Regarding Boston

A few words concerning the tragedy in Boston:  When such senseless violence occurs in our society, we must remember the devil "was a murderer from the beginning."  When victims die through such violence, we remember Jesus shed His blood for them too, and if they died in the faith they immediately enter heaven, but if they died in unbelief they will never see paradise.  We therefore should be sure we ourselves are in the true faith of Jesus Christ, by repentance of sin and faith in His blood.  It is not death to die, when we die in the Lord.  Likewise we should pray for the repentance of the people of Boston (and the nation), for by these tragedies God warns all who despise His grace, "now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."  Let us pray for all men everywhere.

GOSPEL: John 16:16-23

Gospel Reading

A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.  Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?  They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.  Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?  Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.  A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.  And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.  And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

Gospel Commentary

"Ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy."  Such is the promise of Jesus, to His believing children, who through much trial and tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.  He has promised us that the sorrows of this world will finally come to an end, and we will enter the joys of heaven above, an eternal Sabbath of joy.  By the earthly example of a woman who first goes through the pains of childbirth, but then has joy, such is the life of believers in this world which hates us, but then sorrow is turned to joy.  Even on earth we can and do have much joy, but this is spiritual joy, the joy of faith, knowing the love of Christ, His love for us.  In the midst of trials then we still can have peace and joy of heart, "for I know that my Redeemer liveth" and He will come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead.  Though we were dead, His Spirit has quickened us in faith by the call of the Gospel.  Knowing Him who loved us, our hearts "shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you."

EPISTLE: I John 3:1-6

Epistle Reading

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.   Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.   And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.   Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.   And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

Epistle Commentary

It is a special honor (and to our glory) to be called the "sons of God".  "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."  If they knew Him they would know us, but they don't know Him hence they cannot recognize us as God's children.  The day will come however, when they see us in His glory, for the saints on the Last day will judge and condemn all those who would not believe in Christ.  Yet "we shall see Him as He is."  We will forever see Him as our gracious Savior who willingly gave His life for our salvation.  Such is our hope.  "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."  Therefore we should not yield ourselves to sin, for to return to our sinful ways is to again fall into slavery, the bondage of the devil.  Instead of this we rejoice Jesus "was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin."  To live and abide in Christ is to renounce sin, but to continue in sin is to not see Him.

OT: Psalm 23

Old Testament Reading

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Old Testament Commentary

No matter our trials or tribulations, this Psalm of David should always comfort us.  "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want!"  What need we when Christ our Good Shepherd is near?  With His living waters, He quenches the desire of all who thirst to be forgiven.  He also leads us in the path of righteousness, namely the straight and narrow path to heaven, which is by His grace alone, "for His name's sake".  Even when danger of death draws near, "I will fear no evil, Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."  His Word is our stay.  His law reveals what is right and good in His sight, and His Gospel not only absolves us of all sin, but gives our hearts strength to do His good will.  And even though we live in a world of enemies, "Thou preparest a table before me".  Even when we have only a little, our cup runs over, for we are rich in grace.  "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."

SERMON: John 12:20-26

Sermon Reading

And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:   The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.   Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.   And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.   Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.   He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.   If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Where We See Jesus

Beloved of the Lord......We live in a world where it is very hard to see Jesus.  Like the Greeks, we too would see Jesus, but we read the news, we see what is going on in the world, and our hearts are discouraged.  How can we see Christ in the midst of these horrible tragedies which occur every week?  More often than not, our entire life is much like that time for the disciples after the death of Christ but before His resurrection.  All their hopes and dreams perished when Christ died.  In like manner, all the evil in this world which our eyes see depresses us.  We too would see Jesus, but where is He to be found? 

        The answer to this question is really very simple: we see Jesus in His Word and Sacraments.  We see Jesus when we read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the Scriptures because Jesus comes to us with grace, forgiveness, and peace through the Word spoken, the Sacraments given.  In a world full of evil, bloodshed, and chaos, we still have the sweet promises of Christ saying, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

        We should not fear nor be troubled because Christ is waiting for us there at the finish line, where we by faith conquer death and enter life everlasting.  You must remember then dear Christian, you are presently running a marathon yourself, and though the devil will throw many obstacles in your path, Christ has already crossed that finish line first for you by His own first death and resurrection.  All then that is necessary for you in this race is to persevere in faith unto life everlasting, when you will see Him face to face.  Therefore as you run this race of faith and hope, remember the words of the Holy Spirit in Hebrews 12, "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." 

