Monday prior to Advent 2

[1]

 

The theme of hope, explicitly and implicitly, seems to unite the readings this coming week The Second Sunday in Advent. In Old Testament lesson (Isaiah 11:1-11) we hope for the righteous government and world peace. In the Epistle (Romans 15:4-13) hope comes from the scriptures and the Spirit. John the Baptist in the gospel (Matthew 3:1-12) gives us hope through Christ’s baptism of the Spirit.

If we have this hope, we are in need of preparation. Today’s gospel calls for repentance as preparation. The Prayer of the Day asks God “to prepare the way for your only Son.” The Hymn On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s Cry (LSB #344) refers to John’s ministry calling for moral preparation, through repentance. On Advent 1 we considered the Second Coming. On Advent 2 we deal with Christ’s coming anew this Christmas by rebirth into our personal lives. If this is to be a real experience, preparation by repentance is necessary. In recent years blue has been introduced as the liturgical color for Advent because it is the color of hope.

—Psalm 105:4-8; antiphon, Isaiah 40:3b —In the Introit for Sunday, we pray In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Yet another prophecy is fulfilled! John the Baptist becomes that agent who will prepare the way for Christ to enter and begin His earthly ministry. The words of the Baptist are still needed for today’s ears “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand!”

Collect for Psalm 105: God our Father, through the death and resurrection of your Son you have fulfilled the promise to Abraham, Joseph, and Moses to redeem the world from slavery and to lead us into the Promised Land. Grant us living water from the rock and bread from heaven that we may survive our desert pilgrimage and praise you forever, through Jesus Christ our Lord.[2]

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[1] Advent copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2] Collect for Psalm 105, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book for and By the Church Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY 

 

Advent 2 notes

Isaiah 11:1–10
Romans 15:4–13
Matthew 3:1–12

Stir up our hearts o Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds. 

By the Preaching of Repentance, We Are Prepared for the Coming of the Lord 

“John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ‘Repent’” (Matthew 3:1–2). His preaching of repentance for the forgiveness of sins prepared people for the coming of Christ into the world. John’s work was historically complete with the incarnate advent of Jesus, but his vital ministry continues in preaching Law and Gospel. The Son of God has come in the flesh, “a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots” (Isaiah 11:1), and continues to bear the fruits of righteousness. His good tree of the cross is “a signal for the peoples” (Isaiah 11:10), by which He calls the nations to repentance. “With the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips” (Isaiah 11:4), He slays the wicked and brings the dead to life, making sons of Abraham out of lifeless stones. So also the “root of Jesse” comes to us, “even he who arises to rule the Gentiles” (Romans 15:12), that “we might have hope” and be filled “with all joy and peace in believing” (Romans 15:4, 13).

The Baptism Preparer – Second Sunday in Advent,  

(Matthew 3:1-12)

Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Brege

Some have accused Lutherans (and other Christians) of over-emphasizing the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.  As a preliminary defense, nearly every book of the New Testament speaks about Baptism. Even more so consider that when God introduced the Christ with His greatest prophet, He decisively chose to magnify a holy washing—a baptism.

It is obvious that John the Baptist was the way preparer for the Christ.  This fact was not only prophesied by Isaiah and Malachi, but it was attested by John as well: …for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel (John 1:31).  However John the Baptizer not only prepared the way of the Christ, he also prepared the way for Christian Baptism.  When the Savior instituted the wondrous sacrament of Holy Baptism, He did not do it “out of the blue”, for in John the Baptist’s God-ordained work there was a holy preliminary and precedent for Holy Baptism. By John’s Baptism of the multitudes in the Jordan River the Apostles were readied for Christ to institute His Church’s water-Sacrament at His ascension.  Though the Old Testament sacred washings as well as traditional Jewish washings magnified the concept of sacred washings, nothing prepared the Jews for Christian Baptism more than the baptism performed by John the Baptist.

