Sources:
Monday, April 14, 2025
Tuesday of Holy Week
THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL © 1940 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis,
MO
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Monday of Holy Week
– Isaiah 50:5-10 - My sin and the Savior’s obedience
The Antiphon: Continue Your love to those who know you, Your righteousness to the upright in heart. – Psalm 36:10
Prayers for Monday – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who amid so many adversities do fail through our own infirmities, may be restored through the Passion and intercession of Thine only-begotten Son.
Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ chose to suffer pain before going up to joy, and crucifixion before entering into glory, mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find this path to be the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.-
Sources:
LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK LECTIONARY © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St.
Louis, MO
Saturday, April 12, 2025
EASTER Series C - study notes
Isaiah 65:17–25
1 Corinthians 15:19–26
Luke 24:1–12
Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us. Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Christ’s Resurrection Is the First-fruits of the New Creation
The Lord has promised to “create new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17), in which His people shall abide in peace and joy. That new creation has begun in the bodily resurrection of Christ Jesus. All the baptized belong to that new creation. Reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, they are “the offspring of the blessed of the Lord” (Isaiah 65:23). The Lord rejoices and is glad in them; He hears and answers their prayers. For “if in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19). But Christ Jesus has been raised, “the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). We may be “perplexed about this” (Luke 24:4), perhaps even frightened and brought to our knees, because it seems like an “idle tale” (Luke 24:11). But faith clings to the Word of Christ and finds His resurrected body — not in the tomb, but in His Holy Supper.
Luke 24:1 – τῇ δὲ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων ὄρθρου βαθέως ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμα ἦλθον φέρουσαι ἃ ἡτοίμασαν ἀρώματα.
refers back to 11:55, they rested on the Sabbath preparing spices...the first day after the Sabbath, very early they came with the spices. They did not anticipate the resurrection...if making this up why go into these details?
Luke 24:2 – εὗρον δὲ τὸν λίθον ἀποκεκυλισμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου,
they found the stone rolled Latterly popped out of the grove. Lying flat.
Luke 24:3 – εἰσελθοῦσαι δὲ οὐχ εὗρον τὸ σῶμα.
but when they entered they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
Expressed in very few words.
Luke 24:4 – καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἀπορεῖσθαι αὐτὰς περὶ τούτου καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο ἐπέστησαν αὐταῖς ἐν ἐσθῆτι ἀστραπτούσῃ.
and it happened, while they were amazed at these things right then and there two men stood in dazzling clothing.
John says Angels were at the head and foot reminiscent of the ark of the covenant.
Luke 24:5 – ἐμφόβων δὲ γενομένων αὐτῶν καὶ κλινουσῶν τὰ πρόσωπα εἰς τὴν γῆν εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτάς· Τί ζητεῖτε τὸν ζῶντα μετὰ τῶν νεκρῶν;
in their fright they bowed their faces to the dirt and the men said "why are you seeking the living one with the dead ones?"
Look at the Easter chants..."Why seek the living among the dead?" A sermon in itself.
Luke 24:6 – οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε, ἀλλὰ ἠγέρθη. μνήσθητε ὡς ἐλάλησεν ὑμῖν ἔτι ὢν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ,
He Is not here he is raised is in brackets...he is raised remember how he spoke to you while in Galilee.
Luke 24:7- λέγων [i]τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὅτι δεῖ παραδοθῆναι εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ σταυρωθῆναι καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστῆναι.
it was necessary (divine necessity) for the Son of man to be handed into the hands of men sinners, be crucified, and on the third day rise.
Raised as a human, "Son of man." See Psalm 2, Ps. 110,
Luke 24:8 – καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν τῶν ῥημάτων αὐτοῦ,
then they remembered His words.
Luke 24:9 – καὶ ὑποστρέψασαι ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου ἀπήγγειλαν ταῦτα πάντα τοῖς ἕνδεκα καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς λοιποῖς.
returning from the tomb they proclaimed reported these things...woman's ordination?
Luke 24:10 – ἦσαν δὲ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ Μαρία καὶ Ἰωάννα καὶ Μαρία ἡ Ἰακώβου καὶ αἱ λοιπαὶ σὺν αὐταῖς· ἔλεγον πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ταῦτα.
the list of women, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary mother of James, and others...at least five...told this to the apostles.
Luke 24:11 – καὶ ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ λῆρος τὰ ῥήματα [l]ταῦτα, καὶ ἠπίστουν αὐταῖς.
they did not believe them it sounded as nonsense
Luke 24:12 – Ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἀναστὰς ἔδραμεν ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον· καὶ παρακύψας βλέπει τὰ [n]ὀθόνια μόνα· καὶ ἀπῆλθεν πρὸς [o]αὑτὸν θαυμάζων τὸ γεγονός.