        Our sermon today is divided into three parts, FIRST, we see Jesus in His Word and Sacraments, TWO, the Son of Man is glorified by His death and resurrection, and THREE, Do not love your life here, lest you lose your eternal life in heaven above. 

 I.  We see Jesus in His Word and Sacraments.  Our lesson begins with certain Greeks who had a great desire to see Jesus.  These Greeks must have lived in Bethsaida, for they knew Phillip and first came to him.  Certainly they had heard of the miracles of Jesus, but more importantly they had heard through others the words Jesus preached.  When they approach Philip, there is a genuine longing in their heart to see Jesus, for they said "We would see Jesus".  This doesn't mean they were curious about what Jesus looked like, rather their soul was drawn to Him.  In His Words they were discovering their Savior.  We know this also by the answer of Jesus to Philip and Andrew.  Jesus said, "The hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified."  Soon enough Jesus would be lifted up high on the cross for the sins of all people, Jews and Gentiles alike, all nations.  Whenever and wherever His Gospel is preached today, the Holy Spirit opens the spiritual eyes of lost sinners from every nation, and they see Christ for the first time as their Savior.  Those who long to be forgiven will find Jesus to be a most merciful Savior.  This is why in John 12:32 Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."  Even now in heaven there are saints gathered together from every nation, and quite possible those Greeks in our lesson today.  In the book of Revelation John sees such people in heaven saying, "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." 

        While they see Him face to face above, the only way to see Jesus in this world is by faith, through His Word spoken in our Bibles, or the visible Word of Baptism and Holy Communion.  If you really want to know who Jesus is and what He is like, the Word alone is the only revelation God will give you, and we should look for Christ in no other place than  our Bibles.  When people despise God's Word, breaking His third commandment, they live in a world of confusion not knowing God, and it is their own fault and God will punish.  Yet if we read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest God's Word, the Bible says "Blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it.  The Holy Spirit Himself will come to us in that Word, and also teach and comfort our heart.  Jesus said the same in John 14.  "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you."

        Besides the hearing of the Word in church, and the private study of the Scriptures, we see and learn of Jesus also by our Baptism and Holy Communion.  Thus, if you want to know what Jesus is like, see Him coming to you the first time in your own baptism.  You were born dirty and unclean in God's sight, but Christ the Word came to you in, by, and through the Words spoken at your own baptism, and He put His holy name upon you when you were baptized "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."  By the cleansing power of His Word, He washed away all the dirtiness of your sin, making you clean and white in His sight.  Though you still feel and know your sin daily by God's law, by His Gospel you also know God through Christ counts you as holy.  You are clothed with His grace, the righteousness of Christ upon you.  It is not much different when you receive Holy Communion.  You SEE Jesus there also, when He comes to you with His body and blood, in, with, and under the bread and wine.  You eat the visible bread and drink the visible wine, but faith alone sees these are "Given and shed for you for the remission of sins."  And just as Christ rose from the dead in triumph on the third day, you can rise to your feet after Holy Communion a new man.  Second Corinthians 5 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ."

II.  The Son of Man is glorified by His death and resurrection. If then we are to see the true glory of Christ, we must see Him in both His death and resurrection.  This is why after speaking of His glory Jesus said to Philip and Andrew, "Verily verily I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."  Since all mankind fell in Adam's fall, and thus was subject to the curse of the law which is death and damnation, Christ in our stead would have to suffer and die Himself, even be damned on the cross for our sins.  Thus on the cross Jesus abided alone, our sins upon Him, and God the Father truly forsook Him.  It was for our sins "he suffered, died, and was buried, but rose again the third day."  His resurrection then is like that wheat seed which germinates in the ground, and the new blade of grass springs forth and grows.  His Church, the Holy Christian Church, is still growing today wherever the Gospel is preached, and even in our hearts by faith, we grow in grace.  His resurrection from the dead is our resurrection too, and "Because I live ye shall live also." 