It must be realized that Christian Baptism is not the same as John’s baptism.  Nonetheless as one observes the following differences between John’s baptism and Christian Baptism, one can also see that such differences have points of comparison demonstrating that John’s “lesser” baptism was preparing the way for the ultimate rite of baptism—the Sacrament of Holy Baptism:  John’s baptism at the Jordan was commissioned only to be done by John, the Son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, and it was only done in the Jordan River; Christian Baptism was instituted and commissioned for Christ’s Church, especially to be done by pastors, using any available water.  John’s baptism was to manifest Christ only to Israel; Christian baptism is for the nations, beyond the Jordan.  John’s baptism did not unite a person with Christ’s death and resurrection, partly because these salvific works had not been accomplished, however in Christian baptism people are expressly buried and raised with Christ.  John’s baptism had no power to endow with the Holy Spirit, but Christian Baptism is the foundational means whereby people receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. John’s baptism more or less ceased after John was beheaded (Other related baptisms, perhaps almost cultish in nature, seem to be referenced in the Acts of the Apostles.); Christian Baptism will continue as long as nations need to hear the Gospel.  When John baptized people they were considered followers of John who—verbally along with his appointed baptism—purposely pointed to the Christ; Christian baptism makes disciples not of John but only of Jesus Christ.

So what were the marks of John’s baptism that were nearly identical to Christian Baptism?  Both were/are baptisms linked to repentance, and both imparted/impart forgiveness of sins.  Both John’s baptism and Christian Baptism pointed to the Christ; granted, one pointed ahead and the other points mostly back in time.  Both were commanded by God.  Finally, both utilized water, as is the nature of sacred washings.

Indeed John the Baptist prepared the way for the Christ.  But we should also realize that John’s God-ordained baptism of penitents in the Jordan prepared the way for the Sacrament of Holy Baptism which Christ’s Church rightly treasures.

Matthew 3:1-12

John the Baptist Prepares the Way ~

Matthew 3:1

Ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις παραγίνεται Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτιστὴς κηρύσσων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τῆς Ἰουδαίας

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

Matthew 3:2

καὶ λέγων· Μετανοεῖτε, ἤγγικεν γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν. 

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Matthew 3:3

οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ῥηθεὶς [b]διὰ Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος· Φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ· Ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ. 

For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'" 

Matthew 3:4

αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ Ἰωάννης εἶχεν τὸ ἔνδυμα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τριχῶν καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, ἡ δὲ τροφὴ [c]ἦν αὐτοῦ ἀκρίδες καὶ μέλι ἄγριον. 

Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Matthew 3:5

τότε ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν Ἱεροσόλυμα καὶ πᾶσα ἡ Ἰουδαία καὶ πᾶσα ἡ περίχωρος τοῦ Ἰορδάνου,  

Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,

Matthew 3:6

καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο ἐν τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ [d]ποταμῷ ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν. 

and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Matthew 3:7 

δὼν δὲ πολλοὺς τῶν Φαρισαίων καὶ Σαδδουκαίων ἐρχομένους ἐπὶ τὸ βάπτισμα [e]αὐτοῦ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν, τίς ὑπέδειξεν ὑμῖν φυγεῖν ἀπὸ τῆς μελλούσης ὀργῆς;

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Matthew 3:8

ποιήσατε οὖν καρπὸν ἄξιον τῆς μετανοίας  

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

Matthew 3:9

καὶ μὴ δόξητε λέγειν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς· Πατέρα ἔχομεν τὸν Ἀβραάμ, λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι δύναται ὁ θεὸς ἐκ τῶν λίθων τούτων ἐγεῖραι τέκνα τῷ Ἀβραάμ. 

And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

Matthew 3:10

ἤδη [f]δὲ ἡ ἀξίνη πρὸς τὴν ῥίζαν τῶν δένδρων κεῖται· πᾶν οὖν δένδρον μὴ ποιοῦν καρπὸν καλὸν ἐκκόπτεται καὶ εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται. 

Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 

Matthew 3:11

Ἐγὼ μὲν [g]ὑμᾶς βαπτίζω ἐν ὕδατι εἰς μετάνοιαν· ὁ δὲ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἰσχυρότερός μού ἐστιν, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς τὰ ὑποδήματα βαστάσαι· αὐτὸς ὑμᾶς βαπτίσει ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ [h]καὶ πυρί·  

"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Matthew 3:12

οὗ τὸ πτύον ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ διακαθαριεῖ τὴν ἅλωνα αὐτοῦ καὶ συνάξει τὸν σῖτον αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν [i]ἀποθήκην, τὸ δὲ ἄχυρον κατακαύσει πυρὶ ἀσβέστῳ. 

His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." – 

Why do church people need repentance? They need repentance…

1. IF they come as spectators of repentance. 

2. IF they fail to produce the fruit of repentance.  

3. IF they fail to produce the fruit of repentance.  

4. IF they trust only in church membership. 

THEN they face judgment.  

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

St. Andrew, Apostle (November 30)

Ezekiel 3:16–21
Romans 10:8b–18
John 1:35–42a

St. Andrew, Apostle

The old church year ends with the watchman’s cry (Matt. 25:6), and the new one begins with it (Ezek. 3:17): John the Baptist’s call of warning and repentance, which St. Andrew heard and heeded. But John’s forerunning task was chiefly to point his disciples to Jesus, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29;36). Thus, Andrew became the first of Christ’s disciples. He in turn pointed his brother Simon Peter to the Messiah (John 1:41), and “immediately they left their nets and followed” the Christ (Matt. 4:20). “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news” (Rom. 10:15). Andrew’s eagerness to follow Christ and bring others to Him made “no distinction between Jew and Greek” (Rom. 10:12; John 12:20–22), and he may be counted as the first missionary. His zeal in following Christ led him, according to tradition, to face a martyr’s death on an “X” shaped cross. So we are directed at the beginning of Advent to focus our eyes on Christ’s cross, where God’s Lamb was offered for our salvation.

Sources:

Icon of Andrew copyright Google images

Lectionary Summary copyright LCMS commission on worship 

 

Saturday prior to Advent 1

[1]

John 1:1; Luke 2:30-32- Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is Savior of the Nations Come. (LSB #332). John would remind us that the eternal God, the creator of us all broke into time and space to be our redeemer. This is what the season of Advent is all about. We make ourselves ready to celebrate the fact that God has become human. We celebrate that God has come to visit His people. He came at just the right time and He will usher us home at just the right time. This majestic hymn tells the story of salvation. As you review it think of Christ’s impact on your life, your family, your church and community and then share His story with those you meet.

Ambrose of Milan (c. 340-397) is known as the father of Latin hymnody and standardized the form known in modern English hymnody as “Long Meter”—four lines of iambic tetrameter. Ambrose was a staunch opponent of Arianism and crafted hymns during this struggle that were meant for congregational participation and are characterized by their simplicity, austerity, and objectivity. Though many other hymns have been attributed to Ambrose, it is likely that several of these “Ambrosian hymns” were written by anonymous imitators and disciples. Veni, Redemptor genitum (“Savior of the Nations, Come”) is one of a few hymns that is evidentially attributed to Ambrose. Martin Luther, also writing during a period of great adversity, provided a literal translation of this text into German from which many English translations have since been produced. Fred Precht rightly says of the hymn: “In the history of hymnody this hymn is the Advent hymn par excellence.”[2]

There are twenty-eight examples of different poetic devices in his book and admits his list is by no means exhaustive. Here are some that I observed in “Savior of the Nations, Come” (LSB 332):

-Anaphora—Repetition of a word at the start of successive lines.

“Glory to the Father sing,

Glory to the Son, our king,

Glory to the Spirit be

Now and through eternity.” (Stanza 8)

 -Hypotyposis— A vivid description designed to bring a scene clearly before the eyes.