Peter standing up ran to the tomb, stopping, saw the linen strips and returned to his own place marveling at what had become.
some Gk editions do not have this verse.
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.
-LCMS Lectionary notes © 2018
-Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing
The Risen Christ copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things
Friday, April 11, 2025
Saturday prior to Palm Sunday
John 12:12-15;
Psalm 118:26; Psalm 24:7-9 - Sunday’s hymn of the day is All
Glory, Laud, and Honor (442 LSB). Today is the day in which we worship
Jesus as He rode into the streets of Jerusalem as Lord and King. In many
churches the youth are confirmed. If not, it is a wonderful opportunity to
reaffirm your confirmation vows. Some of the most moving and dramatic readings
and reflections happen on Palm Sunday; it is both a happy and somber mood.
Christ is hailed and at the same time rejected. He offers Himself only to be
refused. If Jesus were to come to your fair city, what sort of reception might
He receive?
This hymn text was written by St. Theodulph of Orleans
in 820 while he was imprisoned in Angers, France, for conspiring against the
King, with whom he had fallen out of favor. The text acts as a retelling of the
triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The medieval church actually
re-enacted this story on Palm Sunday using a standard liturgy that featured
this hymn. The priests and inhabitants of a city would process from the fields
to the gate of the city, following a living representation of Jesus seated on a
donkey. When they reached the city gates, a choir of children would sing the
hymn, then in Latin: Gloria, laus et honor, and the refrain was taken up by the
crowd. At this point the gates were opened and the crowd made its way through
the streets to the cathedral. Though we might not have any city gates to
proceed through today, this hymn still acts as a royal hymn of praise and
proclamation. Today we praise the “Redeemer, King” because we know just what
kind of King He was and is – an everlasting King who reigns not just in
Jerusalem, but over the entire earth. What more could we do but praise Him with
glory, laud, and honor.[2]
A prayer before worship – O Lord, our
Creator, Redeemer, and Comforter, as we come to worship You in spirit and in
truth, we humbly pray that You may open our hearts to the preaching of Your
Word, so that we may repent of our sins, believe in Jesus Christ as our only
Savior, and grow in grace and holiness. Hear us for His same.
A prayer for help in times of temptation – Almighty and everlasting God, through Your Son You have promised us forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. Govern our hearts by Your Holy Spirit that in our daily need and especially in all time of temptation, we may seek Your help and, by a true and lively faith in Your Word, obtain all that You have promised; through Jesus Christ our Lord.-[4]
[1]
Palm Sunday, Schnorr
Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and
congregational use
[3]
Hosanna, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[4]
Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Friday prior to Palm Sunday
Jesus “goes as it
has been determined” (Luke 22:22), according to the Scriptures, willingly
submitting to His Father’s plan for the salvation of sinners.
Luke
19:28-40 – Jesus sent two disciples to bring Him a colt upon
which He could ride into Jerusalem. This is probably the humblest animal
available. To this day we use “ass” or “Jackass” to heap scorn on people. You may consider yourself an ass and thus
feel unworthy of being a servant of Christ.
Even if you are an ass, Christ can use you. During the
Medieval period, a young man with not too many brains was examined for the
priesthood. His examiner was in despair and told him that he was so stupid that
he was only half an ass. The candidate replied that if Samson could kill
thousands with the jawbone of an ass, maybe God could do wonders with a whole
ass. Though you may consider yourself of little value ponder these realities.
You are needed (verse 31) and you can carry Jesus to others (verse 35).
A prayer for Grace to receive the Word – Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark,, learn and inwardly digest them that, by patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life. [3]
[1]
Palm Sunday, Schnorr
Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and
congregational use
[2]
Hosanna, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[3]
Collect for Grace to Receive the Word, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia
Publishing House, St. Louis
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Palm Sunday reflection
Do you remember what happened today 60 years ago? It is the anniversary of the Great Palm Sunday Tornado!
I was only eight years old. On that day - a devastating tornado outbreak struck parts of six Midwestern states, including Indiana.
The tornado outbreak produced 55 confirmed tornadoes in one day! There was widespread destruction everywhere. The city of Berne, Indiana was totally destroyed. Parts of the city of Kokomo were also badly damaged!
I remember that the electricity went out just as we were starting to watch the Wizard of OZ! And the power was out for days!
But my parents had a gas stove. So my Mom was able to cook meals. That’s what I remember the most about that day! At night, my grandparents would come over for dinner and we would have dinner by candlelight.
