John 1:1-14 Sermon

Just Words

Grace Mercy and Peace from God our Father, and Savior Jesus Christ.  AMEN

In the Beginning was …

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.  3 And God said, “Let there be” and there was.  Words have power.  Words have so much power that we teach our children sayings like, “Sticks and Stones may break my bone, but Words will never hurt me.” Or, “I’m rubber, You’re Glue, Whatever you say bounces off me, and sticks to you.” Or, “Don’t worry, they didn’t mean anything by that, it was just words.”  If it were really true that what others said did not affect us, would we really need those sayings.  Words can hurt more than cuts, and words can heal more than a bandaid.  We as Christians especially need to remember that the Word, is more than just words.

A few years ago there was a TV show called Firefly, which managed to create a future that combined the genres space and cowboys.  The show didn’t last all that long, but it was interesting how the shows creator took a view on traditions and faith.  One of the characters was called Shepherd, and he could be likened to a future Franciscan monk.   His order does not believe in possessions or marriage, he has rules on how he must dress and look, and he is called to reach out to the lost.  In his travels, he ends up on a space ship of questionable morality and one of its passengers is a girl who is a genius in her own right, but is unable to function in normal everyday life.  He sees it as his mission to reach to this crew and this girl.  Unfortunately for him, to the girl, his bible was broken.  In one of my favorite scenes with these two characters, he walks in and she is furiously trying to “fix” his bible by ripping out pages, scratching out sections that don’t make sense, and rewriting other parts, mumbling and babbling things like "So we'll integrate non-progressional evolution theory with God's creation of Eden”  and "Noah's Ark is a problem - "We'll have to call it early quantumstate phenomenon - Only way to fit five-thousand species of mammal on the same boat -" In her highly logical mind she had to try and make the words make sense in her own special way.  Shepherd attempts to tell her " You don't fix the Bible!" "It's not about making sense. It's about believing in something, and letting that belief be real enough to change your life. It's about 'faith'." "You don't fix faith, River. It fixes you."  In the end though the girl just responds,  looking up at him, sweet, sincere, deadpan. "It's broken. It doesn't make sense."

The show’s writer, who claims to be an atheist, reveals a lot about how we view the bible, and what happens when we underestimate God’s Word to be “just words”.  Churches that focus on the pretty stories and leave out the non-politically correct, do so in the name of education and academic learning. The popular phrase, “the bible is just a book”  attempts to reduce the Scriptures down to just words, words that can be picked and chosen, and if they disagree with you, discarded for something else.  Learned professors, and average people are attempting to figure out which words are just words, and which words are worth listening to.  They are trying to use reason to understand the unknowable, because so often we as human beings hide behind the defense of “its just words”.

Our Words

We us the defense of “just words” because many of our own words, whether intentional or not are words of destruction, words of misrepresentation, and literally just words, words without actions. 

Words of destruction

The whole point of the children’s rhymes at the beginning of this sermon is to protect ourselves from words of destruction.  Children say some mean things, and it hurts when you are the subject of that criticizing.  As bad as children can be, Adults can be much worse though.  A child will call someone a “Meany Face” to their face, but an adult may not be quite as direct.  A few words here and there out of ear shot of the victim can be much worse than any direct insult.  Even the truth can be used to destroy someone unfairly.  Words and truths can be used as weapons, and it is not a pretty sight.  A fist fight lasts at most a couple minutes, but words of destruction last a very long time.  We destroy each other with our words, but it’s ok, it’s just words. 

Words without actions

Then there are our words of promises but without actions.  The popular, “I promise to be better about picking up after myself honey.”  Is almost always followed by a, I’m sorry, I forgot.  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.  It is easy to make quick promises to ourselves, to each other, and to God, but if they’re not followed through, we might as well have said no.  The empty promises lead only to heart ache.  They were only just words.

Words of misrepresentation

Finally  there are the words of misrepresentations.  These is important because some of the biggest deceptions come not from bold face lying, but a simple twisting of the truth.  White lies, omissions, and exaggerations, all still misrepresent the truth.  Jesus said, “Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”  One the first “minor” deceptions was Adam to God  “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”  While this was technically truth, it was not the whole truth.  Many white lies are intended to protect someone.  But what happens when the truth comes out?  It is much worse on the person than finding out in the first place.  What does it matter, its just a white lie, its just words.

God’s Word

God’s word is different though.  John 1 is very clear what that word is like.  1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  They are words of creation, words of Life, and words of light. 