“From the manger newborn light

Shines in glory through the night.

Darkness there no more resides;

In this light faith now abides.” (Stanza 7)

 -Oxymoron—Combining for special purposes words which seem to be contradictory.

“God of God, yet fully man” (Stanza 4, 3rd phrase)

 -Paradox—A statement containing two opposite ideas.

“Here a maid was found with child,

Yet remained a virgin mild.” (Stanza 3, 1st and 2nd phrase)

-Simile—Unlike objects are compared in one aspect.

“From the manger newborn light

Shines in glory through the night.” (Stanza 7, 1st and 2nd phrase)

Other examples of poetic devices that you may be more familiar with are alliteration, metaphor, personification, rhetorical question, etc.

A helpful tool in Lutheran Service Book is the Scripture reference provided for each hymn. The references provided for LSB 332 are John 1:1, 14 and Luke 2:30-32.[3]

Collect for the first Sunday in Advent: Stir up Your power, O lord and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen[4]

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[1] Advent copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2] Lovelace, Austin. The Anatomy of Hymnody. Chicago: G.I.A. Publications, Inc., 1965.

[3] https://lutheranreformation.org/worship/savior-nations-come/

[4] Collect for Advent 1, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

 

Friday prior to Advent 1

 

Matthew 24:36-44 — To be ready for the Lord’s Great Day is a “must.” Not to be ready is to be lost just as the people in Noah’s day were not ready with boats for the flood. Jesus is not waiting for us to be ready. Whether we are ready or not, He is coming. Not to be ready spells eternal disaster. What does it mean to be “ready”? To be ready for the end is to live daily in a state of grace. If we are always reconciled to God by faith in Christ, it does not matter when Christ will return.

Remember back to your childhood when you played, “Hide and Seek.” When he finished his count, the child called, “Ready or not, here I come!” The truth behind the game is the same as our reading for this Sunday’s Gospel. As the count-down, which no one knows, Jesus is returning and woe to those who are not ready!  Jesus says to us, “Ready or not, here I come!”

There is certainty of hiss coming. Jesus says, “For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Vv. 37-39   And yes, he will come, whether we are ready or not. “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” V. 44[1]

Collect for the first Sunday in Advent: Stir up Your power, O lord and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen[2]

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[1] Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series A, John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing, Lima OH

[2] Collect for the First Sunday in Advent, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Advent image copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Thursday prior to Advent 1

 

—Romans 13:11-14— When Augustine heard a child’s voice say, “Take and read,” he opened his Bible and read verse 14 from our Epistle for this week. Obediently, he “put on” Christ and he became one of our greatest Christians. To “put on” means to be incorporated into Christ so that one is “a man in Christ.”

 To be ready for the Lord’s Great Day, we put on Christ so that in us Christ confronts Himself. We are His people. He is one of us. To be properly dressed for the Lord’s Great Day, we are to put on Christ’s robe of righteousness. This calls for a human response. Christ is coming. We are to be ready by putting on Christ. This we do at baptism.

Today is Thanksgiving, the quintessential American holiday. In the midst of a Civil War President Lincoln declared that American would pause to give thanks to God for the many blessings we have experienced in life. It’s easy to lose sight of the blessings which come from the Lord.  Luther’s explanation to the 1^st Article helps us articulate what it means to be shaped by the hand of God. A rough translation follows:

I believe that God created me, along with all creatures. God gave to me: body and soul, eyes, ears and all the other parts of my body, my mind and all my senses and preserves them as well. God gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and land, spouse and children, fields, animals, and all I own. Every day God abundantly provides everything I need to nourish this body and life. God protects me against all danger, shields and defends me from all evil. God does all this because of pure, fatherly, and divine goodness and mercy, not because I've earned it or deserved it. For all of this, I must thank, praise, serve, and obey God. Yes, this is true!