        Not only does His resurrection give us life everlasting in heaven, but the power of His life empowers us to spring forth in good works.  Jesus said, "If it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."  We too die in the knowledge of our sin.  The law of God awakens in our soul the knowledge of our deadness, yet faith knows JESUS LIVES - and in Jesus we live also.  When we repent of our sins we die every time, yet we do not remain dead but Christ resurrects us in absolution saying, "Son be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee."  His Gospel then causes us to break forth in song, like the birds in Springtime.  And just as soon enough all of nature around us will burst forth in blossom and EVERYTHING WILL BE GREEN, so Jesus by His resurrection will cause us to bear rich and abundant fruit in good works.  Romans six therefore says, "Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."  What then are these good works Jesus wants us to do?  "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

III.  Do not love your life here, lest you lose your eternal life in heaven above.  Our last point for the day is really the most important, namely "He that loveth His life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal."  The meaning here is that we should value nothing in this world (not even family) as more important or sacred than our Savior Jesus Christ.  "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."  Rather than loving the world, remember Jesus is your first love because He loved you first. Likewise "Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take Thy crown." 

        This sinful world in which we live then is much like a prostitute who seeks to tempt us away from the gracious and strong arms of our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.  We dare not indulge in her sinful pleasures which last but a moment, lest we lose our eternal life above.  But more importantly, Christ here teaches us we are to hate our life here in comparison to that eternal life above.  "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."  We should also meditate upon the words of Christ in Matthew ten.  "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;  And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you."  If confessing Christ means they murder you and take your life, so be it.  I'm but a stranger here, heaven is my home.

        Finally beloved, let us close by remembering again we are running a race in faith, a marathon, and we must run this race in patience knowing Christ is waiting for us there at the finish line and a crown of glory waits.  "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me….if any man serve Me, him will my Father honor."  Rest assured by the Word and Sacraments Jesus gives you, you are not alone in this race but Jesus  is with you always.  Surely He will never leave nor forsake thee.  "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."  That is God's sure promise to you.  Amen.

Luther Says...A Good Wife Makes a Good Home and a Good Husband

Another very fine factor, one that contributes much toward harmony in the home, is the concerned effort of the wife to regard her husband's will, to do what she knows he likes, and to avoid what she knows he dislikes.  By such conduct she wins the heart of her husband so that it is a pleasure and a delight to him to return to his home and his wife.  On the other hand, if wives are disobedient, self-willed, and domineering, a man hates his own home and feels as if he is going to war and entering the enemies' camp when he steps into his house. 

What Luther Says #2830

GOSPEL: John 10:11-16

Gospel Reading

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.   But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.   The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.   I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.   As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.   And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Gospel Commentary

Note the contrast between the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep, and the hireling who leaves the sheep when the wolf comes.  The hireling holds his life more dear than the sheep, yet Jesus did not hold His life more dear.  With these words the Lord directs His sheep to take notice of His great care for them, and also a warning against unfaithful pastors.  At the same time all sheep can see the great difference between the love of our Good Shepherd for us, and our inconsistent love for Him.  Let us not be unfaithful in our high calling to follow Christ, and let us not deem our life more precious than the life He gave for our soul.  As for the other sheep of another fold, these are the Gentiles in other nations who did not believe, but God by the Gospel called them into His True Church.  This passage in no way promotes unionism of different denominations (as many suppose).  Rather there may be various folds, but only one flock!

EPISTLE: I Peter 4:12-19

Epistle Reading 

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Epistle Commentary

Peter's words here were for those Christians who were suffering persecution, hence the "fiery trial".  They were in the heat of tribulation.  This trial shouldn't surprise them, rather Peter instructs them to rejoice in this high honor God was giving them, for God would be glorified thereby and the "Spirit of Glory" rested upon them.  When we suffer hardships from the world which hates us, particularly because we believe and trust in Christ, such is true persecution and godly suffering.  "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you."  Contrary to this, if however one is suffering for their own sins (as a thief, evil-doer, etc), this is not something to glory in, but rather repent of and acknowledge this is the just desserts of our sin.  Thus when we suffer as a Christian, let us learn to glorify and thank God for such, for this is His good will which is always best.  "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator."

