The Testimony of God

Dear Friends and members of Trinity,

He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
Alleluia!

Quasimodo Geniti Sunday Lectionary Summary
The Wounds of Christ Give Us Life
"For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood" (1 John 5:7). These three point to Christ and flow from Christ. Jesus shows His disciples His hands side, from which blood and water flowed, saying "Peace be with you." He presents the wounds which turn our fear to gladness and which restore us to the Father. Jesus breathes on His disciples and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:23). His breath, His words are Spirit and life. They raise up our dry, dead bones and give us new and everlasting life (Ezek 37:1-14). Christ now gives His ministers to speak His forgiving, Spirit-filled words to the penitent in His stead. Our Lord continues to come to His people, presenting His wounds to us in the Sacraments of water and blood. He bids us to touch His side at His table, to receive His risen body and blood in true faith, that believing we may have life in His name.

Cover Art: Icon of The Profession of Faith of St. Thomas displayed in our Lady Shrine - St. John's Church Greenacre NSW

To listen, pray and sing along with the service, click on this MP3 audio link. http://lcmssermons.com/images/aut52/CY2012/Easter2QuasimodoGeniti.2012.TheTestimonyofGod.mp3

The sermon, "The Testimony of God", begins at 27:45.

The sermon transcript will follow whenever I get around to listening and transcribing it. I don't want anyone reading the manuscript from which I preached lest something be lost.

A blessed Eighth Day as Newborn Infants of God in Christ Jesus to you all.

Izzy

Sometimes Ya Just Gotta Laugh!

Posted at http://sacredsandwich.com/

Unbelievable!

He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
Alleluia!

Lectionary Summary
Christ's Resurrection Brings Us Life

“In Adam all die.” For we are all participants in the sin of Adam, who rebelled against God in the garden and brought the curse of death into the world. But “in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22)). For He was faithful to His Father and destroyed death on the holy tree. Jesus, the Second Adam, now walks in the garden in the cool of the day and reveals Himself to the daughter of Eve (John 20:1–18). The risen Christ brings not the curse of death but the blessing of life, the resurrection of the body. He leads us through the baptismal sea to new life on the other side, conquering our mortal enemies in its depths (Ex. 14:10—15:1). In this way our Lord Jesus wipes away the tears from all faces. For He has swallowed up death forever. Let us therefore be glad and rejoice in His salvation (Is. 25:6–9)!

Cover Art: Scenes of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, 1541 attributed to Lambert Lombard (1506-1566)

To listen, pray and sing along with the service, click on this MP3 audio link.
http://lcmssermons.com/​images/aut52/CY2012/​ResurrectionofOurLord.2012U​nbelievable.mp3

The sermon, "Unbelievable!," begins at 33:05.

The sermon transcript will follow whenever I get around to listening and transcribing it. I dont want anyone reading the manuscript from which I preached lest something be lost.

Please stay tuned. :^)

Our Place in the Passion of Our Lord

There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.

Lectionary Summary

Behold the Lamb of God, Who Takes Away the Sin of the World

Jesus, the Lamb of God, is led to the slaughter of His cross as the sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the world. "Despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Is. 53:3), He is the righteous Servant who justifies many by His innocent suffering and death. He bears our griefs and carries our sorrows; He is wounded for our transgressions; He is crushed for our iniquities; He suffers our chastisement, so that "with His stripes we are healed" (Is. 53:4-5). As the Son of God, He fulfills the Law for us in human flesh, and so fulfills the Scriptures (John 19:7, 24). For in Christ, "God was reconciling the whole world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them" (2 Cor. 5:19).

Cover Art: "Christ Crucified between the Two Thieves"
Amand Durand Etching

This is the order of service for the Good Friday Chief Service celebrated at
TRINITY
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
74 N. Fort Lane Blvd.
Layton, Utah
801-544-5770
Rev. Kurt M. Hering, Pastor
www.trinitylayton.org

To listen, pray and sing along with the service, click on this MP3 audio link. The sermon, "Our Place in the Passion of Our Lord," begins at 33:42.