Words of Creation

The First spoken words of the bible, come from the mouth of God.  “Let there be light,” and there was light.  When ever God says, let there be, there is the result of his words.  Not only did he simply create, he sustains, comforts and protects.  He sent his spirit to be the counselor.  We have his WORD.  And just his Word brought forth a new creation, the heavens and the earth and all that dwells in it.

Words of Life

            And his words to his creation Adam and Eve were words of life and promise. “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” This was not a hollow promise, instead we are the children of our first father and mother.  When the actions of humanity brought forth death, God declared the truth, that death had entered the world.  But he did not leave humanity alone.  He sent his prophets into the world promising a messiah that would lift them out of their despair, and he would be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Where our words reveal our inaction, his words reveal his actions. All of his Words bring life.

Words of Light

The light of God reveals the truth of his words. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  The light that shines into the darkness reveals our sinfulness, our inability to bring forth goodness or light.  The light that shines reveals that not everything is as good as we want to believe it is.   He promised death if Adam and Eve ate of the fruit, and death did come.  But the light that reveals our brokenness also reveals himself to us.  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  His powerful word calls us his own.

Jesus is God’s Word

It was in this power of speaking the Word of creation, life, and light that god spoke to his people.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

That true and faithful Word, is Jesus Christ our Lord, the one who came as a baby in a town called Bethlehem, raised by the virgin mother and carpenter who adopted him as his own.  This was the Word of God clothed in the flesh of man to fulfill his promises to all people that a new heaven and a new earth shall rein.  Where there are no words of destruction, words without action, and words of misrepresentation.  And this cannot truly make sense to us, because what have we done to be worthy of the grace of God in Jesus Christ?  Can we claim that we found him through our own ability? No.  Can we claim an inherent goodness?  No.  Can we claim anything? Never.  But it is through the Word that calls us by the Gospel into new life that we have fellowship with him.  He has washed us clean in the blood of the lamb, invited us to his supper, and through the mysteries of the Word and Sacraments, we have been made into a new Adam, we have life, and we have the light that shines for all to see.

Our words really are just words.  They have no truth or power.  But the Word of God goes beyond anything that we can understand.  Our understanding may be broken, but his Word never will.  When he speaks it is more than just words.  Amen

June/July Newsletter Article - Preparing for Change

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?... Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:25, 34, ESV)

Life goes by way too fast, that we have a hard time keeping up with it. Seasons come and seasons go and the greatest conflict that we face is struggling to find the time to fit everything in. We spend most of our lives preparing for the next big change in our lives. If we are young we look toward the beginning of the next school year, whether in eager anticipation or in fearful dread. As we age we look toward our first job, our first house, our first … anything. We want to be ready for these firsts, whether having the right skills or having enough saved up, we attempt to be prepared for anything. And then As we have children and as our children age, we look forward to their firsts, trying to prepare them for their own firsts. We prepare our minds, our bodies, and our hearts for the changes that are set before us.

In my own household we are busy already preparing for the next big change. Something happened during pastor’s time away that seemed to turn the corner upon this year. One moment we are in the middle of vicarage, and then suddenly we are near the end. We are preparing to leave and return back to Fort Wayne for one more year, God willing. We are preparing for Lydia to continue growing and developing, often a little quicker than we are really ready. We are preparing for change. And we are not alone in our preparation. The church too is looking forward to change with the coming for the next Vicar, Vicar elect DeBlieck. As one person disappears a new one appears. It is the way of things, life changes, never staying the same from one moment to the next.

It is easy to grow uneasy in the midst of so much change, to wonder what is going to happen. We try to be prepared for everything, but there always seems to be the one thing that we didn’t think about, or we didn’t have enough time to prepare for. Jesus spoke to his disciples about these things in Matthew 6:25-34 telling them not to be anxious or worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will come as it will. We take comfort in the knowledge that even though we do not know what comes, that God will continue to care for us through all situations. He sent us His son for our salvation, so that we would be prepared for life everlasting through His actions. We cannot ask for anything more than that.

It has been a joy to serve here this short time that I have dwelt among you, and I will always remember this year. Many things will change, but as we in the church move forward, we know that God’s love will never change. We trust in the Lord, for He has taken care of all our preparations.