OT: Ezekial 34:11-16

Old Testament Reading

For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.  As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.  And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.  I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.  I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.  I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.

Old Testament Commentary

God not only promises to feed and strengthen His sheep here, but also to call (by the Gospel) the lost Gentiles from other lands, so they become true sheep in His Kingdom of Grace.  He feeds us "upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers", and what is it that the Lord feeds His sheep, the Holy Christian Church?....He satisfies our hunger and thirst for forgiveness with the Means of Grace, Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and the Gospel Word (in its various forms).  And though even now throughout the world God's sheep are not always able to join a local church (due to false teaches, false doctrine, etc), God still feeds them and clothes them with His grace via the Word, wherever the Gospel is found, for "I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.  I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick."  Note at the end God's wrath against the "fat and strong".  These are false Christians, particularly those pastors and ministers who are in the "business" for the sake of their bellies and not the love of Christ.  "For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" (Examples: Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, and many others belly servers).

Walther's Theses "Concerning the Church"

Thesis I - The church in the proper sense of the term is the congregation [Gemeinde] of saints, that is, the aggregate of all those who, called out of the lost and condemned human race by the Holy Spirit through the Word, truly believe in Christ and by faith are sanctified and incorporated in Christ.

Thesis II - To the church in the proper sense of the term belongs no wicked person, no hypocrite, no unregenerate, no heretic.

Thesis III - The church in the proper sense of the word is invisible.

Thesis IV - It is to this true church of believers and saints that Christ gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and it is the proper and only possessor and bearer of the spiritual, divine, and heavenly gifts, rights, powers, offices, and the like that Christ has procured and are found in His church.

Thesis V - Though the true church in then proper sense of the term is essentially [according to its true nature] invisible, its existence can nevertheless be definitely recognized, namely, by the marks of the pure preaching of God’s Word and the administration of the sacraments according to Christ’s institution.

Thesis VI - In an improper sense Scripture also calls the visible aggregate of all the called, that is, of all who confess and adhere to the proclaimed Word and use the holy sacraments, which consists of good and evil [persons], “church” (the universal [catholic] church); so also it calls its several divisions, that is, the congregations that are found here and there, in which the Word of God is preached and the holy sacraments are administered, “churches” (Partikularkirchen [particular or individual churches]).  This it does especially because in this visible assembly the invisible, true, and properly so-called church of believers, saints, and children of God is hidden; outside this assembly of the called no elect are to be looked for [anywhere].

Thesis VII - As visible congregations that still have the Word and the sacraments essentially according to God’s Word bear the name “church” because of the true invisible church of sincere believers that is found in them, so also they possess the power [authority] that Christ has given to His whole church, on account of the true invisible church hidden in them, even if there were only two or three [believers].

Thesis VIII - Although God gathers for Himself a holy church of elect also where His Word is not taught in its perfect purity and the sacraments are not administered altogether according to the institution of Jesus Christ, if only God’s Word and the sacraments are not denied entirely but both remain in their essential parts, nevertheless, every believer must, at the peril of losing his salvation, flee all false teachers, avoid all heterodox congregations or sects, and acknowledge and adhere to orthodox congregations and their orthodox pastors wherever such may be found.

                A. Also in heterodox and heretical churches there are children of God, and also there the true church is made manifest by the pure Word and the sacraments that still remain.

                B. Every believer for the sake of his salvation must flee all false teachers and avoid all heterodox congregations or sects.

                C. Every Christian for the sake of his salvation is in duty bound to acknowledge and adhere to orthodox congregations and orthodox pastors, wherever he can find such.

Thesis IX - To obtain salvation, only fellowship in the invisible church, to which alone all the glorious promises regarding the church were originally given, is absolutely necessary.

GOSPEL: John 20:19-31

Gospel Reading

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.  And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:  Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.  But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Gospel Commentary

This incident, when Christ appeared to Thomas, was the second time He appeared before His disciples.  By the visible wounds which Thomas could touch if he wanted to, Christ proved He was the same crucified who died and rose again.  "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."  If we believe the resurrection without seeing, by the very promise of Christ it is certain - WE WILL BE BLESSED.

