Pr. DFD

Thursday, January 27, 2022

Morning Prayer #82

The temptation of Jesus

Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

‘On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.’

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God

and him only shall you serve.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

The Temptation © Google Image

Friday Prior to Epiphany 4

[1]

Luke 4:31-44—In our Gospel lesson Jesus drives out an evil spirit. Here we find a man possessed by a demon. To pagans, a demon meant a supernatural being, either good or bad. Luke makes the point that this was an evil spirit. Such a demon could cause mental illness (see John 10:20), violence (see Luke 8:26-29), bodily disease (Luke 14:11, 16), and open rebellion against God (Mark 16:14).

Peter we know was married as we see Jesus heal his mother-in-law. This miracle is found in Matthew 8:14-15 and in Mark 1:29-31 but only Luke the physician tells us that she was suffering from a high fever. The people were flocking to Jesus hoping He would help them. Luke reminds us this all happened on the Sabbath (verse 31) and as the sun was setting (verse 40). The Sabbath was over at sundown (around 6 p.m.). Until then, according to the tradition of the Elders, Jews could not travel more than about two-thirds of one mile or carry a burden. Only after sundown could they carry the sick to Jesus. The eagerness of the crowd is seen in the fact that they set out while the sun was still setting. Only Jesus, the Great Physician, has the power to heal and to save.

Jesus goes to Capernaum, the center of His Galilean ministry. The crowds are astounded at the authority of His teaching. They are amazed at the power demonstrated in his healing. Who is this Jesus? To what extent is he our authority, our standard for truth? What do we known of his power?

Jesus enters into His Father’s house and He begins teaching the people the Good News about the kingdom. But unlike the Pharisees and teachers of the law who quote the teachings of Moses and the Prophets, Jesus speaks by His own authority. Rather than speaking the teachings of others, Jesus speaks the Word Himself. With this speaking, He fulfills His role as the great High Priest.

Satan being cast down upon the earth in disobedience, hatred and spite has one of his demons take possession of a man in the synagogue. He recognizes Jesus as the One who has supreme authority and power. He cries cried out with a loud voice, “I know who you are— the Holy One of God.”

The evil spirit’s possession of the man is a direct assault upon the Father and His work of creation. Jesus as the great High Priest came to destroy the works of the devil. Jesus had the right, to set free the man held captive. Satan still considers it an infringement of his rights when God frees a “sinner” from bondage and destroys his influence. He still remains spiteful, malignant like a cancer - poisonous like a serpent - spreading his anger. He’s vicious. Striking out at all who come too close.

This demon was no different than his master. Still spiteful, though obliged to obey the divine will of God, the demon submits because he had to, not because he chose to. He exerted his last power, inflicting all the pain he could, and then bowed to the Son of God and came out.

Jesus came down from heaven in love and obedience to His Father. Jesus came to earth for the very purpose of paying the bills owed to the Father for your iniquity disobedience and sin. Jesus took the bills of your sin and paid the cost with His very own body and blood so that you could be free from the guilt over your iniquity and to relieve you from the burden of your sin.

When you humbly turn to Jesus in faith, believing that His death on the cross accomplished your salvation, you are enabled to confess your sins and ask that your debts be forgiven. He freely gives you pardon and peace. His gifts He offers to all who love Him. Jesus enables you to stand upright before Him as He removes your sin so that you are free to serve Him. In doing this, Jesus makes you Holy.

He made you holy in your Baptism. What does Baptism with water signify? “It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.”

You are now free to live the life the Father intended for you to live. Your heavenly Father does not mean for you to live for yourself. You now live giving glory to God, as you serve your neighbor in the time given to you.

A prayer for Home and Family—Visit, we implore You, O Lord, the homes in which Your people dwell, and keep far from them all harm and danger. Grant us to dwell together in peace under the protection of Your holy angels and may Your blessing be with us forever; through Jesus Christ our Lord.[2] – 28 January 2022

[1] The Crucifixion, Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
[2] For Home and Family, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Morning Prayer #81

The Baptism of our Lord

Matthew 3

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, [c] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,[d] with whom I am well pleased.”

Footnotes:

Matthew 3:16 Some manuscripts omit to him

Matthew 3:17 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved

Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

Thursday Prior to Epiphany 4

[1]

1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:13—The solution to opposition is love.

The solution to opposition, of course, is love. In a third series on the Spirit, Paul explains that love is the best gift of the Spirit. Love, says St. Paul, is the best gift of the Holy Spirit. Love causes the hearer to love and accept the preaching of God’s Word regardless of his hurting. The Law condemns and accuses always. But it is important. It drives us to the Gospel.

Continuing the thoughts that Paul has expressed to the Corinthians these past several weeks, emphasizing that all Christians are members of the body of Christ and that the Spirit gives various fits to various persons, the Apostle I n this lesson notes that apostles are the highest authority in the church; next comes the prophets, the teachers and so on throughout the list as we as will hear it. He notes that not all can be these things, but that all should pursue the “higher gifts.” And then he launches into the ecstatic “love chapter” in which he claims that this love, apace love, the love of God is the “more excellent way” of living.