God’s Blessings,

Vicar William J. Shupe, #42

Day of Pentecost - Come, Holy Spirit

SUNDAY, MAY 27, 2012 | PENTECOST
              Old Testament       Ezekiel 37:1–14
             Psalm       Psalm 139:1–12 (13–16)
             Epistle       Acts 2:1–21
             Gospel       John 15:26–27, 16:4b–15


EPISTLE - Acts 2:1–21

2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

            17       “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,

                  that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

                  and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

      and your young men shall see visions,

      and your old men shall dream dreams;

            18       even on my male servants and female servants

      in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

            19       And I will show wonders in the heavens above

      and signs on the earth below,

      blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

            20       the sun shall be turned to darkness

      and the moon to blood,

      before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

            21       And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

GOSPEL - John 15:26–27, 16:4b–15

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Come, Holy Spirit

Grace, Mercy and Peace be unto you from God our Father and Savior Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord. AMEN

Today is the fiftieth day after easter, Pentecost. Throughout the season of Easter, Jesus demonstrated that he is risen, and he taught his disciples before ascending up into heaven. He made them a promise throughout his forty days, that he would send them a helper and they were to witness of what he has done. And ten days after His ascension the Apostles went out and confessed and witnessed speaking in tongues. Pentecost is often associated with tongues of fire, and the Apostles speaking out in tongues, but the true focus this day is the Holy Spirit. For the holy spirit was sent into the world, as a comforter, councilor, and as a witness so that all humanity could hear and believe that Jesus Christ is Lord.

It is easy to set our focus on the big and flashy things, because they draw our attention, they keep us coming back for more. And so for this Pentecost Sunday we of course give note to the sounds of the rushing winds and the tongues of flame that rest upon all the witnesses of God the incarnate Son. Also the speaking in tongues is a great attention getter. To speak in tongues is to speak a language that the speaker does not already know and the hearers understand. To speak but not be understood would be worthless. The Lutheran Church is a church that boasts in the confessions of the historic church, but we don’t still confess, Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipoténtem,Factórem cæli et terræ,Visibílium ómnium et invisibílium. Et in unum Dóminum Iesum Christum,Fílium Dei Unigénitum,Et ex Patre natum ante ómnia sæcula. We confess this whenever we have communion, yet most here do not understand it even though Latin was the language of the church for centuries. Well we are good Lutherans, so perhaps another option of german would get a few more people, Ich glaube an Gott, den Vater,den Allmächtigen, but seeing as I don’t even know German, I dont think it would help all that much. No while these and other languages are the languages of the church historic, they mean nothing without understanding. True the church has spoken many languages over the years, but they mean little outside of their context. The substance of the message is lost without translation. But when the Apostles spoke in many languages appearing drunk to some of the passersby, there were not speaking gibberish, they were not speaking dead languages that only scholars knew. No. they were speaking the tongues of the people so that all could hear and understand the message. They were guided through the gifts of the spirit.

Speaking in tongues is considered a gift of the spirit. And, there are many churches that put special emphasis on receiving the gifts of the spirit. Some see it as a sign of truly believing, a sign that God has chosen them for a special calling. Some of these churches even have their new members fill out spiritual gifts inventories, so that their special skills and desires can be fully realized. It is good to recognize that you are a good teacher, or someone that is good at maintenance, but attempting to focus only upon our skills puts our thoughts not on above, but below. Trying only to receive the Holy Spirit is awefully short sighted and narrow focused.

It is perhaps unique that we speak about the holy spirit in the lutherand church, because of what the role of the holy spirit is according to the biblical accounts. Bbecause the holy spirit’s entire purpose is to direct our gaze upon the Father and the Son. In fact, if our focus did not turn to the Father and the Son, but focused solely upon the Spirit, we would be misunderstanding the spirit. For when Jesus spoke about the Spirit he said, “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, the will bear witness about me.” Yes the winds, and the flames, and the spoken tongues are good right and salutary, but the truly impressive thing that the holy spirit did was a lot more subtle. He gave the words to the apostles to preach. For while it was prophesied that a great signs and wonders would be done in Joel, the focus was not upon the deeds, but upon the result. ““ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” (Acts 2:17–21, ESV)

In our gospel Jesus knew that he would be leaving the disciples soon, but he was promising that they would not be left on their own, instead the helper, the Holy Spirit would proceedeth from the Father and witness to them about the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13–15, ESV) If any spirit comes and preaches about himself or about the Jesus revealed through the scriptures, that is a false spirit, one of deceit and not of God. Instead the helper came to direct us to the one and only saving faith in Jesus Christ.

We many never receive an experience quite as visually stunning as the apostles and the tongues of flame or the impressive sounds of rushing winds to herald witness in Chirst. Most of us, including myself, have a hard enough time speaking in English that we probably will never experience speaking in tongues either. But we have received spirit of truth through the washing in the blood of Jesus Christ through the waters of Baptism. We may rejoice and know that the Spirit moves in us, often quietly, so that we may know and confess that Jesus Christ is our lord and savior, that through love and grace he died on the cross, was laid in the tomb, and rose eternally defeating death, the devil, and all the powers of sin and darkness. All this he did for our sake. AMEN.

