SERMON:John 20:1-10

Reading:  The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.   Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.   Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.   So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.   And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.   Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,   And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.   Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.   For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.   Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

OT: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (Good Friday)

Reading: Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.  As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:  So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. (53) Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.   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 was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.  He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

SERMON:Isaiah 53:11 (Good Friday)

Reading:  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied

EPISTLE: I Corinthians 10:1-17 (Maundy Thursday)

Reading:  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; 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.  I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

OT: Psalm 41 (Maundy Thursday)

Reading:   Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive, and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee. Mine enemies speak evil of me: When shall he die, and his name perish?  And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.  All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread: hath lifted up his heel against me. But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up: that I may requite them. By this I know that thou favourest me: because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity: and settest me before thy face for ever. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel: from everlasting and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

SERMON:Luke 22:7-26 (Maundy Thursday)

Reading: Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.   And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.   And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?   And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.   And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?   And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.   And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.   And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.   And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:   For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.   And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:   For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.   And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.   Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.   But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.   And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!   And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.   And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.   And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.   But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

GOSPEL: Matthew 21:1-9

Reading: And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,  Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.  And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.  All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,  Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.  And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,  And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.  And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.  And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

EPISTLE: I Timothy 1:12-17

Reading:  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;   Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.   And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.   This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.   Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.   Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

OT: Jeremiah 18:1-14

Reading: The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,   Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.   Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.   And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.   Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,   O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.   At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;   If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.   And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;   If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.   Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.   And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.   Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.   Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?

SERMON: Matthew 21:10-16

Reading: And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?  And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.  And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.  And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.  And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,  And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

Luther's Words...The purpose of the Law

The first knowledge of the Law consist in this, that we see the inability of human nature to keep it.  For it wants the heart, and if it is not kept from the heart, the observance is not valid before God.  To be sure, you make keep the works outwardly; but God is not satisfied unless they are performed from the heart and out of love, which is not possible unless a man is born anew through the Holy Spirit.  God then, wants to achieve no more with the Law than getting us thereby to recognize our inability, our frailty, and sickness - to recognize that, so far as we are concerned, we cannot keep one letter of the Law.  When you feel that, the Law has done its work.  This is what St. Paul means when he says to the Romans: "By the Law is the knowledge of sin."

WLS #2344

GOSPEL: John 8:46-59

Reading: Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?  He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.  Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?  Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.  And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.  Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.  Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?  Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:  Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.  Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.  Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

EPISTLE: Romans 5:12-21

Reading: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:   (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.  But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.  And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.  For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

OT: Psalm 2

Reading:  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.  Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.  Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.  Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

SERMON: Matthew 27:15-31

Reading:  Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.  And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.  Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?  When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.  The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.  Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.  And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.  Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.  Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.  And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!  And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.  And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

GOSPEL: John 6:1-15

Reading: After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.  And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.  And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.  And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.  When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?   And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.   Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.  One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,  There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?   And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.   And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.   When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.   Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.   Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.   When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

EPISTLE: I Peter 1:17-25

Reading:  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:   Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;   But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:   Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,   Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.   Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:   Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.   For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:   But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

OT: Malachi 2:1-10

Reading:  Malachi 2:1-10  And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.   If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.   Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.  And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.   My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.   The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.   For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.   But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.   Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.   Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

SERMON: Matthew 27:1-10

Reading:   Matthew 27:1-10  When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:   And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.   Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,   Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.   And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.   And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.   And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.   Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.   Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;   And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

GOSPEL: Luke 11:14-20

Reading:

And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

Commentary: 

By this miracle of casting out devils, the people should have believed Jesus was the Son of God come with power to save. His power over the devil here should give our hearts great comfort, for we need not fear the devil with Christ on our side. Satan's power over us was broken when Christ redeemed us by the cross. When people nevertheless spurn and despise such a great Savior who came with grace to save all, their fate in this world is terrible. They go from bad to worse. The more they resist and reject the Gospel, the greater Satan's hold upon such grows. "Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first." Let us be sure to see Christ as He is and proved Himself to be, the very Son of God with power to cast our devils, by the preaching of the Gospel. Though His miracles were impressive and powerful, His Gospel is just as powerful, for by it we are delivered from Satan's power, and made the children of God. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

EPISTLE: II Corinthians 6:14-18

Reading: 

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Commentary: 

 God here commands us not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, "for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, and what communion hath light with darkness." For this reason we do not practice or exercise church fellowship with the heterodox, who have departed from the truth of the Word (there are three forms of fellowship: prayer, pulpit and altar). While some say this passage only means we are not to worship with unbelievers, God's Word compares righteousness with unrighteousness, also light and darkness. One false doctrine can overthrow faith just as easily as two or three or four. If there is one part of poison on our plate of food, as opposed to two parts, three, or four, would we assume the one part can't hurt us? "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." Contrary to popular belief, unionism is what divides churches up so there are many churches with many doctrines. The only unity it ever achieves is the unity of compromising God's Word for the sake of a worldly love as opposed to the love Jesus teaches, "If ye love Me, keep my commandments."

