Monday prior to Easter 6

 

The theme for the Sixth Sunday of Easter is found in the Gospel (John 15:9-17). Jesus commands us to love one another. As usual the Gospel lesson gives the key to the theme of the week. Jesus commands us to love each other. Peter in the first lesson (Acts 10:34-48) thanks God for His love for all men, both Jews and Gentiles. John in the Epistle (1 John 5:1-8) reminds us that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. The Psalm of the Day (Psalm 98) calls for a new song to the Lord because of His steadfast love to His people. The Hymn of the Day (“Alleluia! Let Praises Ring” LSB 822) asks that we might be filled with Jesus’ love and pity.

—Psalm 66:1-,8-9, 20; antiphon, Psalm 66:16—The antiphon calls for us to listen to the voice of Him who has saved us,  “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for my soul.”  Worship here defined is the proclamation of what God has done in praise of God within the context of the worshiping congregation. As we prepare for next Sunday, this is our central purpose in gathering together.

Collect for Psalm 66: Almighty Father, you brought us through the waters of baptism to the shores of new life. Accept the sacrifice o our lives and let us enter your house, there to praise your unfailing power and love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Collect for Psalm 66, For All the Saints, a Prayer book for and by the church, The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, © 1995 Delhi, NY

Easter 5 Series B

 

[1]

Risen Lord – Bless Thy Word. That we might trust in Thee!

The thief from the cross offered a simple prayer: “Jesus remember me.”[2]

Today. Remember Jesus. When you are under emotional and mental anguish. Remember Jesus. When the weight of the entire world is pressing down on you. Remember Jesus.

When there seems to be no way of escape. Remember Jesus.

Remember Jesus. He did not run or flee the harsh realities of the cross. Remember Jesus. Who had his friends desert Him.

Remember Jesus. Who had a friend stab him in the back. With a smile and a kiss. Remember Jesus.

When others might deceive or betray you. Or use you. - For their own ends. When they bring you to tears. Remember Jesus. [3]

Remember Jesus. Who has been there for you. Who is always with you.

He will never forsake you.

He is with you. Even in your hurt. To vindicate all - who take their refuge in Him.

Today. Remember Jesus. Because He - remembers you.

But how does Jesus remember you? He remembers by abiding. In fact, this word, “abide,” is spoken eight times by our risen Savior this day.

Abiding doesn’t mean taking it easy. It’s more than resting in Jesus. Only to have your best life now. When the Savior says, “Abide in Me,” He’s saying, “Remain in Me.” “Continue in Me.” “Live in Me.”

Jesus explains quite clearly. The Father is the Vinedresser. Jesus is the Vine. And you? You are the branches. And branches will always produce fruit.

Bearing fruit always flows from abiding. The Vine provides for the branches. And the branches produce the fruit. Jesus reminds us, “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good.” (Matthew 12:33) A good tree makes good fruit.

Bearing fruit always flows from abiding. The branch receives from the Vine. As it abides in the Vine. And from that abiding. From that receiving. The fruit naturally follows. That is not a command. It is simply how it works. Bearing fruit always flows from abiding.

This is not an indictment. Or a “to-do” list. Or a production quota. Which needs to be met. It is a picture of life. A receptive life. A fruitful life. A God-pleasing life. It is life in Jesus.

Bearing fruit is what branches do. Bearing fruit is not optional. Branches abide in the Vine. And bearing fruit always flows from abiding.

Bearing fruit is what branches do. Branches bear fruit. Jesus says, “Every branch of Mine that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (V.2) Bearing fruit is what branches do. They do not bear fruit by themselves.

But they do bear fruit. In fact. They bear much fruit. Bearing fruit is what branches do.

It is the fruit of the Spirit. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control.

Branches bear fruit. And when branches bear fruit. The Father is glorified. And you prove to be Jesus’ disciple. This is who you are. This is what you do. Bearing fruit is what branches do.

Bearing fruit is not optional. When a branch does not bear fruit. The Vinedresser takes it away. It is thrown away. It withers. It is gathered. Thrown into the fire. And burned. Bearing fruit is not optional.

Bearing fruit is what branches do. Bearing fruit is not optional. Even when a branch does bear fruit. The Vinedresser prunes it. He tends to it. He gives it His careful attention. So it will bear even more fruit.

That does not mean the fruit is always perfect. It also does not mean producing new fruit every single day. Season after season. Like factories. That run in three shifts. 24/7. Jesus does not require a quota. And He is not comparing the fruit of one branch to the fruit of another.

But bearing fruit is not optional. A branch bears fruit as it is pruned. Or it does not. And it is burned.

Bearing fruit is what branches do. Bearing fruit is not optional. Branches abide in the Vine. Jesus is the Vine. The true Vine. And you are the branches. Branches abide in the Vine.

To abide is to stay connected. To abide is to be nurtured. To abide is to receive. Moment by moment. To receive everything. To receive life itself. Branches abide in the Vine.

Jesus says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the Vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.”