Easter 7B - What Now?

SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 | EASTER

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

YEAR B

             First Reading       Acts 1:12–26

             Psalm       Psalm 1

             Epistle       1 John 5:9–15

             Gospel       John 17:11b–19 

FIRST READING
Acts 1:12–26

 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
                   “ ‘May his camp become desolate,
      and let there be no one to dwell in it’;
 and
                   “ ‘Let another take his office.’
 21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

GOSPEL
John 17:11b–19
 

11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.1 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them2 in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself,3 that they also may be sanctified4 in truth.

Lutheran Service Book Three Year Lectionary (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009).

What Now?

Grace, Mercy and Peace be unto you from God our Father and Savior Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord. AMEN

Our Text today for the Seventh Sunday of Easter comes from the Acts of the Apostles.

What now?

That is a question that I think every single person has asked at some point or another in their lives. If you have had an especially active life, you may have even said it a couple of times already. It can come in times of frustration, anger, productivity, sadness or confusion. What do we do now? A time that I can remember this question being asked often was the end of my sophomore year of high school, when my church suddenly found itself without a leader due to a heart attack. I remember hearing the elders asking in hushed tones, what do we need to do? I remember other congregation members asking similar questions. As the days and weeks went by the question remained on many people’s lips until a new shepherd had been called to lead our tiny flock. Gradually the commotion was over, and the constant what now faded into the background. “What now?” for as short of a question as it, carries with it a lot of weight. It fits into all emotions, and generally signals that change is about to happen. Whether small change or big change, we as human beings are not always ready for it, because we can only plan a short ways into the future, when our clearest vision is of the past. But we have been sent a helper, the Holy Spirit, so that we may be guided by the one who knows the past, the present, and the future.

I’ve got to believe that this question, “What Now?” was on the minds of the apostles following watching Jesus ascend up into the heavens. Just think about it for a moment. Passover came, which is always a busy time of year for the Israelites, and then your leader is betrayed by someone you thought was a friend, taken, put on trial, and killed all within a couple of days. Not only that, a few days later there started to be rumors that Jesus wasn’t really dead. And come to find out, he appeared in the middle of a locked room and proved that he wasn’t dead. He spoke and ate and taught the disciples for forty days after his resurrection until he ascended up into heaven not to be seen by the apostles again. All of a sudden The whirlwind has taken a rest, and everything is changed. The one that once was dead is no longer dead, and neither is he still on earth anymore, he pulled an Elijah and went straight into heaven without the need to die. And because of the actions of the betrayer there is an opening in the ranks of the chosen. What were the apostles to do? The steps of the apostles at this point were simple, fill the void left by Judas the Betrayer and beyond that pray and trust in God. The requirements were simple, “So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” Two men fulfilled those requirements, and they cast lots to let God decide between the men. They did these things to fufill what had been spoken by the prophets. Now what?

It would be a grave mistake to think that these men of God no longer had a purpose or a leader though, or to think that they were alone. We stand this day between Ascension and Pentecost, where Jesus ascended and the apostles went out with the Holy Spirit to witness about the Christ. Even though Jesus Christ was now no longer in the world, having come to the father, and they were still in the world, they were never alone. They had been taught the scriptures by the son of God, sanctified in the Word of Truth and consecrated by the blood of Jesus. They had been prepared for being witnesses to an incomparable event and yet they still had to manage what God had given to them in their time and place, for change was upon them.

There is a danger for Christians to underestimate the necessity of the day to day management that occurs in the church. It isn’t really important, only Sunday morning and the proclamation of the Gospel is important. And while that is first and foremost the responsibility of the church, there is a call to manage what God has given to us. Even the great and mighty apostles had to ask the question what next, because we still exist here in time and space. That is why Voter’s meetings, as dull or exciting that they can be are so crucial to a functioning church, because sometimes the roof has to be repaired or things need to be rearranged so that the word of God may be preached without being dripped upon and the sacraments may be accessible to all people. Even the mundane can assist the gospel. I want to be clear, for I know it could be taken this way, but this is not a reproach to the actions done or not done in a voters meeting, rather it is a pointing out that they serve more than an earthly function, but further the kingdom of God, by giving order in a small way. That is why Pastor begins each meeting with prayer to ask for God’s guidance, just like the apostles did when calling a new apostle to be one of the twelve.