EPISTLE: II Corinthians 5:1-10

Epistle Reading

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:  If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.  Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:   (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Epistle Commentary

These verses are particularly comforting in the elderly years, for by this time the Lord has well revealed to us the foolishness of our youth, and also the certainty of our salvation in the merits of Christ, who first suffered all things for us.  In the faith each believer longs to depart this body and be with Him in that building of God above, "an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."  In heaven each believer is glorified, clothed with eternal holiness, as long as they are not found naked on earth (unbelief).  What then is our burden upon earth?  While our sins are a burden in that "the good that I would I do not", the cross took this burden away.  Our real burden is that we are not yet with the Lord though we want to be.  We want our mortality to be swallowed up in the immortality above.  Our confidence is in the Lord.  Yet it does say we labor that "we may be accepted of Him."  This means believers prove themselves to be believers by the keeping of God's commandments (not being justified by such, but because we are justified).  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."  Our good works on such a day testify we are the sons of God for such were done in faith for Him who loved us first.

OT: Isaiah 52:1-10

Old Testament Reading: 

Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.   Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.   For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.   For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.   Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.   Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.   How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!   Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.   Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.   The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Old Testament Commentary:

The Lord had allowed the Assyrians to take the people of Jerusalem captive for their sins.  Their captivity was their punishment for worshiping idols instead of the true God (and this same end may soon befall our idolatrous USA for their abortion, same-sex marriage, birth control, gambling, and unbelief concerning Christ).  In this text however, we see God giving hope to people in captivity, though the heathen oppress them:  Shake thyself from the dust….loose thyself form the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.    In the physical sense this earthly captivity would end, but in the spiritual sense Christ the Messiah was still coming.  His New Testament Church would be glorious in the Advent of Christ.  Christ in His own person would be the Gospel, come to save, and wherever His feet went, such would bring the Gospel of Peace, forgiveness of sins.  They would see Him "eye to eye".  Near the end consider the phrase "The LORD hath made bare His Holy Arm in the eyes of all the nations".  As a man may lift his shirt sleep to reveal the strength and power of his arm, so God's strength and power over sin, death, and the devil, is revealed for all to see by His Holy Arm, Christ crucified yet risen.  When His Church, you the believer, preach and teach the Gospel (or show such by Word and deed), the Spirit of Christ reveals His forgiveness to the weak sinner who mourns their sins.  "All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God."

SERMON: John 21:1-19

Sermon Reading

After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.  There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.  Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.  But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.  Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.  And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.  And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.  As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.  Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.  Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.  Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.  Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.  This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.  This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

Follow Me

Beloved of the Lord......Contrary to popular belief, it is not possible to be a confessing Christian, yet live an openly wicked life without confessing sin.  We are either for Christ or against Him, and there is no in-between.  This means also we either have the free and full forgiveness of sins through Christ, which faith alone believes, or we have no forgiveness at all because we do not believe.  All that God has done and accomplished by the cross can only be believed or not believed.  Also Jesus said, "He that is not with Me is against Me" and "No man can serve two masters." 

        To put this another way, believers confess their sins and unbelievers do not.  Today then we have again the blessed Sacrament of Holy Communion.  How do we approach this Holy Table, provided and given us by the Lord?  Do we approach with penitent hearts confessing our sins, or do we give Him lip service with the intent of continuing in our sins?  In our lesson today we remember Peter had denied his Lord three times, and we likewise have Peter three times confessing His love for Christ.  Peter's love for Christ comes from Christ's FIRST LOVE for Peter by the cross.  Peter LOVED CHRIST, because Peter already knew Christ had forgiven Peter.  We see also in our lesson Christ feeding His disciples a morning meal of fish and bread already prepared for them when they reach the shore.  Isn't there a comparison with this Holy Meal Christ Himself has placed upon our altar today, in Holy Communion?  When we approach this Lord's Table then today, let us remember Proverbs 28:13.  "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."  While it is more than evident we Christians sin continually throughout our life, it is Christ's love for us through the cross, that again and again cause us to approach this Lord's Supper by confessing our sins and saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner."  Those who confess their sins here truly will find mercy, but finding such mercy let us be sure to forsake our sins.  As Jesus said to Peter, so Jesus says to us, "Follow Me."