Prayer for Thanksgiving: Almighty God, whose mercies are new every morning and whose goodness, though undeserved, still abundantly provides for all our wants of body and soul, grant us, we humbly pray, Your Holy Spirit, that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness toward us, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen[1]

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[1] Collect for Thanksgiving, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Thanksgiving image copyright © Google Images

Wednesday Prior to Advent 1

[1]

 

—Isaiah 2:1-5— Isaiah tells us what will happen in the “latter” days. This refers to the end of the world. We may be living in the “latter” days now. In the latter days “all the nations” will see God on the highest mountain on earth. God will be the highest value and the center of the universe. They will come to God to receive his instruction how to live. This will result in international peace. The significance of “all” is that world peace depends upon “all” coming to God. Peace is not a unilateral project. Will it be possible to get “all” nations to come to God? If they are to come at the end-time, why not now? Here is one good reason to the church’s overseas missionary program.

 

The world is ever in pursuit of peace. Each succeeding decade makes peace a greater necessity because of the sophistication and proliferating of modern weapons. The great world powers have difficulty agreeing to limit armaments. Yet, the world longs for peace and fears the coming of the next war. This longing for peace is exhibited by the words of verse 4 carved on the outside wall of the United Nations building in New York City.  “And he will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

Why has this dream of world peace not been realized? Our text gives the conditions for peace, a peace the world has yet failed to pay. We need not a false hope of peace now when the nations are far from the Lord. Is peace for the world possible? Not now but in the last days –

Prayer for Harvest: Lord God, heavenly Father, through whose kindness we have again received the fruits of the earth in their season, grant us ever to rejoice in Your mercy that neither prosperity nor adversity may drive us from Your presence; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen[2]

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[1] Advent copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2] Collect for Harvest, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

 

Tuesday prior to Advent 1

[1]

—Psalm 122 —This week’s psalm is what the pilgrims may have sung as they neared the temple gate within the city walls. The pilgrim prays for the peace of the city -the center of worship and the seat of government for the world nation.

Psalm 122 carries the title A Song of Ascents. Of David. It is one of the four Songs of Ascents that is specifically attributed to King David. He wrote it both for what Jerusalem was in his day, and for what it would become under his son and their successors. David perhaps never made pilgrimage from a great distance to one of the major feasts, but he wrote Psalm 122 in the voice of one who did, and who had arrived at the Holy City.

This psalm particularly allows us to see David’s intent to unify the nation under the monarchy and to make Jerusalem the central sanctuary of the people—both key themes of David’s reign as it is described in 1 Samuel 16—1 Kings 1. In the book of Deuteronomy, the LORD had revealed his intent to establish a central sanctuary in the land after the people had made it their home:

“But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go, and there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock” (Deuteronomy 12.5–6).

David was the one who captured the ancient city of Jerusalem and made it his capital city; later in his life he established the tabernacle with the Ark of the Covenant as the place of central worship (2 Samuel 5–6).

Both of these events are referred to in Psalm 122: The city is the place “to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD” and it is the location of the “thrones of the house of David” (the capital city) (vv 4–5).

This psalm ties together the prediction of God in the Law that there would be a central sanctuary for the celebration of the three major feasts; this city would bind together (v 3) the nation into a political and religious unity.

The central sanctuary was called the “house of the LORD” (vv 1, 9) because it was, by God’s designation, the place where he would be present among his people when they came to worship and petition him. The Israelites knew that the LORD didn’t only dwell there since he was the LORD of heaven and earth. [2]

Collect for Psalm 122: Lord Jesus; give us the peace of the New Jerusalem. Bring all nations into Your kingdom to share Your gifts, that they may render thanks to You without end and may come to Your eternal city, where You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen [3]

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[1] Advent copyright © WELS Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2] http://psalmreflections.blogspot.com/2010/03/psalm-122.html

[3] Collect for Psalm 122, For All the Saints A Prayer Book for and By the Church Vol. II © 1995 by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

 

Monday prior to Advent 1

[1]