Branches abide in the Vine. You are connected. Nurtured. And receive life itself from Jesus. The true Vine. He is with you. He nurtures you. He gives you all you need. Moment by moment. He gives you everything. He gives you life itself!

He gives His own life! Branches abide in the Vine. You abide in Jesus.[4]

Words- 900

Passive Sentences –5.5%

Readability – 85%

Reading Level –2.7

---

[1] Luther’s Seal © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2] Luke 23:42

[3] Under Pressure 3.16.2024 Aaron Koch, Greenfield, WI Portals of Prayer, © 2024 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

---

[4] https://www.1517.org/articles/gospel-john-151-8-easter-5-series-b-2024

Easter 6 Series B - notes

 

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Series B 

Acts 10:34–48
1 John 5:1–8
John 15:9–17

The Lord Jesus Is with His Church in the Apostolic Ministry of the Gospel

 The crucified and risen Lord Jesus is with His Church through the word of His apostles, who “are witnesses of all that he did.” He was anointed by God “with the Holy Spirit and with power,” and “he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,” and so He was with those whom He sent “to preach to the people” (Acts 10:38–42). The Holy Spirit is bestowed on those who hear that apostolic preaching, who are “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ,” so that “everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43–44, 48). For as He came by the water of His Baptism, even to the blood of His Passion, so the Spirit testifies to the truth with “the water and the blood” in the apostolic ministry of the Gospel (1 John 5:6–7). By these means, Christ Jesus speaks to us, that His joy may be in us and that our “joy may be full.” For this purpose, He appointed the apostles to “go and bear fruit” in order to make known His divine friendship to us (John 15:11, 15–16).  - Lectionary notes from the LCMS commission on worship. 

Easter 6 - John 15:9-17

O God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.  John 15:13-14                                                                        

To the Apostles Jesus makes the strange conditional remark, You are my friends if you do what I command you. We usually don’t identify our friends based on their obedience to what we command them.  It also doesn’t seem right that friendship is conditional.  So we must come to realize what it means that Christ’s condition for friendship with Him is doing what He commands.

Christ was commanding His Apostles (and ultimately us) to love.  He was not commanding a love brought forth from a spiritually dead person—that is impossible— but He was commanding a love made alive and empowered by His love.  Christ had just explained how He empowers and inspires His command to love others:  This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you [v 12].  Jesus’ conditional statement of friendship—that if the Apostles would do what He commands, then they would be His friends—is actually founded upon their realization of His love.  Thus the Apostle John would be inspired to succinctly summarize: We love because he first loved us [1 Jn 4:19].  Here we observe a domino effect:  First He loves us, then we realize and believe in His love for us, we then love others, and finally we are labelled as Christ’s friends.  All four of these are realized in a Christian’s life, but the first domino is His love for us; this gigantic domino initiates the movement of the other dominos.

Two Old Testament believers were, like the Apostles, called friends of God:  Abraham (2 Chron 20:7) and Moses (Ex 33:11).  They, like the Apostles, knew God’s love and were then empowered and inspired to love God and their neighbor.  These two Old Testament friends of God, along with the Apostles as recorded in John 15, did not yet know the extent of God’s love.  In our text Jesus indicates where His love will find its climax: Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  The love of Jesus will find its climax in His substitutionary death.  That very evening when Jesus spoke these words, was the eve of His death.  Jesus is on the verge of laying down His life for His friends; He will soon die for His Old Testament friends—including His Apostles—who trusted in Him and His love. 

However, the love of Jesus is even greater than laying down His life for His friends.  In his first epistle the Apostle John explains the universal purchase made by Christ’s sacrifice:  He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world [2:2]. Indeed, Christ’s atoning sacrifice (propitiation) is for more than His friends, it is for the entire world.  Yes, Jesus would lay down His life even for those who were unloving, for those who were not His friends!  The Apostle Paul explained it to the Romans this way:  Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life [5:6-8,10]. Did you perceive the love of Christ as set forth in these verses?  Paul explains that among sinful humans one might dare to die for a good person, but Christ Jesus died for the ungodly, He died for us while we were still sinners, yes, while we were enemies (the opposite of friends) we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son.  Not just God’s friends, but the ungodly, sinners, and enemies of God are those for whom Christ died. This then is the heart of the Gospel to be proclaimed to the world: Flowing from a love heretofore unimagined, Christ died for you! 

Now, trusting in the Lover of our souls, let us love one another—even our enemies—as He also loved us.  So we shall be called friends of God.

-Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege

:9 καθὼς ἠγάπησέν με ὁ πατήρ, κἀγὼ [a]ὑμᾶς ἠγάπησα, μείνατε ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ τῇ ἐμῇ.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

Abide - 

Love - agape - how the Father loves is how Christ loves, by laying down his life. 

:10  ἐὰν τὰς ἐντολάς μου τηρήσητε, μενεῖτε ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ μου, καθὼς ἐγὼ [b]τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ πατρός μου τετήρηκα καὶ μένω αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ.

 If you keep my commandments, you will remain / abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain / abide in his love.