OT: Jeremiah 26:1-15

Reading: 

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened; Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth. So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD. When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD'S house. Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears. Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you. As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you. But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.

Commentary: 

The Lord here through the mouth of Jeremiah, condemns the people of Judah for their sins. He wanted them to "turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil which I purpose to do." God was about to punish them for their evil, hence He warns them only if they change course will He "repent" namely not do what He had intended. This preaching of the law with God's earnest threats against man for sin is much necessary in our world, for all who continue in their wickedness without repentance will be eternally condemned when they die. By the general rejection of Jeremiah's word (God's Words), the people wanted Jeremiah put to death. Suffering such hatred, Jeremiah still affirms the truth of his words, and He commits His life to God's keeping. In a Christ-like manner, He will give his life if necessary for the truth of God's Word.

SERMON: Luke 22:63-71

Reading: 

And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

The Active and Passive Obedience Of Christ our High Priest

Beloved of the Lord......In the Old Testament, a priest was a person who offered up sacrifices to God, first for his own sins, then for the sins of the people.  By the multitude of sacrifices those priests offered in the Old Testament, God was teaching man one very important thing: man could never sacrifice enough to atone for sin.  What God really desires in a sacrifice is a willing heart, namely a sacrificial heart which loves God, seeking nothing but His glory.  This is something we as men can never do.  For every time man tries to offer something to God in sacrifice for payment of sin, man is doing this only for himself.  Every good work is a bribe in God's sight, and God accepts no bribe.  In all the world, there has really been only one sacrifice with the power to move and turn God's own heart, and that was the willing sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God.  When God in heaven looked upon His own Son, suffering, bleeding, dying, making a selfless and sacrificial atonement for our sins, God's own heart was in upheaval.  God's heart through Jesus was turned from wrath against men, to favor for all men.  When we then in this life are weighed down by our sins, discouraged and weary, we need only think of one High Priest who offered up Himself to bring us into God's good favor, Jesus Christ the Lord.  The Bible says, "Wherefore in all things it behoved [Jesus] to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people"…."And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

I.  The active obedience of Christ.   Christ was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane sometime between 1AM and 2AM in the morning.  Before Christ was brought to Pilate Friday morning, there were at least two, if not three trials held by the Jews.  We know the High Priest Annas had a private trial with Jesus first, and this was before Peter's threefold denial.  Annas was the former high priest, and also the father-in-law of Caiaphas the official ruling high priest.  During this trial with Annas, messengers were sent out to gather and assemble the Jewish counsel together named the Sanhedrin.  Imagine then their hatred for Christ, to hold a trial in the middle of the night to condemn Him!  It also generally believed both Annas and Caiaphas lived in the same large palace which had a courtyard in the middle.  This was where Peter warmed himself by the fire.  It is John who tells us that Annas "asked Jesus of His disciples and of His doctrine" and Jesus answers, "I spake openly to the world: I ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple…and in secret have I said nothing."  This was when "one of the offices which stood by Jesus struck Jesus with the palm of his hand" to which Jesus answered, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smiteth thou me?"  After this trial Jesus is sent bound unto Caiaphas, presumably in another part of the palace.

        This second trial around 2AM or later, was the official trial of Christ before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin.  Not only had the council assembled by this time, but they also sought and found false witnesses who could not agree.  After Christ confesses to be the Son of God, Caiaphas rents his clothes in hypocrisy, as if Jesus has spoken blasphemy.  Matthew then tells us, "Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?"  It is likely that after this second trial, Jesus is held in the courtyard by the soldiers before yet another trial at daybreak. From both Matthew and Mark (Mt. 27:1-2, Mk 15:1) it certainly appears another trial was held by Caiaphas very early in the morning at daybreak, and Luke in our text today clearly says, "And as soon as it was day, the elders" [ect.] "came together and led him into their council saying Art thou the Christ? Tell us."  This third trial was more for the sake of appearance and in agreement with Jewish law and regulation. 