I.  The great catch of the Fishers of Men.  The Bible says of the first two times Jesus showed Himself alive to the disciples, "When the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."  Christ then in His human nature still had His same human body which was crucified on the cross, but His body was now glorified, namely Christ now fully used His divine nature connected to His human nature.  This is how His body passed through the rock door at the tomb, or the doors to the closed room.  In like manner Christ is always with us today in flesh and blood, His continual presence with us should be of great comfort to our soul - yet we see Him by faith alone, for we walk by faith and not sight.

        As for those 40 days before the resurrection and ascension, we see the disciples didn't waste their time or talents sitting around waiting for Jesus' to tell them what to do.  They employed themselves in doing good, namely catching fish to make money for their families.  That is also why every man should work hard to put bread on the table for family.  Ephesians four tells us, "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth."  From Galatians six we also learn that by our labors we support those pastors who teach the good Word of God.  It says, "Let him that is taught in the word communicate [or provide] unto him that teacheth in all good things.  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."  Think of how much money we spend on car payments, cable TV, beer, entertainment, or 15% to a waitress, and what do we have at the end to give to church?  Usually it is our leftovers.  More often than not we do not give our firstfruits of faith.  When the apostle Paul was raising money for the poor Christians in Jerusalem, Paul instructed the Corinthians, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him."  This essentially means when you first receive your paycheck, before you pay all your other bills, set aside for the Lord your contribution to church first.  This was really the Apostle Paul's advice, but not a commandment.  When we give to the Lord the right way, we freely give remembering Jesus gave all for us on the cross.  Therefore whatever you give is your business, but simply give to God your firstfruits in faith.

        As for those disciples who worked hard all night yet "caught nothing", this seems to be our present day.  When we work so hard but it is still hard to make ends meet, God is testing and trying us.  By such God desires that we at all times acknowledge He is always the ONE who gives us each day our daily bread for we cannot feed ourselves.  Our hands work, yes, but God alone feeds and clothes us not by our merits, but the merits of Jesus Christ.  This then is the meaning of our prayer "Give us this day our daily bread."  Luther explains, "God gives daily bread indeed without our prayer, also to all the wicked; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to know it, and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving."

        It is quite fitting then, when the disciples labored all night yet caught nothing, Jesus said, "Children have ye any meat?"  Because Jesus is God Almighty, He now gathers together a large number of fish on the other side, "and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes."  After this great miracle John is the first to recognize Jesus - NOT BY SIGHT BUT BY FAITH.  Faith alone sees all these gifts we have, even our daily bread comes from God's gracious hand alone.  IT IS THE LORD.  Can we ever thank Him enough?

        Knowing the Lord, Peter "girt his fisher's coat unto Him, (for he was naked, and did cast himself into the sea", swimming for shore.  This fisher's coat was "presumably a linen blouse, the ordinary working garment, worn outside of the shirt" (Ylvisaker, pg. 775).  Of course Peter was not fully naked, but being in the presence of close friends, he had a linen cloth covering the essentials.  The Greek word behind "naked" here means either relatively or absolutely.  Proof for this is Mark 14:51-52 which uses the same Greek word twice.  It says, "And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:  And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked."  It was out of reverence then for Christ Peter covered himself better with the fisher's coat, and in like manner we come to church dressed in a modest and respectful way.  When we dress modestly on the outside, such reflects the hidden man of the heart, the "meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."  You could say the new man within us who loves Jesus, causes us to dress in a meek and humble way.  Likewise if we confess our sins and forsake them, believing in Christ, we will not be found naked in our sins on Judgment Day.  Christ is our righteous dress.

II.  We follow Christ by feeding His sheep and lambs.  After the disciples eat their meal with Christ, Jesus speaks directly to Peter in front of the others.  Do you love me Peter?  Now what would we do if Jesus asked us the same thing?  Jesus knows all things; every word spoken by our unclean lips, every sinful and perverse thought, and Jesus knows everything our hands have touched which was forbidden.  Also if Jesus wanted to, He could write a long list of our sins on a chalkboard, so all in our congregation here could read with their own eyes everything we have done. 