At the time I thought that it was so wonderful. Having dinner by candlelight without knowing of the destruction just outside.
Today we remember Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem. On that day no one could imagine what would happen to Jesus by the end of the week. But what we will see is that Jesus was rightly praise for being the coming Savior. Our LORD. And our king. And as our King we know that He orders our days and directs our path.
Prayer: Almighty God our Father, who sent Your Son to take ou9r nature upon Him and to suffer death on the cross that all should follow the example of His great humility; mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of our Savior Jesus in His patience and also have our portion in His glorious resurrection; through Jesus Christ our LORD.
Hymn: Pg. Pg. 26 “Crown Him with Many Crowns” Vv. 1-3
Confession/Absolution:
LORD - we pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father.
In Your compassion forgive us our sins. Known and unknown. Things done. And left undone.
And so uphold us by Your Spirit. That we may live and serve you in newness of life. To the honor and glory of Your Name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on you. Forgive you all your sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. And may He strengthen you in all goodness. And by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
Matthew 21:1-11
21 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 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. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt,1 the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 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!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Palm Sunday celebrates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, just a few days before His betrayal and execution.
On Palm Sunday, people celebrated Jesus’ coming. And cheered, calling for salvation. Jesus brought salvation, of course, but not quite as they had anticipated.
The waiting was over – The promised King was finally coming into Jerusalem.
And the people crowded the streets to cheer his arrival. Often called the Triumphant Entry, this wave of popularity would be short lived. Yet in that special moment we get a hint of the final return of Christ.
This was a big parade! – And Jesus deserved it. Remember how he had traveled all over Israel helping people. Doing miracles. And telling them about God’s love.
Now he was coming to the capitol. The most important city.
This was something the Bible had been promising for hundreds of years. It was all finally coming together. And the people were going crazy like they had just won the super bowl.
But there was a problem: Jesus wasn’t rich like a normal king. He didn’t have a big fancy horse. Or a big fancy army to go with him in this parade. Did you hear how Jesus fixed that problem:
Matthew 21:1-3
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
Jesus and His disciples were walking towards Jerusalem when Jesus stops them. He sends two disciples to get Him two donkeys. But He doesn’t say anything about paying for them.
They are to go to the village and get a donkey and her colt. If there are any problems…they are just supposed to say that “the Lord needs them” and it will all be fine.
But this wasn’t an accident. This was just what the Bible had promised for hundreds of years. The real king wasn’t going to be fancy, but ride into the city on a donkey … a donkey he had to borrow.
Matthew 21:4-5
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
Jesus was fulfilling prophecy. He was supposed to ride on a donkey’s colt – that means a young donkey. Can you imagine a big important king riding on a simple little donkey?
What about the big army and the fancy horse? You see Jesus wasn’t a normal king trying to show he was important and force everyone to serve him. Jesus was the opposite: He came to show love and serve the people.
Matthew 21:6-9
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
The disciples did what they were told to do. They went and got the donkey and the colt. A big crowd was already showing up and covering the street with their coats and branches from the trees.
Remember that they didn’t have paved roads back then – the roads were dirt. They were showing their respect to Jesus by covering the road so that He wouldn’t get dirty.
They cheered for Jesus with words from the Bible. This was a big victory celebration, and everyone was excited to see what would happen next.
That was a big commotion! I bet the people in the city were wondering what was happening.
Matthew 21:10-11
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Jesus made quite an entrance! People were trying to figure out who He was.
Remember, there was no television back then. People had heard about Him. But they had never seen Him before.
Notice – they didn’t say that He was the Son of God. They called Him a prophet. It was difficult for some of the people of Jesus’ time to realize that He was God and that He was going to save them. Even his disciples would be confused and abandon Jesus later that same week.
The Bible says that Jesus will come again. But not in a parade on a donkey but in the clouds in full glory.
When Jesus comes again it will be to take his place as King of the world. This means we need to be ready for his return.[1]
Prayer: Thank you, LORD for your love
and care. Thank you for sending Jesus our LORD and our King. We wait for His
second coming. When He will bring us home to be with Your forever.
Hymn: #27 “Crown Him with Many Crowns”
Vv.4-5
As the Lord has given us the beauty of
worship and the gift of fellowship with one another. We thank you Lord for
gathering us on this day.
As the Lord has given us neighbors,
friends, families, and coworkers to share the joys and burdens of this life. We
thank you Lord, for the privilege of loving others.
As the Lord has given us a promise that
where He goes, He will prepare a place for us.