"Keep the commandment" is keeping the Supper...this was spoken on the night he was betrayed. Now we see the love of the Father. See Matthew 28, "I am with you..." He IS with us in the Supper. This is where we are equipped. 

See confessional address for M Thursday. 

See Psalm 80:8-17 

:11  ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑμῖν ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ἡ ἐμὴ ἐν ὑμῖν [c]ᾖ καὶ ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν πληρωθῇ.

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full (filled).

The things he had just spoken we're keep the commandment, the mandate, love.

12 Αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἐντολὴ ἡ ἐμὴ ἵνα ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους καθὼς ἠγάπησα ὑμᾶς·

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

My commandment - love - Ephesians 5, 

13  μείζονα ταύτης ἀγάπην οὐδεὶς ἔχει, ἵνα τις τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ θῇ ὑπὲρ τῶν φίλων αὐτοῦ.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay / place down his life for his friends.

Jesus' obedience to His Father, a central theme of John. Friend lover. Jesus lays down his love for enemies. Romans 5 

:13 "lay down his life" highest expression of love, "for his friends"  Gk Hyper, "on behalf of"; giving one's life as a sacrifice for a friend.

14 ὑμεῖς φίλοι μού ἐστε ἐὰν ποιῆτε [d]ἃ ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαι ὑμῖν.

You are my friends if you do what I command you.

:14 We do not become Christ's friends through our obedience, but we obey Him because we cherish Him. See vs 16

15 οὐκέτι [e]λέγω ὑμᾶς δούλους, ὅτι ὁ δοῦλος οὐκ οἶδεν τί ποιεῖ αὐτοῦ ὁ κύριος· ὑμᾶς δὲ εἴρηκα φίλους, ὅτι πάντα ἃ ἤκουσα παρὰ τοῦ πατρός μου ἐγνώρισα ὑμῖν.

 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Friend = beloved, 

16  οὐχ ὑμεῖς με ἐξελέξασθε, ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ ἐξελεξάμην ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἔθηκα ὑμᾶς ἵνα ὑμεῖς ὑπάγητε καὶ καρπὸν φέρητε καὶ ὁ καρπὸς ὑμῶν μένῃ, ἵνα ὅ τι ἂν αἰτήσητε τὸν πατέρα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου δῷ ὑμῖν. 

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 

You did not select me I have chosen you that your fruit might remain...see post communion prayer..."in fervent love toward one another."  His love shapes our prayers. He hears us according to his name/will. 

17 ταῦτα ἐντέλλομαι ὑμῖν ἵνα ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους.

These things I command you, so that you will love one another.  - 

-The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software
-ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
-Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts, ‘The Resurrection of our Lord’© WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
-LCMS Lectionary notes © 2018 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
-Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Saturday prior to Easter 5

 

—Psalm 98:1-3; 2 Timothy 1:9-10; Romans 3:28 -The hymn of the Day, Dear Christians One and All, Rejoice – {LSB 556}   When Luther translated the phrase “by faith” in Romans 3:28 he added the word “alone” which though not in the Greek, accurately reflect the meaning of the passage. The Hymn is one of Luther’s classic hymns which explain to us the heart of the gospel found in Jesus Christ.

Luther wrote this hymn in 1523, and it was the first hymn he ever wrote for congregational singing. While “A Mighty Fortress” might be the most popular of Luther’s hymns in our day, “Dear Christians One and All Rejoice” might be Luther’s most important hymn in addition to being his first. It tells the powerful story of man’s wretched state, the Father’s plan to send his Son to die for the sins of the world, and Jesus’ faithful execution of his Father’s will. Salvation was not easy. Indeed, it was the most bitter of all struggles, but because of our Lord Jesus’ work, we are blest forever. The hymn concludes with Jesus promise to send the Holy Spirit and the blessed encouragement that we follow in our Lord’s teaching. 1

For blessing on the Word: Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip, and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You send it; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen  2

Sources:

 The Risen Christ, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

1. https://www.redeemerwv.org/blog/2019/5/28/dear-christians-one-and-all-rejoice 

2. Collect for the blessing on the Word, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis

Friday prior to Easter 5

—John 15:1-8—Jesus is the vine and we are the branches who are expected to bear fruit.  Sunday’s Gospel lesson is a part of Jesus’ final discourse (chapters 13-17) with His disciples in the Upper Room on Maundy Thursday.

 Jesus uses allegory: He is the vine; God is the vinedresser; the branches are the believers; the fruit constitutes good works. The vine is the source of life. To be connected with the Source is to have life and produce fruit. To be separated from the Vine is to die and be destroyed. People in the Vine have their prayers answered. Bearing fruit glorifies God and proves discipleship.

John referred to adult Christians as “little children.” Is this talking down to adults? Is it an insult to even add “little” to children?  Jesus referred to His disciples as “these little ones.”  It is no insult because if God is our Father, we are His true children. Since when? We were adopted as His children at Baptism, and we live in Christ as branches in the vine. And we are “little” too. We are often little in faith, in love and in our words. How little we are when compared with the fullness of the stature of Jesus Christ.