The Day of the Lord

Advent begins a new church year and is designed to prepare us for Christ’s coming both personally and cosmically. Advent 1 deals with Jesus’ Second Coming. It is the one Sunday of the year that is totally given to the doctrine, although the Epistles lesson in Advent urges us to patiently wait for the Lord’s return. The Prayer of the Day cries for the Lord to come. The Hymn of the Day calls for us to prepare for Christ to enter our lives. The Gospel lesson emphasizes the need of constant preparedness for Christ’s return because the time of his coming is unknown. The Epistle lesson urges us to put on Christ as preparation for his coming which Paul considers to be soon. When God comes to us, according to the Old Testament lesson, all nations will have their differences settled and peace will return.

—Psalm118:25-28; antiphon, Zechariah 9:9b —In the Introit for Sunday, we pray Behold you king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation. Fulfilled prophecy is one feature which makes Christianity so appealing. Throughout the season of Advent we will find prophecy after prophecy which was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Here is one among so many that the Lord as king would come to His people. During this busy and important season we prepare for Christ’s return in glory and we make ready our hearts and minds to celebrate His birth. If we prepared for the former we will be in the right frame of mind for the latter.

This week finds us preparing both for Thanksgiving as well as the start of the Advent season. There is much for us to plan, organize and get ready for the celebration which will soon commence. In the midst of all of your arranging take time to ponder the importance of this season. Christ has come to set us free from the bondage of sin, while at the same time He continues to provide for all that we need to support this body and life. Your life is ordered by Him who loves you. He provides for all you would ever desire. Fare thee well child of God. Fare thee well!

Collect for Psalm 118: Lord God, your Son, rejected by the builders, has become the cornerstone of the Church. Shed rays of your glory upon your Church. that it may be seem as the gate of salvation open to all nations. Let cries of joy and exultation ring our from its courts to celebrate the wonder of Christ’s resurrection, now and forever. [2]

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[1] Advent copyright © WELS Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2] For All the Saints A Prayer Book for and By the Church Vol. II © 1995 by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

 

 

Advent 1 Series - A study notes

 Advent 1 Series - A 

Isaiah 2:1–5
Romans 13:(8–10) 11–14
Matthew 21:1–11 or Matthew 24:36–44

Stir up Your power O Lord, and come that by Your Protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.  

The Lord Comes in Meekness and Humility to Save Us Now

 The Lord Jesus enters Jerusalem “humble, and mounted on a donkey,” riding on “a beast of burden” (Matt. 21:5), as He Himself bears the sins of the world in His body. Now He comes by the ministry of the Gospel to save us from sin, death, the devil and hell. Therefore, we sing, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:9). 

For we are called “to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob,” His holy Church, “that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths” (Isaiah 2:3). By His Word, we “walk in the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:5). That is to live in love, which “does no wrong to a neighbor” (Romans 13:10). 

We “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light,” for “salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11, 12). Hence, the entire Christian life is a time to wake and watch, “for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42).

Matthew 21:1-11

"The Triumphal Entry"

Matthew 21:1- 

Καὶ ὅτε ἤγγισαν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα καὶ ἦλθον εἰς Βηθφαγὴ [a]εἰς τὸ Ὄρος τῶν Ἐλαιῶν, τότε [b]Ἰησοῦς ἀπέστειλεν δύο μαθητὰς 

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

“when they were near Jerusalem they came to Bethpage to the Mt. Of Olives” 

Bethpage near Bethany SE (2 miles) of Jerusalem...this is Sunday of Holy Week

Matthew 21:2-

λέγων αὐτοῖς· [c]Πορεύεσθε εἰς τὴν κώμην τὴν [d]κατέναντι ὑμῶν, καὶ [e]εὐθέως εὑρήσετε ὄνον δεδεμένην καὶ πῶλον μετ’ αὐτῆς· λύσαντες [f]ἀγάγετέ μοι.

saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 

"go to the Village 'opposite,' 'against,' 'ahead,' of you"

The Lord is in control of His own Passion. He knows where the donkey is. He Orders everything.