[1] Palm Sunday - Kids Sunday School Lesson and Activities -
Ministry To Children
Palm Sunday image copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things
Thursday prior to Palm Sunday
Philippians 2:5-11 – Paul seems to be going in two
opposite directions: Christ’s going down in humility and going up in
exaltation. The key is that no one can go up unless he first goes down. Holy
Week is the period of Christ’s going down, even to the depth of death. Because
of this, we can anticipate His rising from the dead at the right hand of the
Father. Paul urges his people to have this same mind of humility that God may
exalt them.
The King of Israel comes into His royal glory by the
path of humble obedience “to the point of
death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). According to the
Scriptures, willingly submitting to His Father’s plan for the salvation of
sinners. “Therefore God has highly
exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name”
(Philippians 2:9). He kills to make
alive; He wounds in order to heal. In remembrance of Him, we praise God,
confessing “that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11).
A prayer for reconciliation – God of love, through Your Son You have commanded us to love one another. By the guidance of Your Word and Spirit, deliver us from impenitence and teach us the truth that we might conf3ess our sins, receive Your forgiveness and be reconciled to one another; through Jesus Christ our Lord.[3]
[1]
Palm Sunday, Schnorr
Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and
congregational use
[2]
Hosanna, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[3]
Collect for Reconciliation, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing
House, St. Louis
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Wednesday prior to Palm Sunday
Deuteronomy
32:36-39 – God has compassion on His people in their extremity. God’s
opportunity is Man’s extremity. Consider the condition of man. He is powerless
– “Their power is gone.” He is nothing – “There is none remaining.” Then there is God’s opportunity –
Vindication – “The Lord will vindicate
His people.” and compassion – “Compassion
on His servants.”
Christ’s suffering and death open the way of repentance
for the forgiveness of sins because He goes to the cross bearing the sins of
the world. In His resurrection, God the Father vindicates His people and has
compassion on His servants (Deuteronomy 32:36).
The Old Testament lesson for this Sunday is from
the fifth book of the Torah, Deuteronomy. The text is Deuteronomy 32:36-39 and
is designated for “The Sunday of the
Passion,” or as us older guys remember, “Palm Sunday.” The lesson forms a small part of the entire “Song of Moses” located in Chapter 32.
Perhaps a good question would be why this particular passage was chosen for the
Sunday of the Passion. Maybe because after everything has fallen apart, it is
the LORD who comes to deliver and save. The LORD vindicates His people in the
midst of their misery and despair—for this He has come.
The Song of Moses extols the virtues and the
faithfulness of the LORD in contrast to the unfaithfulness of the people and
their struggles to walk in His paths. As the LORD points to His own
faithfulness and His actions to deliver and save, He also points to the lack
thereof of the other “gods” to whom the Israelites have turned or eventually
will experiment with. These “gods” have and will continue to prove unable to
provide for the needs of the people—they will let them down for they are no
gods. Some have also pointed out how the lyrics of this Song of Moses bring
charges against the people of Israel and end up being the equivalent of “legal briefs” in a lawsuit which the
LORD charges against His chosen people.
Verses 36-38 of our lesson deal with the
condition of the people as they live out lives in the embrace of other gods.
When they have been brought low and all their “gods” and all the things they
have sought refuge in have failed them and proven ineffectual to providing
help, then… verse 39. The LORD identifies Himself and who He is and what He
does—in contrast to the false gods—“I
kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal…” I am He; there is no god beside
me!!
Another interesting component of this text is the
language concerning these other “gods.” The LORD is basically engaging in an
ancient form of “trash talk.” This could provide an excellent introduction to
the sermon. By pointing out the inabilities of these false and foreign gods,
the LORD is focusing the people on what He has done and what He will do. We see
this same move in the 10 plagues as the LORD prepares to bring the Israelites
out of Egypt. Every plague is directed toward one of the gods of Egypt, even to
the death of the son of the god Pharaoh. Then for good measure, the LORD kills
the false god Pharaoh in the Red Sea. In Genesis when Rachel steals the family
gods, she hides them by sitting on them during her time of the month. A woman
is protecting these “gods” and makes them unclean by sitting on them in her
condition! In Isaiah it is recounted how a man goes out and chops down a tree
to obtain wood for his cooking and the heating of his house, and then, with a
nice piece of the leftover wood, he carves a god and worships it. Ancient trash
talking! The LORD God ridicules and mocks those useless gods the people chase
after—only He is God, there is none beside Him!! [2]
Collect for Palm Sunday – Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [4]-
[1]
Palm Sunday, Schnorr
Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and
congregational use
[3]
Hosanna, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[4]
Collect for Psalm Sunday, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing
House, St. Louis
Monday, April 7, 2025
Tuesday prior to Palm Sunday
Psalm 118:19-29; key verse, verse 26 – Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. Again, these are
the words used to praise Jesus when He came in triumph. At the end of that day
and by the end of the week, He would be rejected. The people simply wanted a
different kind of King. What sort of king are you seeking? Does Jesus fit the
profile? If not, for what sort of king should you seek?