In these lessons we hear repeatedly the word “abide.” A fruitful Christian is one who produces good works because that person abides in Christ. How do we know we abide in Christ? One answer may be that our fruits prove it. This verse gives another answer. We are in Christ when we have the Spirit. If we have the Holy Spirit, it is the same as being in Christ. The Holy Spirit is at the same time the spirit of Christ. 

Collect for Easter 5: O God, you make the minds of your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what you have commanded and desire what you promise that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1

Sources:

The Risen Christ, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

1. Collect for Easter 5, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Thursday prior to Easter 5

 

—1 John 4:1-11—The word “Love” in its various forms is used 43 times in John’s letter. The word is used 32 times from 4:7-5:3 In His essential nature and in all His actions, God is loving. John similarly affirms that God is spirit (John 4:24) and light (John 1:5), as well as holy, powerful, faithful, true, and just. If we love in deed, we know we have the truth.

To know God is to love and God and each other. This reading has two sections; discerning spirits (Vv. 1-6) and the love of the brothers and sisters. Apparently John is dealing with some that deny the humanity of Christ and who are lacking in love for the people. Not every spirit in a person is of God. The true spirit is the spirit of love for God and others. God first loves us and the proof of that love is the death of Christ on the cross. Our love for each other is based on God’s love of us. 

It’s more than God loves. God is love. If God is love, is love also God? In today’s world love is adored and prized as a god. Love aw god is idolatry. We are not to worship love. God is love. But he is also more than love. God is also justice, holiness, and truth. 1  

Prayer for the 4th Sunday of Easter – Almighty God, merciful Father, since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your sheep, grant us Your Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd we may know Him who calls us each by name and follow where He leads; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who loves and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 2

Sources:

 The Risen Christ, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

 1. Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing, Lima OH 

 2. Collect for Easter 4, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis

St. Mark, Evangelist (April 25)

Isaiah 52:7–10

2 Timothy 4:5–18

Mark 16:14–20

 

St. Mark, Evangelist

 

The Lord sends His messengers out “as lambs in the midst of wolves” bearing the message, “Peace be to this house” (Luke 10:3–5). St. Mark does “the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5) and “publishes peace” (Is. 52:7). He is remembered as the lion-hearted evangelist, depicted with his fellow evangelists as the four living creatures of Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4. The evangelist is often identified with John-Mark of Acts and the cousin of Barnabas, with whom he worked in Cyprus to “proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). Despite their earlier differences, Mark was reconciled with St. Paul, who considered him “very useful. . . for ministry” (2 Tim. 4:11). Later he worked in Rome (1 Peter 5:13), where tradition has it that he wrote his Gospel from St. Peter’s sermons before founding the church in Alexandria and facing a martyr’s death.

Luther's Seal copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Lectionary Summary copyright LCMS commission on worship

Wednesday prior to Easter 5

—Acts 8:26-40—Philip is sent to bring an Ethiopian eunuch to faith in Christ.  The treasures of an Ethiopian queen were on their way home after worshiping in Jerusalem. His chariot was on a main road from Jerusalem to Egypt. The Spirit directed Philip, one of the seven deacons (See Acts 6:1-5), to meet the chariot at Gaza. The eunuch was probably a proselyte or God-fearer of Judaism. Philip found him reading Isaiah 53 but not understanding it. After Philip’s explanation, the Ethiopian asked to be baptized. He accepted Christ and according to tradition he introduced Christianity into Ethiopia. 

It should be noted that verse 37 (“If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”)is omitted in the older manuscripts and some modern versions will place the verse only in the margin. 1

When the eunuch learned about Christ as the suffering servant of Isaiah 53, he requested baptism. Why was his request so important? Why wasn’t knowing about Jesus, the washing away of sin, and the understanding that he was the Messiah enough? The eunuch wanted to be baptized because baptism is the means of being born again of the Spirit means of being incorporated into the body of Christ, the church. Baptism connects us to Christ and to His body the church. 

A Prayer for humility: O God, You resist the proud and give grace to the humble. Grant us true humility after the likeness of Your only Son that we may never be arrogant and prideful and thus provoke Your wrath but in all lowliness be made partakers of the gifts of Your grace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 2

Sources:

  Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, The Book of Books in Pictures. copyright © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.

1. Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1980  CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

2. Collect for Humility, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis

Johnann Walter, Kantor

 

Today on the church calendar we remember Johnann Walter, Kantor

God of majesty, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven, we gibe you thanks that You provided music for Your Church through Johann Walter, Kantor in the Church of the Reformation. Through music You give us joy on earth as we participate in the song of heaven. Bring us to the fulfillment of that song that will be ours when we stand with all Your saints before You unveiled glory; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. amen

Treasury of Daily Prayer copyright 2009 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis.

Tuesday prior to Easter 5

—Psalm 150; key verse v.6 —Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Who should praise the Lord? All who come to Him in faith. We celebrate the Savior’s great and mighty acts.

