Pr. DFD

Sunday, April 24, 2022

Easter 3 Series C

Acts 9:1–22

Revelation 5:(1–7) 8–14

John 21:1–14 (15–19)

O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant to Your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

The Good Shepherd Feeds His Lambs

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 5:12), who by His cross has conquered sin and death. With His blood, He has “ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). This same Lord Jesus visits people of all nations and calls them to Himself by the Gospel, even as He “was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead” (John 21:14). He restored Simon Peter to faith and life and commissioned him to feed His lambs and tend His sheep (John 21:15–17). Likewise, He revealed Himself to Saul of Tarsus and brought him to repentance, so that the persecutor of Jesus might carry and confess His name “before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15–16).

Look at the extended verses for the Gospel...only time we'll get it...different definitions of "love" between Jesus and Peter...

Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples

John 21:1 –

Μετὰ ταῦτα ἐφανέρωσεν ἑαυτὸν πάλιν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοῖς μαθηταῖς ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης τῆς Τιβεριάδος• ἐφανέρωσεν δὲ οὕτως.

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.

After these things...what things...appearance in upper room? Easter, following Sunday, return to Galilee, finally after two weeks they are doing what He told them to do returning to Galilee. (Mark 16:7) In Luke Jesus says stay in the city. (Luke 24:49)

John 21:2 –

ἦσαν ὁμοῦ Σίμων Πέτρος καὶ Θωμᾶς ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος καὶ Ναθαναὴλ ὁ ἀπὸ Κανὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας καὶ οἱ τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου καὶ ἄλλοι ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ δύο.

Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.

Only place where Nathaniel is mentioned as being from “Cana in Galilee.” See John 2 – could this be Jesus’ brother-in-law, brother, some sort of relative?

John 21:3 –

λέγει αὐτοῖς Σίμων Πέτρος• Ὑπάγω ἁλιεύειν• λέγουσιν αὐτῷ• Ἐρχόμεθα καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν σοί. ἐξῆλθον καὶ ἐνέβησαν εἰς τὸ [b]πλοῖον, καὶ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ νυκτὶ ἐπίασαν οὐδέν.

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

I depart to fish the others went with him yet that night they caught not one thing. This is an "Disjunctive kai". What's up with Peter? He still has equipment to fish. Do you love me more than "these things?" Fishing without Jesus' word does not work. Jesus finds Peter through his denial of his vocation. Picking up the nets he's being about what he was not. Peter caught nothing when he was first called. Fished in darkness - a symbol of unbelief?

John 21:4 –

Πρωΐας δὲ ἤδη γενομένης ἔστη Ἰησοῦς εἰς τὸν αἰγιαλόν• οὐ μέντοι ᾔδεισαν οἱ μαθηταὶ ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν.

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

As day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore, never the less the disciples didn't know him.

John 21:5 –

λέγει οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς• Παιδία, μή τι προσφάγιον ἔχετε; ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ• Οὔ.

Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”

"You don't have any fish do you?" expecting a negative response...it's not working...they're fishing without His words "without me you can do nothing"

Jesus calls them Παιδία - "children"

John 21:6 –

ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς• Βάλετε εἰς τὰ δεξιὰ μέρη τοῦ πλοίου τὸ δίκτυον, καὶ εὑρήσετε. ἔβαλον οὖν, καὶ οὐκέτι αὐτὸ ἑλκύσαι [f]ἴσχυον ἀπὸ τοῦ πλήθους τῶν ἰχθύων.

He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.

Throw the net on the right side of the boat...they were no longer able to draw or drag because of the fullness of fish. (See Luke 5, as cross reference)

John 21:7 –

λέγει οὖν ὁ μαθητὴς ἐκεῖνος ὃν ἠγάπα ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῷ Πέτρῳ• Ὁ κύριός ἐστιν. Σίμων οὖν Πέτρος, ἀκούσας ὅτι ὁ κύριός ἐστιν, τὸν ἐπενδύτην διεζώσατο, ἦν γὰρ γυμνός, καὶ ἔβαλεν ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν•

That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

The disciple whom Jesus loved said it is the Master...why did Peter put on clothes? Compare throw the net and Peter throws himself...Peter goes to Jesus with reckless abandon...the cloak represents his earthly belongings he grabs everything he has...