Psalm 118:
Looking to Christ the Chief Cornerstone
Psalm 118 does not name an author in its title, but
there is reason to believe it was King David, the Sweet Psalmist of Israel.
Ezra 3:10-11 suggests that Psalm 118 was sung at the founding of the second
temple, and when they sang it, they attributed it to David (“according to the
ordinance of David king of Israel,” Ezra 3:10).
“Most probably David was the author of this
psalm…. It partakes of David’s spirit, and everywhere shows the hand of a
master. The style is grand and noble; the subject, majestic.” (Adam Clarke)
Though this was likely David’s psalm, it was also
Jesus’ psalm. “This is pre-eminently the triumph song of the Christ, He the
ideal Servant, He the perfect Priest, He the Leader of the people. How much all
these words meant to Him as He sang them on that night in the upper room.”
(G. Campbell Morgan)
Though this was likely David’s psalm, it was also Luther’s psalm. “This
is my own beloved psalm. Although the entire Psalter and all of Holy Scripture
are dear to me as my only comfort and source of life, I fell in love with this
psalm especially. Therefore I call it my own. When emperors and kings, the wise
and the learned, and even saints could not aid me, this psalm proved a friend
and helped me out of many great troubles. As a result, it is dearer to me than
all the wealth, honor, and power of the pope, the Turk, and the emperor. I
would be most unwilling to trade this psalm for all of it.” (Martin Luther,
cited by James Montgomery Boice) [2]
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 seen as the gate of salvation open to al nations. Let cries of joy and exultation ring out from its courts to celebrate the wonder of Christ’s resurrection, now and forever. [4]
[1]
Palm Sunday, Schnorr
Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and
congregational use
[3] Hosanna,
copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[4]
Collect for Psalm 118, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church,
Vol I © 1994 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
Sunday, April 6, 2025
Monday prior to Palm Sunday
Psalm 24:7-10, Antiphon, Psalm 118:26 – Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord! We bless You from the house of the Lord. The one who with God’s help
defeated the enemies “in the name of the Lord” from God’s very presence. The
plural is used as a reference to God alone who deserves worship and praise. The
crowd that gathered around Jesus when He rode into Jerusalem on His triumphal
entry sang verses 25-26 of this famous psalm.
Psalm 24 - The
Great and Supreme God
This psalm is simply titled A Psalm of David. Many
think this psalm was written upon the occasion of the entrance of the Ark of
the Covenant into Jerusalem during the reign of David (2 Samuel 6). Here, the
eye of the Psalmist looked, however, beyond the typical up-going of the ark to
the sublime ascension of the King of glory.
We can make several connections to this idea that
the King of glory shall come in.
· This was fulfilled when the Ark of the Covenant
came to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:11-18).
· This was fulfilled when the ascended Jesus
entered into heaven (Acts 1:9-10; Ephesians 1:20).
· This is fulfilled when an individual heart
opens to Jesus as King.
And the
King of glory shall come in: The idea is plain; it is assumed that when God
is welcomed with open gates and doors, He is pleased to come in. The King of
glory will meet with His people when approached correctly and the doors are
opened unto Him.
The idea that the doors or gates might be opened
unto God, but He would not come unto man, isn’t even considered. When we draw
near to Him, He draws near to us (James 4:8).
“For the Church is Christ’s temple; and every faithful
soul is a gate thereof to let him in, as in Revelation 3:20.”[2]
The Theme for Palm Sunday is “The Nature of God’s Love.” In the Old Testament lesson (Deuteronomy
32:36-39), love is seen as compassion. God has compassion on His people in
their extremity. In the Epistle lesson (Philippians 2:5-11), love is shown in
humble service. Christ humbled Himself and God exalted Him. In the Gospel
lesson (Luke 23:1-49), love as sacrifice is seen as Christ goes to the cross
and we observe the trials and death of Jesus. If the church observes Palm
Sunday, the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-40) is traditionally
read. As has been our tradition and practice we will re-affirm confirmation
vows this Sunday.
Collect for Psalm 24: Lord God, ruler and guide of heaven and earth, you made your Son a priest and brought him into your everlasting temple, Open our hearts that the King of glory may enter, and bring us rejoicing to your holy mountain, where you live and reign, one God, now and forever. [4]
[1]
Palm Sunday, Schnorr
Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and
congregational use
[3]
Hosanna, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[4]
Collect for Psalm 24, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church,
Vol. I © 1994 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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