This final Hymn of Praise closes out the Psalter. The book ends with a final call to all of creation to give exuberant, ceaseless, loud, and submissive praise to the living God. Here, not only God’s people but “everything that has breath” (v 6) is called to praise God with every means imaginable.

As the Psalter closes, we are called to praise the LORD in a way that has not yet happened in its fullness. The call is still appropriate (we could sing this every day!) but it looks forward to a reality that will only occur when the final chapter of God’s story has been fulfilled. That will be when what God predicted through the prophet Isaiah has finally come to pass: “By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance’” (Isaiah 45.23).

And the apostle Paul, we of the New Testament church, confess today that we, too, look forward to that day when, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2.10–11).

Even so, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22.20).

Collect for Psalm 150: Lord God, unite our voices with the praise of all creation, that we may worthily magnify your excellent greatness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever

Sources:

The Risen Christ, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Collect for Psalm 150, For All the Saints, A Prayer book for and by the church, © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

Earth Day

 22 April each year is traditionally recognized as Earth Day in which we are encouraged to be good stewards of the resources the LORD has given to us. The charge given to Adam and Eve was to be caretakers of the planet and all of its natural resources. 

As Christians Earth Day should reminds us that the LORD has created this vast universe for us to thrive and enjoy as the first article of the Apostles' Creed teaches.  I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heave and and earth.  

What does this mean? I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him

The first article of the Apostles' Creed declares that Christians believe, teach and confess that the one, true God is none other than the One who has made the heavens and the earth, and everything in them. But more than that, He is our Father who provides and cares for us as a father cares for his beloved children.

We believe that He has made us and has given us all the good things we have in this life. This He has done purely out of the love He has for us as our Father. He not only gives us life, He also defends us, guards us, and protects us during this life, so that we will join Him in heaven for all eternity. There is nothing in us that makes us worthy of the good things God gives us. It is all from His love as a father. How glorious it is to know that the same God who created heaven and earth also created each one us and cares for us personally.

A prayer for agriculture:  Almighty God, You bless the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper, we implore you, the work of farmers, and grant us seasonable weather that we may gather the fruits of the earth and proclaim your goodness with thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ our LORD.  

Sources: Luther's Small Catechism and Collect for Agriculture  Lutheran Service Book copyright 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis 

Monday prior to Easter 5

 

The theme for the Fifth Sunday of Easter is Life in Christ.  In the Gospel, Jesus described Himself as the Vine and the believers as the branches which bring forth fruit. How one becomes a person in Christ is demonstrated by the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch in the first lesson. To be in Christ means to obey the commandments of God, to love not only in word but in deed.

“God is love,” and He has manifested Himself to us by sending “his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9, 16). By the ministry of the Gospel, “he has given us of his Spirit,” so that we also believe and confess “that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.” In this way, we “abide in him and he in us,” and we “love one another” (1 John 4:2, 7, 13). Such divine love is exemplified in Philip’s preaching of “the good news about Jesus” to the Ethiopian eunuch. And when “they came to some water,” the eunuch was baptized into the very Gospel that Philip had preached (Acts 8:35–38). That Ethiopian was thereby grafted into “the true vine,” Jesus Christ (John 15:1), just as we are. Already we are clean because of the Word that Christ has spoken to us and by the washing of water with His Word. We now abide in Him by faith in His forgiveness. As He abides in us, both body and soul, with His own body and His blood, He “bears much fruit” in us (John 15:3–5).  1

—Psalm 145:1-2, 8, 10, 21; antiphon, John 16:16—The antiphon is taken from the Lord’s promise to His followers, “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” Few doubt that the first phrase refers to the interval before the crucifixion. But interpretations differ as to whether the second refers to the interval preceding the resurrection or the coming of the Spirit, or the return of Christ on the Last Great Day. It seems that the language here best fits the resurrection.

Collect for Psalm 145: Loving Father, you are faithful in your promises and tender in your compassion. Listen to our hymn of joy, and continue to satisfy the needs of all your creatures, that all flesh may bless your name in your everlasting kingdom, where with your Son and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and forever. 2

Sources:

The Risen Christ, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

1. Lectionary summary Eater 5 Series B © LCMS commission on worship

2. Collect for Collect 145, For all the Saints, A Prayer book for any by the church  © 1980 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

Easter 5 Series B notes

 

Acts 8:26–40
1 John 4:1–11 (12–21)
John 15:1–8 

Jesus Christ Is the True Vine Who Bears Much Fruit in Us

“God is love,” and He has manifested Himself to us by sending “his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9, 16). By the ministry of the Gospel, “he has given us of his Spirit,” so that we also believe and confess “that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.” In this way, we “abide in him and he in us,” and we “love one another” (1 John 4:2, 7, 13). Such divine love is exemplified in Philip’s preaching of “the good news about Jesus” to the Ethiopian eunuch. And when “they came to some water,” the eunuch was baptized into the very Gospel that Philip had preached (Acts 8:35–38). That Ethiopian was thereby grafted into “the true vine,” Jesus Christ (John 15:1), just as we are. Already we are clean because of the Word that Christ has spoken to us and by the washing of water with His Word. We now abide in Him by faith in His forgiveness. As He abides in us, both body and soul, with His own body and His blood, He “bears much fruit” in us (John 15:3–5). 