John 21:8 –

οἱ δὲ ἄλλοι μαθηταὶ τῷ πλοιαρίῳ ἦλθον, οὐ γὰρ ἦσαν μακρὰν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἀλλὰ ὡς ἀπὸ πηχῶν διακοσίων, σύροντες τὸ δίκτυον τῶν ἰχθύων.

The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards[a] off.

a. two hundred cubits; a cubit was about 18 inches or about 45 centimeters

John 21:9-

Ὡς οὖν ἀπέβησαν εἰς τὴν γῆν βλέπουσιν ἀνθρακιὰν κειμένην καὶ ὀψάριον ἐπικείμενον καὶ ἄρτον.

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.

John 21:10

λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς• Ἐνέγκατε ἀπὸ τῶν ὀψαρίων ὧν ἐπιάσατε νῦν.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”

John 21:11

ἀνέβη οὖν Σίμων Πέτρος καὶ εἵλκυσεν τὸ δίκτυον εἰς τὴν γῆν μεστὸν ἰχθύων μεγάλων ἑκατὸν πεντήκοντα τριῶν• καὶ τοσούτων ὄντων οὐκ ἐσχίσθη τὸ δίκτυον.

So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.

John 21:12

λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς• Δεῦτε ἀριστήσατε. οὐδεὶς [i]δὲ ἐτόλμα τῶν μαθητῶν ἐξετάσαι αὐτόν• Σὺ τίς εἶ; εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ κύριός ἐστιν.

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

John 21:13

ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ λαμβάνει τὸν ἄρτον καὶ δίδωσιν αὐτοῖς, καὶ τὸ ὀψάριον ὁμοίως.

Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish

John 21:14

τοῦτο ἤδη τρίτον ἐφανερώθη ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοῖς μαθηταῖς ἐγερθεὶς ἐκ νεκρῶν.

This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

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

Time in the Word - Easter 3

The icon on the cover shows Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In the upper corners, we see the stylized letters IC and XC, which are abbreviations for Jesus Christ in Greek. The Greek words on either side of the head of Christ say ΟΠΟΙΜΗΝΟΚΑΛΟΣ, meaning “The Good Shepherd.” Notice also the pierced hands of the Savior. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

The Good Shepherd Feeds His Lambs

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” (Rev. 5:12), who by His cross has conquered sin and death. With His blood, He has “ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nations” (Rev. 5:9). This same Lord Jesus visits people of all nations and calls them to Himself by the Gospel, even as He “revealed Himself again to the disciples…after He was raised from the dead” (John 21:1, 14). He restored Simon Peter to faith and life and commissioned him to feed His lambs and tend His sheep (John 21:15–17). Likewise, He revealed Himself to Saul of Tarsus and brought him to repentance, so that the persecutor of Jesus might carry and confess His name “before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15–16).

Time in the Word
25-30 April 2022

Monday, 25 April 2022—Psalm 145:4–7, 9; antiphon, Psalm 145: 10—This Song of Praise by King David leads off the last six psalms, all of them songs of praise. As redeemed children of the Lord, our greatest delight shall always be to give thanks to Him, to bless Him, to commend His mighty works to others, to declare His mighty acts, to meditate on His wondrous works, to speak of the might of His awesome deeds, to declare His greatness, and to sing aloud of His righteousness!

Tuesday, 26April 2022—Psalm 30—Sunday’s psalm was composed by David when he dedicated the materials for the building of the Temple (1 Chronicles 22:1–6), and may have been used at subsequent dedications: at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple (2 Chronicles 7:4–10) and in 165 bc at the Jewish Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah; see 1 Maccabees 4:54–59; 2 Maccabees 10:1–9; John 10:22). The psalm is one of thanksgiving to God for preservation of physical life (vv. 1–5) and spiritual life (6–10). Finally, the last two verses give thanks to the Lord for His mercy forever.

Wednesday, 27 April 2022—Acts 9:1–22—During Eastertide, all of our first readings are taken from the book of the Acts of the Apostles, St Luke’s history of the Church during the Apostolic Age. Here, we have the account of the conversion of Saul, a learned Jew who zealously persecuted Christians. But, after being commissioned to be an apostle by the risen Christ, Paul, as he would henceforth be known, became an even more zealous ambassador for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His encounter gave him the joy of a new life in the risen Lord.

Thursday, 28 April 2022—Revelation 5:1–14—As all of our Eastertide first readings come from the book of Acts, so all of our epistle readings come from the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to St John. In this portion of John’s vision, he wonders who is worthy to open the scroll containing the counsel of God, His plan of action. Only the Lamb, who was slain, but is alive, is worthy to do so.

In response, those surrounding the throne of God sing a song of high praise to the Lamb. The joy of the resurrection is carried out in the joy of praising the risen Christ in heaven.

Friday, 29 April 2022—John 21:1–14—This is the third appearance of the risen Christ to His disciples. The setting is simple, normal—Jesus appears amidst the everyday occupations of a fisherman. He performs a miracle, in which they recognize Him as the Lord. Once again, Jesus shows that He is concerned for us in our everyday lives. Peter is so overjoyed when He recognizes Jesus, that he immediately swims to shore. The disciples eat breakfast with Jesus, the account once again proving the bodily resurrection of our Lord, as ghosts do not eat food. Truly there is joy for the disciples in meeting the risen Christ.

Saturday, 30 April 2022—The Hymn of the Day, With High Delight, Let Us Unite (LSB #483), continues the theme of joy in Christ’s resurrection. The whole Church on earth, together with those already in heaven, as we saw in the epistle, joins together in singing joyous songs of high praise to the risen Lord Jesus Christ, our salvation.

Collect for the Third Sunday of Easter: O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant to Your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer of praise and supplication: Lord God, creator of heaven and earth, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we praise You for the abundant mercy that You this day so richly have provided for us, blessing us not only with daily bread for our bodies but also with heavenly food for our souls. Grant that Your living and powerful Word may abide in our hearts, working mightily in us to Your glory and for our salvation. We commit ourselves to Your divine protection and fatherly care. Let Your holy angels be with us that the evil foe may have no power over us. Look in mercy on Your Church and deliver it from all danger and adversities. By Your Holy Spirit comfort and strengthen all who are in affliction or distress, and grant Your abiding peace to us all; through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

Prayer of adoration, praise, and supplication: Almighty and eternal God, we adore You as the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus, and with the whole Church on earth and all the hosts of heaven we ascribe to You honor and blessing, thanksgiving and praise. Holy, holy, holy are You, Lord God Almighty; heaven and earth are full of Your glory. You created us in Your own image and redeemed us with the precious blood of Your Son. By Your Spirit You sanctified us and called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light.

Grant that we may with thankful hearts receive these great mercies and express our gratitude, not only with our lips but also in our lives as we give ourselves to Your service and walk before You in holiness and righteousness all our days. Deliver us from sin and error, from the frailties of the flesh, the allurements of this present age, and the temptations of the devil. Give us faith that works in love, hope that never disappoints, kindness that never fails, confidence in You that never wavers, patience that does not grow weary, and courage always to be ready to confess Christ, that we may live in Your mercy and die in Your peace; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Friday, April 22, 2022

Saturday prior to Easter 2

[1]

The Hymn of the Day, O Sons and Daughters of the King (LSB #470), recounts the story of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances and particularly His encounter with Thomas. His words to Thomas are meant for us, also: ‘How blest are they who have not seen And yet whose faith has constant been, For they eternal life shall win. Alleluia!’ Thomas believed with his eyes. You believe with your ears!