        "Art thou the Christ? Tell us!"…this is what they demanded.  If Christ here answers YES, in their unbelieving eyes He has spoken blasphemy.  In His first answer Jesus says, "If I tell you, ye will not believe" and this was certainly true.  For three years by word and deed Christ had confessed to them He was the world's Savior, saying, "I am the light of the world".  In John seven Jesus said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."  Even today all those who seek to be forgiven their sins should stop their silly works of sacrifice, and believe in the one good work which has power to save, the willing sacrifice of Jesus Himself, our great High Priest.  If we wish to be saved, we need only hear His Word and believe as Jesus said, "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

        Since God would have all men to be saved, Jesus now testifies under oath for the sake of the world, His true identity, so no one doubts but all believe.  When they said again "Art thou then the Son of God?" Jesus answered, "Ye say that I am", which is the same as saying, "You've said it!"  Mark records Christ here simply saying "I am".  We have here the sworn testimony of Jesus under oath, to be the True God, "begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten not made, Being of one substance with the Father."  Jesus is the "I AM THAT I AM" of sacred Scripture, who also said, "Before Abraham was, I am" or as Micah said, "whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" or as Isaiah said, "Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."  The verdict of the Jews, that Jesus had committed blasphemy, likewise proves Jesus confessed to be True God.  In Matthew 26 we find the Jews saying, "Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.  What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death."  

        By this open and honest confession of Christ, Jesus is our High Priest, actively obeying and fulfilling God's law as our Substitute.  Our catechism teaches, "As my Priest, Christ fulfilled the Law in my stead perfectly (active obedience)".  If we were to be saved from death and hell for those many times we have broken our word or lied to our fellow man, Christ would have to live the perfect and holy life we never did, and always speak the truth.  Of Jesus our High Priest the Bible says, "Such an High Priest became us who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens."  Most notably today we emphasize His active obedience by a truthful and honest confession, and also the words He didn't speak.  Though these trials were unjust, a sham, a show, blasphemous in themselves, Jesus didn't open His mouth once in complaint.  Whereas we throughout lives have behaved just like Annas, Caiaphas, and the others, in that we have lied and borne false witness andn put the worst construction on everything regarding our neighbor, Jesus never lied, was never cruel, never judged when it was not His place, never put the worst construction on everything, and most importantly Jesus never complained, even when He endured the greatest injustice of all, man's justice against the Son of God.  Isaiah writes, "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."  In His meekness and humility then, even by His silence we should see Jesus fulfilling the law as our Substitue.  Through Jesus God can now say of every believer, "This is my good and obedient child, who has never once complained."

II.  The passive obedience of Christ.  This brings us to what is called the Passive Obedience of Christ.  Here our catechism says "As my High Priest" [Jesus] "sacrificed Himself for me (passive obedience)".  When we speak of the Passive Obedience of Christ, we speak of all Jesus suffered for our sins in willing obedience to God the Father.  This includes not only His later suffering of hell on the cross for our sins but also all the suffering Jesus endured at the hands of Annas, Caiaphas, and the soldiers.  First they "mocked Him and smote Him" striking Him with their fists.  Then they put a blindfold on his hand and gave Him a hard blow, as if Jesus didn't know who hit Him.  Jesus also felt the many blows from many palms, the sting upon His cheek, yet He turned the other cheek, as we should do also that we may be children of our Father.  If we then were to be delivered from our own cruelty to our fellow man, Jesus would have to endure the cruel nature of man Himself, even with a willing heart, and love alone for God the Father and even the men who smote Him.  The Father wanted to save us to, and so the Father above allows His own Son to be slapped and beaten and mocked that the evil of our own hands might be undone, and the cruel words of our mouth forgiven.  Throughout the night from 2AM onward, the soldiers took pleasure in His pain, yet the deepest stroke that pierced Him was the stroke that justice gave.

        All of this puts our own life into perspective.  If Jesus willingly endured all this for us, what will we endure for Him?  Even if our Father grants us 100 years of pure misery on earth, what is this in comparison to the eternal bliss of heaven, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."  And even now if we think of all those saints above us who suffered terrible and unspeakable things below, where are they now and do they suffer any more?  Yet our comfort is not in the saints, but in Christ suffered all things for the saints, even the sins of the whole world.  Yet the whole world does not make it to heaven, only believers do.  Therefore do as Jesus commands you, deny yourself, and "Take up the cross and follow Me."  Jesus will never lead you astray, but by this cross He leads you to the sure glories of heaven.  Rest assured, if He gives you a cross, He will likewise give you the strength to bear it, for "by grace are ye saved" and that "not of yourselves."  And though it is surely true, we are nothing like Jesus when it comes to complaint, our sins of complaint are also forgiven by His blood, and this silent Lamb is in no wise silent when He declares His eternal love for us saying, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." Knowing such, we in no wise fear our cross, but we happily reach for it and grab it and joyfully carry it till we reach our heavenly home.  Where is this home?  It is where the Son of God lives and reigns even now, at the "right hand of the power of God."  Therefore surely, whatever suffering He allows us here by His power, such will surely lead us to that crown of glory above. What glory then "is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps."  Run this race with patience dear believer, your crown of glory awaits. Amen.