        But Jesus doesn't do that does He?  Instead we read a long list of the punishments and sufferings He endured in payment for our sins.  "He suffered, died, and was buried, but He rose again the third day."  There are only two ways to see Christ in those words.  You either see Him with the eyes of faith, as your Lord and Savior, whose blood alone declares you clean, or you see Him in unbelief as nothing at all.  In like manner, we either confess with Peter that we are a threefold denier of Christ by thought, word, and deed, or we confess nothing at all, denying our denial.  Proverbs 28:13 says, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

        As for the first question, "Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonas, loveth thou Me more than these?"….whereas before Peter had bragged before the disciples he would never deny Christ, Peter knew better now, and so should we.  Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before the fall.  Now its different.  Humble Peter quietly says before the others, "Yea Lord, Thou knowest that I have loved Thee."  Jesus now says "Feed My lambs".  No longer will Peter chase parents and children away from Jesus, but now Peter will suffer the little children to come to Jesus and have them baptized.  In like manner today we show our love for Jesus by teaching our children the Gospel of Jesus.  Jesus died to save the children just as much as the adults.  Feed My sheep.

        As for the second question, "Do you love Me Peter" and the same answer by Peter, Jesus now says "Feed My sheep."  Jesus now is restoring Peter to the Office of Apostle before the other six disciples.  Knowing the love of Christ, Peter was now to feed the flock of God, the sheep, the adults for whom Christ died.  Rightly called pastors today are to do the same thing, remembering each believer is precious in God's sight.  We are to give you the best food we can, the purest and most free Gospel which declares the filthiest sinner clean.  The Gospel should predominate in all evangelical preaching.  And so if I'm doing my job correctly, every Sunday in church two things should happen when you hear a sermon:  inwardly you should be convicted you are a sinner no better the Peter or any other disciple (by thought, word, and deed), yet by the grace of God given you in Christ Jesus, God forgave you all your sins 2000 years ago via the cross, in, by, and through the blood of Christ.  "Give and shed for you for the remission of sins." 

        As for the third question and answer, naturally Peter was grieved in his heart.  Just as sometimes the smallest thing in our life brings to memory a past sin, so Peter's threefold denial rushes back to his memory. "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.  Jesus saith unto Him Feed My sheep."  Jesus was not being cruel to Peter here, but both wise and gracious.  In spite of Peter's sins, Christ was Peter to labor in his vineyard and feed His sheep.  Peter's confession then is our confession today, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

        Finally beloved, even if somehow all your sins were indeed written on a chalkboard for all the world to see, when the Gospel is preached, what happens to your sins on that chalkboard?  You see Jesus Himself walking up to that chalkboard, and you see Jesus Himself erasing the entire list of your sins.  Jesus then turns to you and says, "I don't see your sins anymore.  I can't remember them.  They are gone, vanished from My sight.  Therefore children, I don't want you to see your sins anymore either.  Follow Me."  Amen.

Luther's Words...Sin, death, and the devil

Know ye then - sin, death, devil, and everything that assails me - that you are missing the mark.  I am not one of those who are afraid of you.  For Christ my dear Lord, has presented to me that triumph and victory of His by which you were laid low.  And from this very gift of His I derive my name and am called a Christian.  There is no other reason.  My sin and death hung about His neck on Good Friday, but on the day of Easter they had completely disappeared.  This victory He has bestowed on me.  This is why I do not worry about you.

What Luther Says, #3881

GOSPEL: Mark 16:1-8

Reading:  And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.   And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.   And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?   And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.   And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.   And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.   But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.   And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

EPISTLE: I Corinthians 15:12-28

Reading: Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?   But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:   And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.   Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.   For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:   And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.   Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.   If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.   But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.   For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.   For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.   But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.   Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.   For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.   The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.   For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.   And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

OT: Psalm 118:14-24

Reading: The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.   The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.   The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.   I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.   The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.   Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:   This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.   I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.   The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.   This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.   This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.