We touch the nails and thrust every time the word is preached and the sacraments administrated. We receive in the Sacrament the whole Christ.

The Jesus that John beheld on Patmos and that Thomas saw in the upper room is the same Jesus that you behold in Word and Sacrament. You see Him, not with your eyes, but with your ears. You don’t hear a voice like a trumpet but you hear Jesus in the preaching of a man. You hear Jesus because it’s not my word that I preach but His. It is His Word that I was sent here to preach. It wasn’t the words of my predecessors in this pulpit that they preached, but the Word of God that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

O God, in the paschal feast You restore all creation. Continue to send Your heavenly gifts upon Your people that they may walk in perfect freedom and receive eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen [2] -23 April, 2022

[1]Image of Christ appearing to St. Thomas http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/Caravaggio_incredulity.jpg

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Morning Prayer #124

Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
John 21:1-14

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards[a] off.

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Footnotes

John 21:8 Greek two hundred cubits; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters

Friday prior to Easter 2

[1]

John 20:19–31—There are two appearances by the risen Christ in Sunday’s Gospel, each bringing us a great deal of comfort. In the first, Jesus establishes the Office of the Holy Ministry, and assures us that, in the words of the catechism, ‘when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command, in particular when they…absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ, our dear Lord, dealt with us Himself.’

In the second appearance, our Lord appears to Thomas. Thomas wanted the certainty of seeing his risen Lord in the flesh, as the others had. When he beholds the wounds in the One who was crucified on our behalf, his faith is sure, and he confesses, ‘My Lord and My God!’ Thomas’s assurance is ours also. We need never doubt that our Lord is truly risen from the dead, ‘the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.’ (1 Corinthians 15:20)

The Savior promises peace to His disciples See John 14:27; 16:33. This peace, “which the world cannot give,” is established by the Savior’s sacrificial death in our place. In His resurrection our Lord distributes and bestows His peace to the disciples even to Thomas. The Lord’s wounds (Vv.20 and 27) are the visible tokens of His peace. Peace between God and man is now a reality. See Luke 2:14; 19:38. The peace on earth spoken on Christmas is now fully given and received on Easter. Both Christmas and Easter is nothing but pure Gospel.

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. Amen. [2]– 22 April, 2022

[1]Image of Christ appearing to St. Thomas http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/Caravaggio_incredulity.jpg

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Morning Prayer #123

On the Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:13-35

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles [a] from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Footnotes:

Luke 24:13 Greek sixty stadia; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters

Thursday prior to Easter 2

[1]

Revelation 1:4–18—St. John, the only one of the Twelve still alive at the time of his revelation, sees a glorious vision from the Lord Jesus. The revelation, recorded for our sake, gives great comfort to Christians of all times, whether they are living in a time of severe persecution or not. Jesus is the Victor! Just look at all this short section has to say about Jesus: He is the One who was and is and is to come, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, the Ruler over all, the Alpha and Omega. Having conquered death, He holds the keys to Death and Hades; these can trouble us no longer, we who are in Christ. His called ministers exercise these keys to forgive our sins, as the Gospel shows.

John tells us in our second reading about his own claim to having a divine commission as a prophet and a seer. He says that he “was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day,” indicating that he was in the presence of the LORD and it was the LORD who commissioned him to speak out, which he clearly states in the last verse of the reading. “Now writ what you see, what is, and what is to take place hereafter.”

Note Most people believe in God, or the existence of God, but what kind of God? God is known only through Jesus Christ. The Epistle presents the first in a series of visions of the LORD God in the person of Jesus Christ.

V.13 makes clear that the eternal Son is in the midst of His Church when tribulation comes. Although He now wears a human form He is the glorified Messiah whose divine attributes are graphically described in Vv. 13-17.

Almighty God, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. We humbly pray that we may live before You in righteousness and purity forever; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.[2]-21 April, 2022

[1]Image of Christ appearing to St. Thomas http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/Caravaggio_incredulity.jpg