And just like it would be dangerous to think the apostles were out on their own, so too should we remember that it is not through our own strength or power that we are able to care for the church, or even have a church in the first place. The question, “What now” stems from the fact that things change, that the earthly future is uncertain, that we do not always know what the best course of action is. Yet we too have a guide a counselor, the scriptures written through the power of the Holy Spirit. Through the spirit we are able to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and trust that the Father cares for his church in this place and throughout the world. We may boldly confess in his name, trusting that he will make the rain fall when it is needed, and take care of us in our moments of need. Jesus asked of his father, I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. He has done that through his death and resurrection, so that we do not fear the future, for while our earthly future is uncertain, our heavenly eternal hope is in Jesus Christ, and the eternal life that he has won for us through his cross.

We are not always ready to ask the question, “What now?” but we can be sure and confident that we are not alone. We do not need to fear the changes of this world, for Christ is with us, his rod and his staff they comfort us. He protects and guide us through his spirit both now and forever more, so we can confess, CHRIST IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN INDEED ALLELUIA. AMEN.

Ascension - Out of this World

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012 | EASTER

THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD

YEARS ABC

             First Reading       Acts 1:1–11

             Psalm       Psalm 47

             Epistle       Ephesians 1:15–23

             Gospel       Luke 24:44–53

  

FIRST READING

Acts 1:1–11

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with2 the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Out of this World

Grace, Mercy and Peace be unto you from God our Father and Savior Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord. AMEN

Our Text for this Ascension evening is the taken from the Account of the Acts of the Apostles.

We place a lot of importance on where we are when the big important thing happens in our lives. We ask the questions, “Where were you when… when pearl harbor was attacked… when the planes hit the towers… when…?” And we visit the important historical sights, to see where things like the constitution being signed happened, where Martin Luther posted the 95 thesis, where the world changing events occurred. The sight the smells of a particular place can evoke memories of days gone by. It helps us to tie our memories into the present reality. We become a part of the history that took place there. That why moving can be so hard, because we are losing some of our ties to the memories of the past. One of the most thought provoking places are the resting places of our loved ones. The Burial plot is a somber reminder that our loved one is gone, that all that remains of him or her, is a small stone and our memories. Many people find it important to remember historical figures by visiting their graves; to see the final resting place of those who changed the world. And yet, as Christians, we do not have a tomb to go to for the founder of our faith. We do not have a place on this earth to go to see the body of Jesus, for he is not dead, but is living, and is out of this world. For Christ did not come to just die in the world, but to live and reign in heaven at the right hand of the father. We are reminded that this place is temporary, that earth is temporary. He reigns so that we may have an everlasting hope in him.

People have always attempted to “get closer to God.” This desire stems from the idea that if we are closer to God, God will hear us and listen to us. The Israelites were constantly being reprimanded by the Prophets of the Lord, for building the High Places as an attempt to be nearer unto the pagan Gods. They wanted to be “closer to God” yet even though they were in the highest of places they were spiritually farther away from God than they could ever imagine possible. Physically they were right there in the very presence of God, for this is what the Lord says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool. (Isaiah 66:1-2)” “‘Am I only a God nearby,’ declares the Lord, ‘and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him’ declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:23–24). It is impossible to be physically nearer or farther away from God, because is all present, he is everywhere. To attempt to get closer to God is to limit what God is capable of. For he is not limited by the realm of this physical world, as he created the heavens and the earth, and rules over them accordingly.

We remember today, 40 days after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ his ascension up into heaven. Christ the incarnate Lord did come down to this earth, to be housed in a body of flesh and blood, one that would succumb to death, death on the Cross. For a time he was limited to one small point, one small location. His disciples were in fact in the very presence of God, they learned from him, and he gave them a mission to go out and make disciples of all nations witness the word that he spoke, and baptize in the name of the Father son and holy spirit. But Christ did not stay with them physically, Christ who was born of this world, died in this world, and rose again over all the world, has no final resting place. We cannot go and seek the place where he lays to because he is not just merely human, but God in the fullest. Christ has risen, he has risen indeed, is a great and wonderful saying, that conveys the true hope and joy of Easter. Our Hopes and joys rest in the knowledge that the man who knew no sin took our sin and died our death and rose again. But that is not the end of the story. No it continues, Christ who was and is both God and Man ascended into heaven to sitteth and the right hand of the Father to judge both the living and the dead.

That Christ sits in heaven does not mean that we do not come into the presence of God. Because there is not a tomb to visit, or a grave to honor, Christians sometimes make the mistake in believing that there is not a place for us to be close to God. But we still desire a personal closeness. While we can never leave his presence we do come into his presence when we gather as brothers and sisters in Christ. We share in the his body and blood, when we are washed in baptism, when we hear the word through his spirit which he sent to his people. We are witnesses of these things, the promises and actions of our Lord Jesus who lives and reigns with the father and the holy spirit forever and ever. AMEN.