O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world, our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found;

Summary:  This passage has some great beauty, but presents a great preaching challenge.  First, we have some nastiness to the image: branches plucked and pruned.  The Greek can soften the blow here:  the words for pluck and prune also mean "lift up" and "clean."  Yet, I think a real law and Gospel challenge remains:  You can find all sorts of traditional discipleship tasks that connect us to God:  prayer, the Word, even the community.  Yet we can no more force ourselves upon Jesus than a branch can for themselves on the vine.  To say to people, "You cannot abide in Jesus, so don't even try" makes a liar out of Jesus.  To tell people "You just need to pray and read your Bibles" isn't totally faithful to the image here!  Somehow we must invite people into abiding in Jesus while retaining the force of the image:  Jesus is the root of connection, not us.

See Luther's sermon on this text. Vol. 24 On suffering of the Chridtian. 

Your suffering is refining. You can only grow when it is difficult and taken away from you. The things you fear love and trust in He removes. 

John 15:1

Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος ἡ ἀληθινή, καὶ ὁ Πατήρ μου ὁ γεωργός ἐστιν.

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

:1 "true vine" as opposed to unbelieving Israel, the false vine

Key words:

αμπελος ("vine"; 15.1)  Like many metaphors in John's Gospel, a person new to the Bible can grasp its meaning, but a knowledge of the OT amplifies its significance.  

The OT (Hosea 14; Jeremiah 2; perhaps also Ezekiel 19, but who understands Ezekiel...) makes the claim that Israel is the vine of the Lord.  Jesus here is saying "I am Israel."  All the promises, all the hopes (if not the judgment) of Israel in the Bible have been transferred to Jesus.

John 15:2

:2 πᾶν κλῆμα ἐν ἐμοὶ μὴ φέρον καρπὸν, αἴρει αὐτό, καὶ πᾶν τὸ καρπὸν φέρον, καθαίρει αὐτὸ ἵνα καρπὸν πλείονα φέρῃ.

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

αιρεω ("take away" or "take up"; 15:2).  I thought I had a unique insight here and then I realized the NET Bible already explained in a footnote.  In their words:  

The Greek verb ai;rw (airoÒ) can mean "lift up" as well as "take away," and it is sometimes argued that here it is a reference to the gardener "lifting up" (i.e., propping up) a weak branch so that it bears fruit again. In Johannine usage the word occurs in the sense of "lift up" in 8:59 and 5:8-12, but in the sense of "remove" it is found in 11:39, 11:48, 16:22, and 17:15. In context (theological presuppositions aside for the moment) the meaning "remove" does seem more natural and less forced.

John 15:3

:3 ἤδη ὑμεῖς καθαροί ἐστε διὰ τὸν λόγον ὃν λελάληκα ὑμῖν·

You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

:2-3 "fruit"  Not just holy deeds, but love and witness leading to new disciples. "prunes" lit "cleanses" Christians have already been cleansed by God's forgiveness, they are daily in need of repentance and daily spiritual growth "clean because of the word" The means through which the cleansing takes place since the Word's content is Christ. 

When reading these verses in English, there seems to be a break at verse 3 in the flow of thought: Jesus is talking about trees and fruit,  when suddenly he digresses for a moment to point out to his disciples that they are “clean” before continuing with his gardening metaphor.

John 15:4

:4 μείνατε ἐν ἐμοί, κἀγὼ ἐν ὑμῖν. καθὼς τὸ κλῆμα οὐ δύναται καρπὸν φέρειν ἀφ’ ἑαυτοῦ ἐὰν μὴ μένῃ ἐν τῇ ἀμπέλῳ, οὕτως οὐδὲ ὑμεῖς ἐὰν μὴ ἐν ἐμοὶ μένητε.

Abide continue remain in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides/remains  in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide/remain in Me.

You do not possess God you receive Him in faith. He is the medicine of eternal life. There is no benefit without the reception. 

John 15:5

:5 γώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος, ὑμεῖς τὰ κλήματα. ὁ μένων ἐν ἐμοὶ κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ, οὗτος φέρει καρπὸν πολύν, ὅτι χωρὶς ἐμοῦ οὐ δύνασθε ποιεῖν οὐδέ

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who remains/abides in Me and I in him, this one bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

:5 "We cannot keep the Law without Christ's aid...So before we keep the Law, our hearts must be born again through faith." [Ap V 194]

"Without faith human nature does not call upon God, nor expect anything from Him, nor bear the cross (Matthew 16:24) Instead, human nature seeks and trusts in human help. So when there is no faith and trust in God. all kinds of lusts and human intentions rule in the heart." (Genesis 6:5) [AC XX 37-38]

John 15:6

:6 ἐὰν μή τις μένῃ ἐν ἐμοί, ἐβλήθη ἔξω ὡς τὸ κλῆμα καὶ ἐξηράνθη, καὶ συνάγουσιν αὐτὰ καὶ εἰς τὸ πῦρ βάλλουσιν, καὶ καίεται.