Matthew 21:3- 

καὶ ἐάν τις ὑμῖν εἴπῃ τι, ἐρεῖτε ὅτι Ὁ κύριος αὐτῶν χρείαν ἔχει· [g]εὐθὺς δὲ [h]ἀποστελεῖ αὐτούς.

If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”

“say the Lord has need of them.” 

Jesus the Creator has/owns everything, yet he has need of it.  He knows what will happen before it does...yet everything is " borrowed" - manger, donkey/colt, tomb...

The donkey was the one animal in the OT to be redeemed...

Matthew 21:4-

 Τοῦτο [i]δὲ γέγονεν ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος·

This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

Matthew 21:5- 

Εἴπατε τῇ θυγατρὶ Σιών· Ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεταί σοι πραῢς καὶ ἐπιβεβηκὼς ἐπὶ ὄνον καὶ [j]ἐπὶ πῶλον υἱὸν ὑποζυγίου. 

“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt,[a] the foal of a beast of burden.’”

Everything is done to fulfill prophecy - only Matthew will quote the prophecy. 

Matthew 21:6- 

πορευθέντες δὲ οἱ μαθηταὶ καὶ ποιήσαντες καθὼς [k]συνέταξεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς

 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.

The Disciples did as Jesus instructed them

Matthew 21:7- 

ἤγαγον τὴν ὄνον καὶ τὸν πῶλον, καὶ ἐπέθηκαν [l]ἐπ’ αὐτῶν τὰ [m]ἱμάτια, καὶ ἐπεκάθισεν ἐπάνω αὐτῶν.

They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them.

“They brought colt/donkey, the placed their cloaks and He sat on them.” 

See Solomon 1 Kings 1:32-34, a king after David, one of wisdom

Matthew 21:8-

ὁ δὲ πλεῖστος ὄχλος ἔστρωσαν ἑαυτῶν τὰ ἱμάτια ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, ἄλλοι δὲ ἔκοπτον κλάδους ἀπὸ τῶν δένδρων καὶ ἐστρώννυον ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ. 

Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 

Matthew 21:9- 

οἱ δὲ ὄχλοι οἱ προάγοντες [n]αὐτὸν καὶ οἱ ἀκολουθοῦντες ἔκραζον λέγοντες· Ὡσαννὰ τῷ υἱῷ Δαυίδ· Εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου· Ὡσαννὰ ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις.

And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

See Psalms and wave offerings in the OT - singing the same Psalms as the Passover Liturgy Ps. 112-118 the Psalms of assent - this would be the people's only response, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord... Hosanna" 

Matthew 21:10-

καὶ εἰσελθόντος αὐτοῦ εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἐσείσθη πᾶσα ἡ πόλις λέγουσα· Τίς ἐστιν οὗτος;

And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”

Matthew 21:11- 

οἱ δὲ ὄχλοι ἔλεγον· Οὗτός ἐστιν [o]ὁ προφήτης Ἰησοῦς ὁ ἀπὸ Ναζαρὲθ τῆς Γαλιλαίας.

And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Jesus enters, the people ask, the city is stirred ~ Jn.12:17 The crowd that gathers had just witnessed the raising of Lazarus...it continues to increase...

Matthew 24:36-44

Jesus Your Coming King

He came, He comes, He Will Come

"No one knows of that hour..."      

Matthew 24:36 

Περὶ δὲ τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης καὶ ὥρας οὐδεὶς οἶδεν, οὐδὲ οἱ ἄγγελοι τῶν οὐρανῶν [a]οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός, εἰ μὴ ὁ [b]πατὴρ μόνος.