The way in which this ext has been sentimentalized and even trivialized by careless readers is will know. Genuine love is an easily misunderstood concept. Letting the Word speak in its proper contest is the means of illustrating the profound truth that Paul is seeing to teach.

Clearly, love is “still a more excellent way.” (12:31) Spiritual gifts have a purpose, but genuine love binds them all together. Its value is understood by the repeated use of conditionals “if” in the early verses of chapter 13.

The frequent use of the negative “not” in verses 4-7 proves that love is not easily defined by human language, which can often describe only what something is not instead of what it truly is. Love is not easily defined by what it is so Paul here tells us what it is not. Love in truth is the premier divine quality that gives significance to every other valued Christian fits, including faith and hope. (13:13)

The words of this chapter are both amazing and surprising, worthy of more than an inscription on a wall plaque or a reading at a wedding. Love is part of God nature and the enduring quality that is most to typify His people. If we by the Spirit’s guiding truly let Him speak to us in this text, we will learn the surprising value of love.

A prayer for newness of life in Christ—Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness and put upon ourselves the armor of life, now in the time of this mortal life, in which Your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility, that in the last day, when He shall come again in glory to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal.[2]-27 January 2022

[1] The Crucifixion, Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
[2] Collect newness of life in Christ, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Wednesday Prior to Epiphany 4

[1]

Jeremiah 1:4-10—God promises to deliver the prophet Jeremiah from the fear of those opposing the Word. Before Jeremiah was born, he was called to be a prophet. The point of contact of this lesson with the Gospel is Jeremiah’s fear of preaching the Word as implied in verse 8. In the Gospel Jesus faced His opposition with courage. Here we are given the human side of the preacher. What would Jeremiah say concerning himself? He is destined to preach (verse 5). This is his life’s calling, although at times he feels unworthy to preach (verse 6), and is at times afraid to preach (verse 8).But preach he must for he know that he speaks for God (verse 9).

At the beginning of his writing, Jeremiah explains how he was called by God to be a prophet. He makes it clear that he has a strong sense of being born particularly to be a prophet-almost a sense of predestination to the prophetic role. At first Jeremiah protested the call; he was too young he said. Finally, he accepted and he senses that he is a prophet to all the nations, not to Israel alone, with the assignment to both destroy evil and sin and to build up the kingdom of God.

Ina time when many did not want to hear God’s Word, as a prophet of God, Jeremiah had a difficult time. In some of the “confessions” that he wrote, Jeremiah curse the day he was born and expressed grave doubts about any good coming out of his declaration of the message that God had give him. But God protected and prolonged Jeremiah’s work as His spokesman and reaffirmed frequently his commissioning.

The point of contrast to this lesson with this week’s Gospel is Jeremiah’s fear of preaching the Word as implied in verse 8. In the Gospel lesson Jesus faced his opposition with courage – Luke 4:30. True, the preacher is a person yet the ministry belongs to Christ.

Collect for Epiphany 4—Lord, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers that in our frailty we cannot stand upright. Grant strength and protection to support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[2] -26 January 2022

[1] The Crucifixion, Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
[2] Collect for Epiphany 4, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St., Louis

Monday, January 24, 2022

Morning Prayer #80

The Preaching of John

Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3; John 1

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” [a] 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare [b] the way of the Lord;

make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders[c] in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”[d]

24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

Tuesday Prior to Epiphany 4

[1]

Psalm 71:1-6 (7-11); key verse, verse 12, Be not far from me O God; come quickly O my God to help me. This verse is a part of a prayer the psalmist prays in the waning years of his life. He knows his shepherd’s voice. He has the experience of the Good Shepherd’s guiding hand. Nothing will befall him without the Savior’s will being perfected in his life. In a quiet confidence, he waits patiently upon the Lord. In like manner, we commit our circumstances into the Lord’s safekeeping.

Psalm 71 – Older in years strong in faith

Many commentators believe this is a psalm of David and is his prayer and trust in God in his latter years under the crisis of Absalom’s rebellion. Since there is no title and the text of the psalm does not say this, we will not speculate and treat Psalm 71 as if it were written under those circumstances. Instead, we regard it as an anonymous composition.

Of interest in this psalm are the many references and allusions to other psalms.

Psalm 71:1-3 is quoted almost exactly from Psalm 31:1-3.

The thoughts of Psalm 71:5 seem to be suggested by Psalm 22:9-11.

Do not be far from me (Psalm 71:12a) echoes Psalm 22:11.

My God, make haste to help me! (Psalm 71:12b) takes the thought of Psalm 70:1.

Psalm 71:13 is similar to Psalm 35:26.

Psalm 71:18 carries the thoughts of Psalm 22:22 and 22:30-31.

Psalm 71:19 uses the phrasing of Exodus 15:11.

It is reasonable to think the author of Psalm 71 made study and meditation upon God’s word a priority through his life, and the result is that he naturally used the phrases and vocabulary of the Scriptures to pray and praise.[2]

Collect for Psalm 71: Lord God of he living, do not desert us in old age, but helkp us to follow your will in both good and bad times, so that forever we may praise your faithfulness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. [3] -25 January 2022

[1] The Crucifixion, Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
[2] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-71/
[3] Collect for Psalm 71, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. I © 1994 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY