Wednesday prior to Easter 2

[1]

Acts 5:12–32—Faith in the Risen Lord – From fear to faith

Easter is a season and not merely one Sunday or one Festival only. The Sundays are called “Sundays of Easter” rather than “Sundays after Easter.” Easter is a season of Fifty days coming to a close on Pentecost. Between Easter and Pentecost there should be a plateau of continuing interest and activity in the church. If Easter is real and the resurrection is a fact, church activity should increase rather than decrease. Preaching is essential to the Church’s mission we proclaim a living and changeless Christ to a changing world.

The story related by Luke in this week’s first lesson is a gripping one as the early followers of Jesus clash with the Temple leadership and are brought before the Council. This is the same Sanhedrin which had condemned Jesus to death. Peter pulls no punches in his speech, telling the rulers that it was they who killed the Messiah. Notice the warning that Gamaliel gives the Sanhedrin; “Let the men alone, for if they are of God they will prevail,” to the detriment of the Sanhedrin!

Jesus remained a threat to the Temple authorities, even after He had ascended to heaven. Here, the apostle Peter is jailed for performing miracles in the name of Jesus. After he is miraculously freed by an angel of God, he is summoned before the Council. Peter, filled with strength that comes only from God, boldly asserts, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Almighty God, through the resurrection of Your Son You have secured peace for our troubled consciences. Grant us this peace evermore that trusting in the merit of Your Son we may come at last to the perfect peace of heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. -[2]

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

[2] Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis

 

Earth Day

 

22 April this year is traditionally recognized as Earth Day in which we are encouraged to be good stewards of the resources the LORD has given to us. The charge given to Adam and Eve was to be caretakers of the planet and all of its natural resources. 

As Christians Earth Day should reminds us that the LORD has created this vast universe for us to thrive and enjoy of the first article of the Apostles' Creed teaches.  I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heave and and earth.  

What does this mean? I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him

The first article of the Apostles' Creed declares that Christians believe, teach and confess that the one, true God is none other than the One who has made the heavens and the earth, and everything in them. But more than that, He is our Father who provides and cares for us as a father cares for his beloved children.

We believe that He has made us and has given us all the good things we have in this life. This He has done purely out of the love He has for us as our Father. He not only gives us life, He also defends us, guards us, and protects us during this life, so that we will join Him in heaven for all eternity. There is nothing in us that makes us worthy of the good things God gives us. It is all from His love as a father. How glorious it is to know that the same God who created heaven and earth also created each one us and cares for us personally.

A prayer for agriculture:  Almighty God, You bless the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper, we implore you, the work of farmers, and grant us seasonable weather that we may gather the fruits of the earth and proclaim your goodness with thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ our LORD.  

Sources:

Luther's Small Catechism and Collect for Agriculture  Lutheran Service Book copyright 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis 

Tuesday prior to Easter 2

[1]

Psalm 148—In Sunday’s psalm, the psalmist calls upon all of creation—those on the earth, those under the sea, and those in the heavens—to join in a chorus of praise to the Lord. Animate and inanimate, all of creation proclaims the glory of the Lord!

Psalm 148 – Let Heaven and Earth Praise the Lord

Psalm 148 calls upon all creation to praise Yahweh. “What a wonderful song this is! Look over it again, and note the fact that there is no reference in it, from first to last, to the mercy, or pity, or compassion of God. But that is because there is no reference to evil in any form.” (G. Campbell Morgan)

Alexander Maclaren wrote that Psalm 148 continues “…a line of thought which runs through Scripture from its first page to its last – namely, that, as man’s sin subjected the creatures to ‘vanity,’ so his redemption shall be their glorifying.”

This call to all creation to praise Yahweh is not an empty wish. Revelation 5:11-13 tells us specifically that it will be fulfilled. “O what a hymn of praise is here! It is a universal chorus! All created nature have a share, and all perform their respective parts.” (Adam Clarke)[2]

Almighty God, by the glorious resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, You destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light. Grant that we who have been raised with Him may abide in His presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[3] Amen.