Easter 4B - The Good Shepherd

SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 2012 | EASTER
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
YEAR B

             First Reading       Acts 4:1–12

             Psalm       Psalm 23

             Epistle       1 John 3:16–24

             Gospel       John 10:11–18

PSALM
Psalm 23

             1       The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
            2       He makes me lie down in green pastures.
                  He leads me beside still waters.
            3       He restores my soul.
                  He leads me in paths of righteousness
      for his name’s sake.
             4       Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
      I will fear no evil,
                  for you are with me;
      your rod and your staff,
      they comfort me.
             5       You prepare a table before me
      in the presence of my enemies;
                  you anoint my head with oil;
      my cup overflows.
            6       Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
      all the days of my life,
                  and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
      forever.

GOSPEL
John 10:11–18

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

The Good Shepherd

Grace, Mercy and Peace be unto you from God our Father and Savior Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord. AMEN

As a Vicar, I am training to be a pastor, under the supervision of an experienced pastor. While serving in this position I am expected to experience many of the duties of a pastor so that I am prepared to serve a congregation on my own in the future when I am sent out into the world. One of the activities that I have enjoyed quite a bit has been doing visitation to our shut-ins, because it gives me a chance to interact with some of the older members of the congregation in a one on one situation. I enjoy conversing with them, and then before I go I read a bible passage and say a prayer. Before going out and doing my first solo visit though, Pastor Karsten gave me one piece of advice, don’t read psalm 23. This seemed a little strange to me, because Psalm 23 is one of the most well known passages of the entire bible. But his advice makes sense, because, when people hear it, they think of death. They focus upon walking through the valley of the shadow of death, and there is a fear that all men have of death. But Christ came not as the bringer of death, but Life. He is our shepherd and has laid down his life for us.

Our Gospel lesson describes the work of a shepherd committed to his charges. This is not the work of one who is afraid to get a little dirty, afraid of danger, or afraid of work. For sheep are a stubborn and stupid lot, they enjoy going off on their own, and they get trapped by the landscape and hunted by wild animals. They walk through the valley of the shadow of death, often because of their own mistakes and foolish decisions. Without a shepherd, many will die, unable to face the destruction of the world and their own foolishness.

And the sad thing is, we are the sheep. We are the ones that wander away finding ourselves in dangerous situations, facing the wolves of this world. And we cannot face them. Through the temptations of the Devil the world and our sinful selves we are spiritually dead, there is no hope for us to find. And spiritual death leads to an eternal death where this is only pain and hopelessness. That is what fear lies in men, a fear that there is no hope. And there is no hope if there is not a good shepherd to guide us.

Psalm 23 does talk about the valley of the shadow of death, but not in fear, but in hope and confidence, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” There is comfort because of the good shepherd. We do not need to fear because Christ came to lay down his life for us, to protect us and rescue us from our sin, from our death, and from the temptations of the devil. No man could force him to do that, yet he did it for the sake of the whole world, that there would not be fear of death, but the sure hope of eternal life. That is what we celebrate this Eastertide, his death came so that we too may have life through the good shepherd.

Pastors and vicars serve here in as shepherds to guide god’s people through the promises that God has given to his people through Jesus Christ our Lord. We do not need to be afraid when that last moment comes, because Christ has already defeated the enemy, and we have life eternal in his name. Through his spirit we can gladly share, Christ is Risen, He is Risen indeed. ALLELUIA. AMEN

May Newsletter - Ascension and Pentecost

He is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

This month we see the end of the Easter season, and entering into the season of the Church which is the time after Pentecost. Before we leave Easter though, we see two more celebrations: The Ascension and the day of Pentecost. Each take place a specified number of days after Easter and continue the story after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Ascension

Ascension occurs 40 days after Easter, as witnessed by the Book of Acts chapter one. Because of this, the official date of occurrence is on a Thursday, but it is frequently observed on the following Sunday by the church. Jesus had spent these 40 days teaching his disciples about the kingdom of God before he left to be with his Father in heaven. The church continues to live in the teachings of Jesus Christ after his ascension.

Through this feast we are celebrating the day that Jesus ascended to sit on the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Jesus did not leave his disciples alone, he promised that he would give to them the power of the Holy Spirit. It is also promised by the angels that he will return again.

The theme hymn for Ascension, “Up through Endless Ranks of Angels” draws upon the exultation of Jesus Christ and his victory over death. The church does not need to be afraid because Jesus has restored life and intercedes for us before the Father. This shows the continuing results of Jesus’ sacrifice on Good Friday.