If anyone does not remain/abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

:6 fire  Symbol of judgment and destruction see Ezk. 15:1-8

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw- each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. - 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

John 15:7

:7 ἐὰν μείνητε ἐν ἐμοὶ καὶ τὰ ῥήματά μου ἐν ὑμῖν μείνῃ, ὃ ἐὰν θέλητε αἰτήσασθε καὶ γενήσεται ὑμῖν.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 15:8

:8  ἐν τούτῳ ἐδοξάσθη ὁ Πατήρ μου, ἵνα καρπὸν πολὺν φέρητε καὶ γενήσεσθε ἐμοὶ μαθηταί.

My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

:8 As Christ glorified the Father through His obedience, believers glorify God through their lives - and show that they are real disciples, attached to the vine.

Sources:

-The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software

-ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

-Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts, ‘The Resurrection of our Lord’© WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

-LCMS Lectionary notes © 2018

-Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing

Saturday prior to Easter 4 –

 

The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want (LSB710 436) – Sunday’s hymn is simply – and appropriately – the twenty-third psalm in metrical form, set to a pretty tune. Note that The Lutheran Hymnal also has the same psalm used as a canticle, set to a beautiful chant tone (probably Anglican), Hymn 662.

Scripture References:
Stanza 1 = Psalm 23:1-2
Stanza 2 = Psalm 23:3
Stanza 3 = Psalm 23:4
Stanza 4 = Psalm 23:5
Stanza 5 = Psalm 23:6

Of all metrical versions of the psalms, this versification of Psalm 23 from the 1650 Scottish Psalter is probably the best known. Though one of the best examples of a Scottish psalm in meter, the grammatical structure of the text is twisted for the sake of rhyme – the mismatch of textual and musical phrases is especially problematic in stanza 1. But the rugged strength of the verse and the powerful imagery of this psalm have endeared this Scottish versification to many believers through the centuries.

Francis Rous was born at Halton, Cornwall, England in 1579, and educated at Oxford. He adopted the legal profession, and way M.P. for Truro during the reigns of James and of Charles I. He also represented Truro in the Long Parliament, and took part against the King and the Bishops. He was appointed a member of the Westminster Assembly; of the High Commission; and of the Triers for examining and licensing candidates for the ministry. He also held other appointments under Cromwell, including that of Provost of Eton College. He died at Acton, January 7, 1659, and was buried in the Chapel of Eton College. Wood, in his Athenae Oxmienses, gives a list of his numerous works. --Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary 1.

Collect for Easter 4 – Almighty God, merciful Father, since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your sheep, grant us Your Holy Spirit, that we may know the voice of our Shepherd and follow Him, that sin and death may never pluck us out of Your hand; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. 2

Sources:

Icon of the Good Shepherd copyright © Google images

1. https://hymnary.org/text/the_lords_my_shepherd_ill_not_want_rous 

2. Collect for Easter, Lutheran Service Book 4© 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Friday prior to Easter 4

 

 – John 10:11-18 – Sunday’s Gospel is the “Good Shepherd” passage from St John’s Gospel. Jesus calls Himself the “good,” or “noble,” Shepherd. He has made us the sheep of His flock by giving His life for us, and He continues to protect us from all who would do us evil or harm. So long as we remain in His fold, nothing, not even the devil, can harm us. 

Recall the words of A Mighty Fortress: “And take they our life / Goods, fame, child, and wife / Let these all be gone / They yet have nothing won / The Kingdom ours remaineth.”

Jesus will refer to himself as the good shepherd. Who then are we who believe in him? Are we sheep or shepherds? If we are shepherds, where are the sheep to be led, fed, and protected? Some congregations indicate on their Sunday bulletins that all members of the church are “ministers.” Who then are the clergy? It seems we may have too many chiefs and not enough braves in the church. A shepherd is one who leads; the sheep follow. Jesus is the chief shepherd (pastor) and his leaders are ordained to be under-shepherds. The rest of us are sheep.

Jesus’ death and resurrection are not the work of humans. He is no victim of injustice. He is not a martyr to a good cause. He is in control of his destiny. In this passage of Scripture we are reminded that he has the power to die and to return to life. This is God’s work. A work of salvation. The cross is a victory over sin and the resurrection confirms the victory. 

Jesus has other sheep. There is nothing sectarian about Jesus. He does not intend to be limited to Israel. He is for the whole world. He died for all humankind. He commissions His disciples to preach the gospel to all nations. He is a universal Savior. He envisions the whole world to be one flock under one shepherd. Because Jesus has “other sheep” the church needs its program of evangelism and missions to gather the other sheep into His fold, the church.