Collect for Psalm 148: God Most High, by your Word you created a wondrous universe, and through your Spirit you breathed into it the breath of life. Accept creation’s hymn of praise from our lips and let the praise that is sung in heaven resound in the heart of ever creature on earth to the glory of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.[4]-

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

[2] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-148/

[3] Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis

[4] Collect for Psalm 148, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. I © 1994 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

 

Monday prior to Easter 2

[1]

Psalm 105:1–5, 8; antiphon, 1 Peter 2:2–3—The second Sunday of Easter is sometimes called Quasimodogeniti, Latin for the first words of the Introit, ‘Like newborn infants.’ Just as a baby eagerly suckles at its mother’s breast, so we, who have been given new life in Christ by His death and resurrection, also do eagerly desire the pure spiritual milk provided by our Lord for our nourishment and good growth. This He gives us through the preaching of His Word and the most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.

The theme for the Second Sunday of Easter is Faith in the Risen Christ. The First reading, from St. Luke’s history of the Apostolic Church, the Book of Acts, tells about St. Peter, the one who, out of fear, had denied Christ (Matt 26:69–75) and been restored (John 15:19). Here, Peter performs miracles in the name of Jesus and testifies boldly before the Jewish council. He has moved from fear to faith. The second reading speaks of the revelation of Jesus Christ that was given to the holy Evangelist and Apostle John. Though Christians were being persecuted, and John himself was living in exile on Patmos, the vision of Christ, the One who died, but is alive forevermore, brings reassurance that the victory over death and Hades is complete. John has moved from tribulation to faith. The Gospel is the familiar account of “doubting Thomas,” who, when he saw the risen Christ, was moved to confess, “My Lord and my God.” Thomas has moved from doubt to faith.

Psalm 105 – The LORD Blesses His People

Whoever arranged and ordered the psalms placed Psalm 105 and Psalm 106 together purposefully. “This and the following psalm are companions. They reveal the two sides of the relation between God and His people during a long period. This one sings the song of His faithfulness and power; while the next tells the sad story of repeated failure and rebellion on the part of His people.” (G. Campbell Morgan)

The first 15 verses of Psalm 105 are also found in 1 Chronicles 16:8-22 and presented there as a composition of David, written and sung for the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. We can therefore conclude that though this psalm is not here specifically attributed to King David, he is the author of it.[2]

Collect for Easter 2—Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,  now and forever. Amen. [3]–

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

 

[2] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-105/

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

 

Easter 2 Series C -study notes

Acts 5:12–20 (21–32)

Revelation 1:4–18

John 20:19–31

Collect for Easter 2 – Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

That You May Believe and Have Life in His Name

 On the Lord’s Day, St. John the Apostle was given a revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. He is the Living One, “the firstborn of the dead” (Revelation 1:5). He died for all people, and behold, He is alive forevermore! Therefore, He has “the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18). For His death atoned for sin and conquered death, and in His resurrection He opened the kingdom of heaven to us. The “sharp two-edged sword” of His mouth (Revelation 1:16) calls you to “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,” that by such faith “you may have life in His name” (John 20:31). 

To that end, He sends His ministers of the Word, as the Father sent Him, “to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31).

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...and strangely enough Jesus sounds like a farm kid from Minnesota who puts too much emphasis on long vowels. 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.

John 20:19–31

Jesus appears to the disciples and to Thomas

John 20:19 – 

Οὔσης οὖν ὀψίας τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῇ [a]μιᾷ σαββάτων, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων ὅπου ἦσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν.
being evening on the first day of the week, for fear of the Jews the doors were shut, Jesus stood before them and said peace to you all.  

Calvin said Jesus climbed through a window. Still deny the real presence.

John 20:20 – 

καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῖς. ἐχάρησαν οὖν οἱ μαθηταὶ ἰδόντες τὸν κύριον.
after saying this he showed them his hands and his side. 

πλευρὰν - Where we get pleurisy. Only John records blood coming from Jesus' side...19:34 Luke will say hands and feet.