UP THROUGH ENDLESS RANKS OF ANGELS

Up through endless ranks of angels,  cries of triumph in his ears,  to his heavenly throne ascending,  having vanquished all their fears,  Christ looks down upon his faithful,  leaving them in happy tears. Death-destroying, life-restoring, proven equal to our need, now for us before the Father as our brother intercede: flesh that for our world was wounded, living, for the wounded plead.

Pentecost 

The title Pentecost comes from the Greek and refers to 50 days after Easter. Pentecost is the continuation of where Ascension left off in the reading of Acts. In the ascension reading Jesus tells his disciples, “for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with2 the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5). There is little explanation what this will look like and the church is left unsure of where to go.

Now Pentecost itself dates before even before the time of Easter as it had been celebrated by the Jewish people as The Feast of Weeks, which was a harvest festival. Since it was a feast, it would have been common for people of all places to be out and about celebrating. The Holy Spirit came down upon the Apostles and they were able to speak in many tongues, so that all were able to hear their preaching about the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This was the baptism of the Holy Spirit that had been promised to them by Jesus.

We use the color red for the day of Pentecost to symbolize the tongues of flame that rested upon the heads of the Apostles. The hymn, “Come, Holy Ghost, God And Lord” demonstrates the focus of this Sunday. We celebrate the work that the Holy Spirit does, which illumines our hearts to the Glory of our God and King.

COME, HOLY GHOST, GOD AND LORD

Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord, With all your graces now outpoured. On each believer’s mind and heart; Your fervent love to them impart. Lord, by the brightness of your light In holy faith your Church untie; From every land and every tongue This to our praise, O Lord, Our God, be sung: Alleluia, alleluia!

Easter 3B - Witnesses

SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2012 | EASTER
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
YEAR B

             First Reading       Acts 3:11–21

             Psalm       Psalm 4

             Epistle       1 John 3:1–7

             Gospel       Luke 24:36–49

GOSPEL
Luke 24:36–49

 36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 Then he 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.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and3 forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 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.”

Witnesses

Grace, Mercy and Peace be unto you from God our Father and Savior Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord. AMEN

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to witness it, did it make a sound? It is a rhetorical question asked by philosophers, scientists, and parents intended to get people thinking. Of course, the answer is obvious. It does make a sound. And yet, I have heard a physics professor attempt to claim that if there was no one there to experience the sound, there was compression for sound waves, but it is not a sound until an eardrum translates it into a sound. If you are like me, that reasoning seems to be a little thin, yet there is at least one person out there that doubts if a tree makes a sound as it falls in the forest if no one is there to witness it. And technically they are right because the definition of sound is "something that you hear.” The question is really a rhetorical question, asked by philosophers, scientists, and parents, which is intended to get people thinking. If no one witnesses an event, does it really make an impact? This is why for every event recorded in history there must be a reliable witness, preferably more than one if possible.

A witness conveys what happened during a particular event in time. A good witness confesses the truth to what he or she as seen, and a bad witness creates falsehood about the event, either intentionally twisting their story, or accidentally presenting an incomplete picture. All of history can be traced back to one false witness, that changed the story for all of humanity, leading to the fall and introduction of sin into the world. The World, the devil and our sinful selves do not witness in truth, but desires only that which benefits ourselves to rule. But Christ came into the world as the true witness for what God had done for us, through his life and appearance through the 40 days of easter. For God spoke to his people of old by the prophets about a witness of the coming salvation; a witness which was fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

The bible witnesses to us that the story of Easter took place because of false witnesses. The first and greatest of the false witnesses came with the snake in the garden of Eden. Satan used the snake to turn Eve away from the witness of God that had been given to her by her husband, by making her question the veracity of his story. “Did he really say?” the snake cried out causing Eve to think that maybe there was a different set of instructions. Adam had witnessed the instructions given by God, but Eve listened instead to slippery serpent of Satan and slipped into sin. Adam followed closely after, not questioning what was given to him, falling head first into the dirty depths of sin because of the wiles of the devil. And God punished MAN by casting them out of perfection. And he did not stop there, for he punished the snake as well, confessing a prediction of the future, “The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.””

And the sons of man came and sinned bearing false witness about their own actions, bearing false witness about and to their neighbor, and bearing false witness about the one and only God in heaven. Satan ruled in hearts of the wicked, through their false actions, their false confessions, and their prayers to false idols. The whole of the old testament is filled with the people of God casting aside that which they knew was true, for something else listening to the whisperings of the world.

But God did not give up on this false people who did not know the truth. Instead he sent Prophets, Priests and Kings who knew the truth and bore witness to that truth. And where the true witness was proclaimed some listened and believed. They gave witness to a God of Love and Wrath, who blessed those who believed, but condemned those who refused the true witness. The prophets promised salvation, a messiah. Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.

And so the messiah came, first as a child of Bethlehem, coming fortold by angels and prophets, heralded by kings, and witnessed by shepherds. The infant king’s story was witnessed by the people so that the story could be told and verified. Then came his ministry, first to the twelve, and then to all of Israel, he taught in the open so that all could see and hear what he taught. Christ Jesus came as a witness to the truth of God, teaching about the laws of God and about the Love of God. But the people could not understand his ministry, and the leaders feared him, so they crucified him, as fortold once again by the prophets.

But Christ did not stay dead, he arose, and he appeared to his prophets. Our Gospel for today confesses that he came that Easter evening not in spirit, but in flesh, See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you wear clothed with power from on high.” And the Disciples, the learners, became the Apostles, the sent ones proclaiming the good news of the salvation of Christ.

What about us? On our own what do we witness? This week I have been a witness. I have witnessed the joy of a man experiencing freedom after 20 years of federal prison. I have witnessed the laying to rest of a man that was a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather. I witnessed a woman beginning the first steps in her treatment of cancer. I have been a witness to all of these things. I know that they have happened, because I saw these things. These things were set into motion long before I witnessed them, and yet I can give testimony to what I saw. I witnessed the struggle of humanity. A struggle that we endure because of our own sin, because of the sinfulness of our bodies, and the end result of that sin is the death of our body. As humans we can only witness death, if our focus is upon humanity, because all of humanity will die. And our confessions, our witnesses demonstrate that we are indeed sinful and unclean. We lie, we cheat we steal in our lives against our neighbors, and against our selves. And worse, on our own we cannot confess a witness of God either.

But we are not on our own, for we too have been clothed in the promises of God, through the righteousness of Christ in baptism. We can witness, not just to human suffering, not just to the unfaithfulness of humanity, the suffering that they serve, but we can witness to the faithfulness of God, who has not forsaken us, but has called us each by name.

Satan, the world, and our sinful selves want to be false witnesses, to serve the worlds wants. But Christ has risen, destroying the power of the perjury of the world and has declared us righteous before his Father. So through the Holy Spirit we can confess as witnesses to the World, Christ Has Risen, He has risen indeed. Hallelujah! AMEN

Gospel for Easter Evening - Luke 24:13–35 (ESV)

On the Road to Emmaus

¹³ That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles 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.  

Gospel for Easter Dawn - John 20:1–18 (ESV)

The Resurrection

20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ² So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” ³ So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. ⁴ Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹ for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹¹ But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹² And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.  

Gospel for Holy Saturday - Matthew 27:62–66 (ESV)

The Guard at the Tomb

⁶² The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate ⁶³ and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ ⁶⁴ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” ⁶⁵ Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” ⁶⁶ So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.  

Gospel for Good Friday - John 18:1–19:42 (ESV)

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. ² Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. ³ So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. ⁴ Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” ⁵ They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. ⁶ When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. ⁷ So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁸ Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” ⁹ This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” ¹⁰ Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) ¹¹ So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas

¹² So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. ¹³ First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. ¹⁴ It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

¹⁵ Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, ¹⁶ but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷ The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” ¹⁸ Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

¹⁹ The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. ²⁰ Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. ²¹ Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” ²² When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” ²³ Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” ²⁴ Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

²⁵ Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” ²⁶ One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” ²⁷ Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Jesus Before Pilate

²⁸ Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. ²⁹ So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” ³⁰ They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” ³¹ Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” ³² This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

³³ So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” ³⁵ Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” ³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” ³⁷ Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” ³⁸ Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. ³⁹ But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” ⁴⁰ They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. ² And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. ³ They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. ⁴ Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” ⁵ So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” ⁶ When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” ⁷ The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” ⁸ When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. ⁹ He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” ¹¹ Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

¹² From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” ¹³ So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. ¹⁴ Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” ¹⁵ They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” ¹⁶ So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

So they took Jesus, ¹⁷ and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. ¹⁸ There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. ¹⁹ Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. ²¹ So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” ²² Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

²³ When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, ²⁴ so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

“They divided my garments among them,

and for my clothing they cast lots.”

So the soldiers did these things, ²⁵ but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

The Death of Jesus

²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

³¹ Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. ³² So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. ³⁵ He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. ³⁶ For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Jesus Is Buried

³⁸ After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. ³⁹ Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. ⁴⁰ So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. ⁴² So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.