Pr. DFD : April 2021

Friday, April 30, 2021

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] -01 May 2021

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

Thursday, April 29, 2021

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] -30 April2021

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

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] -29 April 2021

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

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].-28 April, 2021

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.

Monday, April 26, 2021

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.[1] Amen -27 April 2021

Sunday, April 25, 2021

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] -26 April 2021

The Risen Christ copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[1] Lectionary summary Esater 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

2 May 2021

Series B

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

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 Christian.

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.

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

John 15:1 "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.

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

John 15:2 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.

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

John 15:3 "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.

: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.

John 15:4 "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.

: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

John 15:5 "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]

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

John 15:6 "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

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

John 15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

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

John 15:8 "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.

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

Time in the Word - Easter 5

Time in the Word

26 April – May 01, 2031

Preparation for next week, 5th Sunday of Easter

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.

Collect for the Fifth Sunday in Easter – 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 with what true joys are found through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

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.

Monday, 26 April 2021—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.

Tuesday, 27 April 2021—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.

Wednesday, 28 April 2021—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.

Thursday, 29 April 2021—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.

Friday, 30 April 2021—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.

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.

Saturday, 02 May 2021—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.

Morning Prayer Schedule for this coming week

April 26 Monday 128 The Lame Beggar Healed
April 27 Tuesday 129 Stephen
April 28 Wednesday Chapel
April 29 Thursday 130 Conversion of Saul
April 30 Friday 130 Conversion of Saul

Catechism Review: Psalm 23 - 6th Commandment

Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing Lima, OH
The Risen Christ copyright © Ed Riojas Higher Things
https://www.lcms.org/pages/print.asp?print=1&NavID=3777&path=%2Fpages%2Finternal.asp

Friday, April 23, 2021

Saturday prior to Easter 4

[1]

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[2]

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.[3] -24 April, 2021

[1] Icon of the Good Shepherd copyright © Google images
[2] https://hymnary.org/text/the_lords_my_shepherd_ill_not_want_rous
[3] Collect for Easter, Lutheran Service Book 4© 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Thursday, April 22, 2021

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 arte 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.[1] -23 April, 2021

The Good Shepherd Window which adorns the North entrance of Zion Friedheim Lutheran Church, Decatur, IN

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Thursday prior to Easter 4

– 1 John 3:16-24 – The readings from St John’s first epistle continue with this short passage. In it, John contrasts those in the world, who do not know the Father because they have rejected the Son, with believers, who put their trust in Christ, and, thus, have been made the children of God.

See what love says St. John v.1 It is a common cliché, “God loves you.” How do you know for sure? What proof do you have? John says we see the love of God in the fact tht God calls us his children. Behind God’s considering us his children is the price paid on the cross to make us his children. In Christ God paid for our sins and thus we are acceptable to him. On the basis of the cross God has adopted us as his children. What would God do this? Are we worthy of his sacrifice? IT was a matter of pure, undeserved grace.

We Christians know that we are the children of God if so, then why are we so feverishly occupied in these days with the question of identity? Who are3 we? Do we, understand ourselves? John removes all questions and doubts about our identity when he claims that we are the children of God. Yes, we are sinners, but now God’s redeemed sinners are made into God’s children. Yes, we are humans, but more than that – children of the King. How do we know we are God’s children? We know it because of the cross and resurrection, because of God’s Word. Because of faith, because the Spirit witnesses to our spirits that we are his children.[1]

An afternoon prayer: Heavenly Father, in whom we live and move and have our being, we humbly pray You so to guide and govern us by Your Word and Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget You but remember that we are ever walking in Your sight.[2] -22 April, 2021

The Good Shepherd Window which adorns the North entrance of Zion Friedheim Lutheran Church, Decatur, IN

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Wednesday prior to Easter 4

– Acts 4:1-12 – After their release by the Sanhedrin, before whom they were taken because of their preaching of Jesus and His resurrection, Peter and John return to the band of believers. As they had before the Jewish leaders, Peter and John show how the Old Testament must be interpreted with Jesus in mind. They quote Psalm 2, a coronation psalm, in their prayer, and show how King Jesus fulfilled it.

There is salvation in “no one else.” In a pluralistic culture, who will buy this? The mood of our day is to let each have his/her own religion because one will be saved in and by it. Peter would have no part of this kind of thinking. He proclaimed under the influence of the Holy Spirit that there is on salvation apart from Christ. This position is a logical conclusion to the fact that Jesus is the only Son of God who died for the sins of the whole world. No one else died on the cross as the Son of God. No one else ever rose from the dead. To accept other religions as equally true is to deny the truth of the Gospel.

Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit; He did not only have the Spirit but was filled with the Spirit. This explains what he said. The Spirit gave him courage as an unlearned fisherman to address the rulers of Jerusalem. He was not only bold but he was certain and positive. There was no question, no suggestion, no doubt, no hesitation. Openly and frankly Peter explained that he cripple was healed by the power of Jesus’ name. He was unafraid to blame them for the crucifixion and he was certain that Jesus rose from the dead. How can one explain such boldness and certainty? The answer – he was filled with the Holy Spirit.[1]

The Good Shepherd Window which adorns the North entrance of Zion Friedheim Lutheran Church, Decatur, IN

Sunday, April 18, 2021

Monday prior to Easter 4

The 4th Sunday in Easter is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. The theme of the Good Shepherd is evident in the Gospel and the Hymn of the Day. An emphasis is made on the power of the Good Shepherd. In the Gospel, Jesus says he has power to lay down his life and to raise it again. How does this fit into the Easter season, a celebration of the Resurrection? Jesus has power to rise from the dead.

Jesus explains the parable of the good shepherd. An explanation is made of what constitutes a good shepherd in contrast to a hireling. Emphasis is laid upon the fact that Jesus’ death was voluntary. The shepherd has an intimate knowledge of his sheep. There is one flock with one shepherd. The basic point is that the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Collect for Psalm 23: 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, for your name’s sake.[1] - 19 April 2021

[1] Collect for Psalm 23, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book for and by the Church, The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

Easter 3

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. [1]

Have you ever been given such good news that you had to share it with someone? Life changing events must be shared; an engagement, a promotion, a new hire, your first grandchild. Such good news must be shared!

The night of the first Easter. When the disciples saw Jesus. They experience – both surprise and fright. This immediately turned into joy. It was almost too good to believe! “It seemed too good to be true!” But it was true. And Jesus gave them this instruction – What is good and true - must be told.

It seemed too good to be true. The reports were coming in. Sin and death had not conquered. News was traveling fast; “The Lord has risen indeed!” Jesus appeared to the disciples in the upper room. Joy and doubt clashed. Our reaction too is mixed both awe and joy. It seems too good to be true. Despite our sin. The LORD offers forgiveness. And life. Through His Son Jesus.

It is good. Because it is true. It is not a human plan of salvation. Human efforts reject Christ. ‘This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.’ -_{Acts 4:11}

Builders are expected to know their trade. It is reasonable to assume they know where to build, how to build and what materials to use in the building.

Yet those who fancied themselves the builders of the kingdom of God—the chief priests, rulers, elders and scribes of Israel—didn’t even recognize the key component of the structure, the stone which determines the direction and design of all the other stones.

And now a Galilean fisherman named Peter dares to accuse them of such spiritual ineptitude and blindness!

Peter was not the first person to quote Psalm 118:22 to these leaders. Jesus was confronted by these same people asking Him the same question they posed to Peter and John: “By what authority are you speaking?” _{Matthew
21:23}, See also _{Acts 4:5-7}

Yet, Jesus’ warning fell on deaf ears. The leaders arranged for His betrayal, arrest, illegal trials and crucifixion death, all the while thinking they are contributing to the kingdom of God in their zeal.

Thankfully those “builders” are not the true constructors of God’s kingdom. The LORD Himself is the true Builder, and by His design the very stone which the builders rejected became the head of the corner for His kingdom.

By the LORD’s power Jesus is raised from the dead, seated at the right hand of the Father, and given all authority in heaven and on earth. The LORD vindicated Jesus by accepting His finished redemptive work, making Jesus the central of His kingdom. He is the cornerstone; the one around whom everything fits.

Because of self-righteousness. And deceit. There is a denial of the truth. And the Scriptures speak clearly; "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." _{1 John 1:8}

Yet, it had always been the Father’s plan; revealed already to the Old Testament faithful concerning the LORD’s Christ. “Then Jesus said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ _{Luke 24:44}

This plan of salvation. This plan of restoration and hope. This plan of reconciliation is fulfilled in Christ. “And He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,’ v.46

Jesus is the Truth of the LORD’s salvation. It is good. Because it calls for you to repent. And offers the truth of the Father’s forgiveness.

“And that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” v.47 Thus, through the proclamation of this gospel you become right before God. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” _{1 John 1:9}

It is truth. That is good for others. It is good for you! The Father desires that His salvation be proclaimed to all nations. _{Luke 24:47} Repentance and forgiveness will restore people. From the darkness of sin. To the goodness of His light.

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” _{1
John 1:5-7}

The people of God are witnesses. To the power of Christ’s death and resurrection. Jesus said to his disciples, “You are witnesses to these things.” _{Luke 24:48} Throughout the book of Acts; as the Word of the Lord continued spread from one location to the other this message would be repeated constantly and consistently; “We are witnesses to these things.” _Acts
5:32

All of us can share Christ in our daily conversations with others. The Holy Spirit has promised to give you power to tell what is true. And what is good.

Jesus said, “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” vs.49

And when the day of Pentecost came; these disciples went as the Father directed them starting in Jerusalem the fanned out into Judea, then Samaria and to the rest of world.

The LORD’s salvation is never “too good to be true.” It is utterly good. It is utterly true. You can tell the world. So that all people can experience its truth and goodness. As you begin another week; may the Lord use you to be his mouth-piece, his ambassador in the environment in which you live. May you be the hands and feet the fingers and toes of Jesus. Godspeed and God bless as you begin this week in Jesus’ name.