Lord God, our shepherd, You gather the lambs of Your flock into the arms of Your mercy and bring them home. Comfort us with the certain hope of the resurrection to everlasting life and a joyful reunion with those we love who have died in the faith; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

 A collect for Easter 4, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Icon of the Good Shepherd copyright Google images

Easter 4

18 April 2024
Easter 4

We are now halfway through Easter! This coming Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday. Today. When you think about an appropriate Christian symbol you think of a cross. However. For the first 300 years the predominant image was that of a Good Shepherd. It was Jesus caring for and carrying His sheep. And that is who you are. You are a sheep of His fold. And lamb of his flock. One of His own redeeming. 

Collect for Easter 4 Lord Christ. Good shepherd of the sheep, you seek the lost and guide us into your fold. Feed us, and we shall be satisfied; heal us, and we shall be whole. Make us one with you, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Of all the portions of the Scriptures Psalm 23 is one which many are familiar. It brings hope to the discourage. It brings peace to the troubled. 

Psalm 23 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads 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 You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Psalm 23 is by far the world’s most beloved psalm. Students are taught to memorize it. It is shared with the suffering. And prayed over those who are dying. It is one of the most requested and cherished passages of Scripture.

Why is it that Psalm 23 is so popular and loved? I would suggest that this Psalm connects with people who are buffeted. Battered. And broken. > By the hard knocks of life. This Psalm speaks of the LORD’s love. Care. Mercy. And comfort. – Just what we need in a tough heartless world. David reminds us how good it is to know Jesus as our Good Shepherd. 

David gives us three realities by which we can live in security no matter what may come our way. We can say with David “Because Jesus is my Shepherd –

Ø      I shall not want

Ø      I will fear no evil

Ø      I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever

David speaks of the great care that the LORD takes for believers. He is their shepherd. That we may call Him so.

I.        Because Jesus is your Good Shepherd, you shall not want!

A.     He gives you Rest - “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures” He feeds and supplies you with rest. Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light." (NAS)

B.     He gives you Peace - “He leadeth me besides the still waters...” Jesus says in John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (NASB)  

Again, in John 16:33 the Good Shepherd reminds us: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world." (NASB)

C.     He gives you Forgiveness – “He restoreth my soul” In this Easter season, we rejoice as Christ has overcome the powers of sin, death, and the power of the devil. Because of the cross and empty tomb there now remains for us forgiveness, life, and salvation. 

Paul reminds us in 2Corinthians 5:19: “...that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (NIV)

D.     He gives you Guidance – “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” With the hymn writer we pray: “Lord, take my hand and lead me upon life’s way; direct, protect and feed me from day to day. Without your grace and favor I go astray; so take my hand, O Savior, and lead the way.” [LSB 722 # stanza 1]

Transition: As America braced itself for a grueling and difficult Second World War President Roosevelt reassured the public reminding them, “the only thing we need to fear is fear itself.” With Jesus as your Good Shepherd, we are never in want. With Jesus as your Good Shepherd, you will not fear!

II.     Because Jesus is your Good Shepherd, you will fear no evil.

A.     With Jesus as your Good Shepherd, there is Companionship – “Thou art with me” The Savior walks with you. He accompanies us and attends to our every need. You are never alone. He remains with us to sustain and direct our every step along life’s road.

B.     With Jesus as your Good Shepherd, there is Comfort – “Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” We live amid many dangers in our road. Life can get downright frightening at times. 

When we need aid and comfort, the Good Shepherd supports us. “Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!" [LSB #878 “Abide with Me!” stanza 1]

C.     With Jesus as your Good Shepherd, there is Concern – “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Thou anoitest my head with oil my cup runneth over” Jesus has promised us He will provide us with all that we need to support this body and life. You know this truth. “He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. He does this purely out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, to serve and obey Him.”

Transition: This is most certainly true! He provides for you in this life. I shall not in want. There is nothing to fear. He will certainly sustain you until you reach your home in heaven.

III.   Because Jesus is your Good Shepherd, I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

A.     He is with you Now – “Goodness and mercy shall follow me...” Goodness is defined as His good pleasure, His desires for you. God's goodness consists of righteousness, holiness, justice, kindness, grace, and love. 

Mercy is God's love that causes Him to help the miserable. Grace is His love that moves Him to forgive the guilty. David reminds us that the Shepherd’s goodness, mercy along with His grace will accompany us every day of our life.

B.     You will be with Him Forever–Life eternal has been promised to you “...and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” Our future is secure when we are safely in the hands of the Good Shepherd. We are secure in this life. We have a destiny to dwell with Him forever in glory.

Jesus is your Good Shepherd. Listen to His words:  "I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-15)

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, shepherd of Your church, You give us new birth in the waters of baptism; You anoint us with oil and call us to salvation at Your table. Dispel the terrors of death and the darkness of error. Lead Your people along safe paths that they may rest securely in You and dwell in the house of the Lord now and forever

Image of the Lost Sheep copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Prayers taken from Lutheran Worship copyright 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis