighty King above us, He also rules these little kingdoms below, so His Church on Earth never perishes.  Isaiah writes concerning this everlasting Kingdom of Zion, "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.  O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!  Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carrythem in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."  Jesus thus is the Captain of your Salvation dear believer, fighting all battles for you, but He is also a Faithful Shepherd in our midst, daily feeding us His grace by the Word and Sacraments.   We hear and see and taste and eat the goodness of the Lord.  He also feeds our little ones, our children, this same grace and mercy.  Each lamb is precious in His sight.  This is why our children sang today "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear!  It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, and drives away his fear."

II.  All nations flow into Zion.  In the New Testament era this Zion continually grows.  "All nations shall flow unto it.  And many people shall go and say, Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob."  Here picture Mt. Zion as a tall and snow capped mountain with streams of people flowing toward it from every corner of every nation.  This is done when we invite people to church speaking His Words of grace saying, "Come with me and learn of Jesus."  Sinners are made saints when they take to heart, "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." Another picture of how all nations flow unto Zion, would be the animals from around the world which once went two by two into Noah's ark.  Again from every direction they came like streams and rivers flowing into that one central location of the ark.  Though there were beasts of every kind, they were preserved from the flood on that ark and they lived in peace.  That is what happens when men are converted to Christ.  "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and…. nation shall not lift up sword against nation."  This too is spiritual.  It does not mean there will be no physical war on earth, rather it means once converted believers know the peace of Christ, and when we live as true Christians, we live in true spiritual peace with one another.  The Bible says, "Be ye kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you."  When we see all that Jesus did to make peace between God and man on the cross, giving His life a ransom for many, our violent and angry hearts are broken, and the peace of Christ enters in.  Wild beasts repent knowing in the blood of Christ there is forgiveness for these sins also.  Hence we make peace, we become tame and gentle, and "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together."

        Knowing Zion continually grows wherever God's Word is taught, we should be encouraged more and more to preach and teach this Word throughout out life to others.  Thus "out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem."  Since we are the salt of the earth, we are to rebuke the sins of our day.  We are not Christians if we don't rebuke sin, yet we preach the law only so the broken heart will be prepared to receive Christ in the Gospel we preach.  This should be the continual mission of our congregation, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, for "the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

III.  Walk in the Light of the Lord.  We are then unholy children by sin, made holy by the blood of Christ which covers our sins in baptism.  "O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord."  This "Light of the Lord" is none other than Christ.  As our Substitute Jesus kept and fulfilled the law in our place, and as our Substitute, Jesus paid the full penalty of our sins upon the cross.  He paid our hell giving us heaven.  Even now above us His holy blood covers our sins, so they are blotted out from God's sight.  Only those who do not believe will be damned, but if your faith is in Him alone and not your works, God cannot see nor does He remember your sins, hence we are justified by faith alone.

        To walk in this Light of the Lord then is to walk by faith and not sight doing good works of thankfulness and praise knowing His first love.  "See that none render evil for evil unto any man;but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.  Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.  In everything give thanks."  Truly that is why we are here today, for we thank God by faith, from the bottom of our heart He has given us 54 years of grace.  To the glory of His name, let us cherish and hold fast the pure and unadulterated Word given us by God through our forefathers.  Use it or lose it as they say.  For "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake."  "Take heed" dear congregation "unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."  Amen.

Ash Wednesday: GOSPEL: Matthew 4:1-11

Reading: 

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Commentary: 

On the night of His betrayal, Jesus told His disciples, "Pray that ye enter not into temptation, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." Satan uses different temptations for us at different times. Just as in this reading Satan tempts Jesus with bread, then proof that Christ is as He says He is, then glory on earth, so Satan tempted Judas with money, David with Bathsheba, or Miriam with the ministry. If we want honor among men, he may tempt us to lie for the sake of a higher office or position. By the example of Christ in this lesson, we should learn the only way to fight temptation is by the Word of God and prayer. Jesus was fasting and praying in that wilderness, and at every temptation He countered the devil by God's Word. In His successful resisting of every temptation, we can be comforted knowing God will never allow Satan to tempt us in something which is too great for us, "but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry" and "love not the world nor the things of this world."

Ash Wednesday: EPISTLE: Hebrews 4:14-5:9

Reading: Hebrews 4:14-5:9 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Commentary: 

In the wording here provided by the Holy Spirit, we see the human nature of Christ emphasized as our great High Priest. Note Jesus was "touched with the feeling of our infirmities" and also tempted, "yet without sin". Also, just as a true high priest in the Old Testament had compassion on the ignorant, and these priests themselves were compassed with infirmity (feebleness, weakness) so Christ also Himself (not being made of stone, but having a true and sympathetic compassionate heart) "offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared." "Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered." Such is the Passive Obedience of Christ. He passively endured without resistance, the punishment of God's wrath against our sin, purely obeying in love God the Father. This is why Jesus our High Priest, is the "Author of eternal salvation" unto all that obey Him. Faith hears and obeys the call of the Gospel. Let us keep the law in love.

Ash Wednesday: SERMON: Luke 22:31-44

Reading:

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

Beloved of the Lord......Very early in the Christian Church our Christian forefathers established a season before Easter called the Lenten Season.  Its purpose was to meditate upon the Passion of Christ, namely His suffering for our sins, and also this was a time of general fasting.  As Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness, the Lenten season was eventually established at 40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays.  Gregory II (who lived in the 700's) officially made Ash Wednesday the first day in Lent.    

        We call it "Ash" because it was a practice among Christians to have ashes rubbed upon their forehead in the sign of a cross.  These ashes represented mourning over sin, repentance, and also served as a reminder that as we come from the dust we return to dust.  This evening as we begin our Lenten season, let us devote all our heart and mind and soul to the serious meditation upon all the Son of God suffered for our sins, for our sake, and for our salvation. Tonight we will look at Jesus and His disciples in their journey to Gethsemane, and also the prayer of Jesus.

        This conversation between Jesus and His disciples, especially Simon Peter, takes place Thursday evening, after Christ gave the first Holy Communion to His disciples.  Judas had been seduced by this time and greed carries him away into the darkness of the night.  Both Matthew and Mark tell us that after Christ and the disciples sang a hymn, they headed for the Mount of Olives.  The Mount of Olives is just east of the Jerusalem about a mile or two, and this Passover hymn was either from Psalms 115 to 118, or Psalm 136.  They first cross the brook Kidron before ascending up.  It is on this evening walk where Jesus now speaks personally with His disciples, for much will happen tonight.  He calls Peter "Simon" because Peter would not be a rock that evening.  "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift youas wheat." This expression, "sift you as wheat" means Satan desired to use violence and force to steal Peter's faith away.  When wheat is first harvested, the wheat seed itself is first protected or surrounded by a covering which we call the chaff.  By a process of winnowing, the harvester shakes and throws into the air this wheat with its chaff, so they are separated.  In like manner, Satan would use the threat of violence that evening, to steal away the wheat or faith of Peter's heart.  Fearing men more than trusting in God, his heart would be emptied of faith.  Denying his Lord three time, Peter would become  empty chaff.

        In His omniscience, Jesus knew all of this, yet Jesus had prayed Peter's faith would not fail, "and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."  How can Jesus pray Peter wouldn't fall, yet also refer to Peter's future conversion?  Here we must not confuse God's omniscience with His gracious will.  Peter was not a robot doomed to deny Christ because Christ knew the future.  It was not God's will that Peter deny Christ three times, but His earnest will was that Peter's "faith would not fail."  There is a perfect wall of separation between God's omniscience, and gracious will for Peter and all men.  Just as Judas was not doomed to betray Christ, but it was his own evil choice, so Peter was not doomed to deny Christ, but it was his own evil choice.  God does not then predestinate anyone to evil, for "the Lord is not willing that any perish, but that all should come to repentance." On the side of omniscience then, God knew Peter would fall, yet on the side of grace, God's will was Peter would not fall.  Also Peter himself had the Holy Spirit and therefore the strength NOT TO DENY Christ three times.  On top of this Jesus really did earnestly pray that Peter would keep the faith.  Whenever people do evil then, or we do evil, or Christians fall, God cannot be blamed and it is never His will, though God is still omniscient.

Likewise God knows our future too, and all the evil we will do, but His foreknowledge of all we do doesn't mean He will bless any of our sins.  Rather it is the knowledge of His grace which we should use to fight against our own evil and do the good that God would.  For these reasons we must always maintain two things in our Christian faith:  FIRST, God is never the cause or Author of our evil.  We are the miserable sinners, not Him.  SECOND, we have the promise of the Spirit and salvation by the blood of Christ.  Use that grace and forgiveness and Spirit to do the good God intends you to do, remembering "the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."

        Sadly Peter's proud flesh was hurt by this sincere warning of Christ, hence, "Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death."  So said all the disciples.  Here is the great sin of self-confidence, Peter's sin and our own.  But God doesn't want us to think we can preserve our own faith by our own reason or  strength.  Just as we are saved by grace and not works, so we are upheld by grace and not works.  Jesus says "Without Me ye can do nothing". Likewise we should remember God's warning to the proud Gentiles (the wild grafted in branches) who boasted against the Jews (the natural branches broken off).  Paul writes, "Boast not against the (natural) branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee."  His grace alone covers our sinful boasting of works, but if we continue to boast God can take His grace away and break us off for our own unbelief.  "Be not highminded, but fear:  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off."   True faith in Christ continues in God's grace alone which preserves us, for we cannot preserve nor keep ourselves, for by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast" and First Peter 1:5 says we are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." Knowing this, "Pray that ye enter not into temptation."

        Jesus now says something which might seem strange to us.  Whereas before He sent His disciples out "without purse, and scrip, and shoes" and they lacked nothing, now He tells them to take a purse and scrip, even a sword.  Why is that?  A purse is a pouch for money, and a scrip was a beggar's bag for collecting donations.  The meaning here is that Christ would soon withdraw His earthly presence by sight, and in His absence they would have to fend for themselves by faith alone without sight.  The world would soon become quite hostile toward them.  The same is true today.  Jesus said "Marvel not brethren if the world hate you" and we know the world hated Jesus before us."  God does not forbid us from using the sword to defend innocent life like wife and children, but God does forbid us using the sword to defend or advance the Gospel.  So Jesus allows the sword for Peter here, but later the same night rebukes Peter who slices off the ear of Malchus with the sword. 

        Our last point this evening concerns Jesus praying alone and by Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane.  "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."  At this time the dark curtain of His suffering and death descend upon Him like a great stone crushing His soul.  Even the name Gethsemane means "oil-press", for this is where the olives were pressed and crushed to produce olive oil.  Yet here now in great anguish and the prospect of just what lies before Him, the winepress of God's wrath, He "sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."  His agony so great, that in this compression and stress, blood, or perhaps a mixture of sweat and blood…..seep out of His pores. 

        What exactly is it that Christ now faces?  He faces the horror of death, which is absolutely foreign to the nature of Christ, which is life everlasting.  Now life everlasting must die everlastingly, and not for our sins only, but for the sins of the whole world.  Jesus now will also taste death for all sinners, for all mankind, even suffer the damnation of all sinners for all eternity.  Moreover, since Christ must overcome all the temptations of the devil for our sake, God allows Satan at this time to fully vex Christ and the devil hopes Christ will despair of the love of God, not fulfilling His mission.  In the midst of it all however, Jesus does not despair, but He prays in faith as a child saying, "Father" and "if Thou be willing" and "nevertheless not my will, but thine be done."  "And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him".  Knowing the Father's will, after prayer Jesus rises up allowing Himself to be captured and crucified.  Not for a moment did this Captain of our salvation turn away from the Father's will, for He was and still is and ever shall be, "the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world."  "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he wasbruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."  Truly His blood heals all sins, and His blood makes whole.  "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."  Amen.