"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

Matthew 24:37 

ὥσπερ [c]γὰρ αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ Νῶε, οὕτως [d]ἔσται ἡ παρουσία τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου· 

For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew 24:38 

[e]ὡς γὰρ ἦσαν ἐν ταῖς [f]ἡμέραις ταῖς πρὸ τοῦ κατακλυσμοῦ τρώγοντες καὶ πίνοντες, γαμοῦντες καὶ [g]γαμίζοντες, ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας εἰσῆλθεν Νῶε εἰς τὴν κιβωτόν, 

For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,

Matthew 24:39 

καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ἕως ἦλθεν ὁ κατακλυσμὸς καὶ ἦρεν ἅπαντας, οὕτως ἔσται [h]καὶ ἡ παρουσία τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.

and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew 24:40 

τότε [i]δύο ἔσονται ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ, [j]εἷς παραλαμβάνεται καὶ [k]εἷς ἀφίεται·

Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.

Matthew 24:41 

δύο ἀλήθουσαι ἐν τῷ [l]μύλῳ, μία παραλαμβάνεται καὶ μία ἀφίεται.

Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.

Matthew 24:42 

γρηγορεῖτε οὖν, ὅτι οὐκ οἴδατε ποίᾳ [m]ἡμέρᾳ ὁ κύριος ὑμῶν ἔρχεται.

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

Matthew 24:43 

ἐκεῖνο δὲ γινώσκετε ὅτι εἰ ᾔδει ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης ποίᾳ φυλακῇ ὁ κλέπτης ἔρχεται, ἐγρηγόρησεν ἂν καὶ οὐκ ἂν εἴασεν διορυχθῆναι τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ.

But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

Matthew 24:44 

διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὑμεῖς γίνεσθε ἕτοιμοι, ὅτι ᾗ [n]οὐ δοκεῖτε ὥρᾳ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἔρχεται.

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. - 

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.

Saturday prior to Proper 29 - Christ the King

[1]

Psalm 23- Our featured Hymn is The King of Love My Shepherd Is. (LSB #709). This suggested hymn is one of praise and thanksgiving to our good shepherd Jesus Christ. He is our king. He is our good shepherd. Thanks be to God that we are a sheep of His fold, a lamb of His flock, a sinner of His own redeeming. Tomorrow come to church expecting to offer praise and worship to our King of Kings Jesus Christ the righteous one.

This is a beautiful paraphrase of Psalm 23, which links it to New Testament truth with a reference to the cross of Christ in CH-4. Our relationship with Christ, and the basis for all He does for us, flows from His sacrifice on Calvary’s cross.

Think of some of the wonderful things the Shepherd does for His own.

He loves us. This is an overarching quality under which all the other things are found. “The Son of God…loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

His unfailing goodness means we’ll never lack anything needful. “Those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing” (Ps. 34:10). “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

“He is mine,” and I am His. (Compare Solomon’s bride, “My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies,” S.S. 2:16.) This represents an intimate and enduring relationship. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Rom. 8:35-39).

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

He provides daily refreshment and nurture for our souls. Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (Jn. 10:9; cf. Isa. 40:11).

Here Baker has inserted an allusion to Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep (Lk. 15:3-7). It beautifully ties in with his emphasis on the loving concern of the divine Shepherd for His sheep. He seeks us when we go astray, and graciously restores us.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

He guides us through life’s journey, and will take us safely through “the valley of the shadow of death.” “You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory” (Ps. 73:24). “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 15:55-57; cf. Heb. 2:14-15).

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

As well us suggesting nourishment for our souls, this stanza seems to represent intimate fellowship with the Lord, and His sanctifying grace. “Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full” (I Jn. 1:3-4). “You have an anointing from the Holy One [i.e. the indwelling Holy Spirit, cf. Jn. 7:38-39; I Cor. 6:19]….the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you” (I Jn. 2:20-21).

Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!

No wonder those who belong to the Shepherd look forward to praising Him for all eternity. “So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever” (Ps. 79:13).

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.[2]

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[1] Christ the King, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2] https://wordwisehymns.com/2013/03/06/the-king-of-love-my-shepherd-is/