John 20:21 – 

εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν· καθὼς ἀπέσταλκέν με ὁ πατήρ, κἀγὼ πέμπω ὑμᾶς.
Jesus said again, (because of his hand and side) "peace to you" as the Father sent me I send you.  

Establishment of the apostolic ministry.  Why the two verbs for send? 

ἀπέσταλκέν - sent with authority, the authority of Christ.

John 20:22 – 

καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησεν καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λάβετε πνεῦμα ἅγιον·
saying this, He breathed and said to them receive the Holy Spirit. Whomever sins you forgive they are forgiven whomever sins you retain they are retained. 

Spirit is called the breath of God, see Ps. 33 and Ez. The breath is the speaking, spirit conveyed through the Word. "Now the keys belong to me" says Jesus.

John 20:24 – 

Θωμᾶς δὲ εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα, ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, οὐκ ἦν μετ’ αὐτῶν ὅτε [g]ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς.
but Thomas one of the twelve was not with them when Jesus came. 

Why called the twin? Because he had a twin? But we are there too.  

Thomas is Eeyore, "let us go with Him and die with Him" 

John 20:25 – 

ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι μαθηταί· Ἑωράκαμεν τὸν κύριον. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἐὰν μὴ ἴδω ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων καὶ βάλω τὸν δάκτυλόν μου εἰς τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων καὶ βάλω [h]μου τὴν χεῖρα εἰς τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ πιστεύσω.
"by no means will I believe. Absolutely not!"  The other disciples said, we have beheld the Lord. 

John 20:26 – 

Καὶ μεθ’ ἡμέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ Θωμᾶς μετ’ αὐτῶν. ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν.

After eight days (inclusive) He rises and appears on the eighth day...his disciples were again gathered Thomas was with them and door was shut and still being shut...

John 20:27 – 

εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωμᾷ· Φέρε τὸν δάκτυλόν σου ὧδε καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖράς μου, καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν μου, καὶ μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος ἀλλὰ πιστός.
"see right before you" do not be faithless but faithful...do not be unbelieving but believing... 

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

John 20:28 – 

ἀπεκρίθη Θωμᾶς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὁ κύριός μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου.
the Lord of me...the God of me...

Augustine qt. "Thomas saw and touched a man and confessed a God Whom he did not see or touch." 

John 20:29 – 

λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ὅτι ἑώρακάς με πεπίστευκας; μακάριοι οἱ μὴ ἰδόντες καὶ πιστεύσαντες.
because you have seen me you believe blessed are those who believe w/o seeing. 

John 20:30-32 – 

Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα σημεῖα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐνώπιον τῶν [j]μαθητῶν, ἃ οὐκ ἔστιν γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ· 31 ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα [k]πιστεύητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.
much many other signs on the other hand these are  written...foundational confession - Jesus is the Christ the Son of God. 

These are what got Jesus crucified...You are the Christ...you are the son of God.  This is not blind faith. There is a promise to apologetics but a limit. It tears down only it does not build up. Even the demons believe and shutter. Saving faith come by faith...

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

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

Easter - J Hart

 

Saturday of Holy Week

1 Peter 3:17-22 – The victory lap through Hell

The Antiphon: From the depths of the grace I called for help, and You listened to my cry. – Jonah 2:2b

Prayers for Easter Eve – O God, who didst enlighten this most holy night with the glory of the Lord’s resurrection, preserve in all Thy people the spirit of adoption which Thou hast given so that, renewed in body and soul, they may perform unto Thee a pure service.

 

Abide with us, Lord, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. Abide with Your whole Church. Abide with us in the end of the day, in the end of our life, in the end of the world. Abide with Your grace and goodness, with You holy Word and Sacrament, with Your strength and blessing. Abide with us when the night of affliction and temptation comes upon us, the night of fear and despair when death shall come. Abide with us all the faithful through time and eternity.

Saturday, 19 April 2025

 

Sources:

THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL © 1940 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO

LUTHERAN WORSHIP © 1982 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO

LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK LECTIONARY © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO

“The Crucifixion” Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS Permission to use these copyrighted items is limited to personal and congregational use.