GOOD FRIDAY
Chief Service
April 6, 2012

Today we celebrate God's gift of Holy Communion here at Trinity. In Christ's church, every pastor is called to be a faithful steward of the mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-2), admitting no one to the Sacrament who has not first been taught and examined according to the Scriptures.
(Augsburg Confession, Art. XXIV ) Therefore, if you are visiting and have not spoken with Pastor prior to the service, he will be delighted to speak with you about our confession of the Christian faith following the Divine Service in order that you may receive the very body and blood of Christ at His table with us here in the future. Until then, you are welcome to receive the sign of the cross in remembrance of your baptismal forgiveness during the distribution of the Sacrament.

Service of the Word

Stand

Collect of the Day

P Let us pray.
Almighty God, graciously behold this Your family for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and delivered into the hands of sinful men to suffer death upon the cross;

C 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.

Sit

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 52:13-53:12


P The Old Testament Reading for Good Friday is from the 52nd and 53rd chapters of Isaiah.

After the reading:

P This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.

Silence

Collect

P Let us pray.
Merciful and everlasting God, You did not spare Your only Son but delivered Him up for us all to bear our sins on the cross. Grant that our hearts may be so fixed with steadfast faith in Him
C that we fear not the power of sin, death, and the devil; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Sit

Epistle Reading 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

P The Epistle is from the 5th chapters of 2 Corinthians.

After the reading:

P This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God. Silence

Stand

Collect

P Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, who willed that Your Son should bear for us the pains of the cross and so remove from us the power of the adversary. Help us so to remember and give thanks for our Lord's passion
C Amen.

Sit

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Hymn: "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" LSB #425

P The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to St.
John.

Reading: John 18:1-11
(Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus)
Hymn: "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded," #450 v. 1

Reading: John 18:12-27
(Jesus before the High Priest and the Denial of Peter)
Hymn: "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded," #450 v. 2

Reading: John 18:28-40
(Jesus before Pilate)
Hymn: "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded," #450 v. 3

Reading: John 19:1-16a
(Jesus Prepared for Crucifixion)
Hymn: "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded," #450 v. 4

Reading: John 19:16b-24
(The Crucifixion of Jesus)
Hymn: "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded," #450 v. 5

Reading: John 19:25-30
(Jesus' Mother and His Death)
Hymn: "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded," #450 v. 6

Reading: John 19:31-42
(Jesus' Side Is Pierced)
Hymn: "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded," #450 v. 7

Silence/ Sit

Sermon "Our Place in The Passion of Our Lord"

Hymn of the Day: "A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth" LSB #438

Stand

Bidding Prayer

The Bidding Prayer is the traditional prayer that is used on Good Friday. This is taken from the LSB Altar Book (pp. 406ff.).

P Let us pray for the whole Christian Church, that our Lord God would defend her against all the assaults and temptations of the adversary and keep her perpetually on the true foundation, Jesus Christ:
Almighty and everlasting God, since You have revealed Your glory to all nations in Jesus Christ and in the Word of His truth, keep, we ask You, in safety the works of Your mercy

C so that Your Church, spread throughout all the
nations, may be defended against the adversary and may serve You in true faith and persevere in the confession of Your name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

P Let us pray for all the ministers of the Word, for all
vocations in the church, and for all the people of God:
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole
body of the Church is governed and sanctified, receive the supplications and prayers which we offer before You for all Your servants in Your holy Church

C that every member of the same may truly serve You
according to Your calling; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

P Let us pray for our catechumens, that our Lord God would
open their hearts and the door of His mercy that, having received the remission of all their sins by the washing of regeneration, they may be mindful of their Baptism and evermore be found in Christ Jesus, our Lord:

Almighty God and Father, because You always grant
growth to Your Church, increase the faith and understanding of our catechumens

C that, rejoicing in their new birth by the water of Holy
Baptism, they may forever continue in the family of those whom You adopt as Your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

P Let us pray for all in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty:
O merciful Father in heaven, because You hold in Your hand all the might of man and because You have ordained, for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do well, all the powers that exist in all the nations of the world, we humbly pray You graciously to regard Your servants, especially our President, Mr. Obama; the Congress of the United States; our Governor, Mr. Herbert; and all those who make, administer, and judge our laws; and all who have authority over us;

C that all who receive the sword as Your ministers may
bear it according to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

P Let us pray our Lord God Almighty that He would deliver
the world from all error, take away disease, ward off famine, set free those in bondage, grant health to the sick, and a safe journey to all who travel:
Almighty and everlasting God, the consolation of the sorrowful and the strength of the weak, may the prayers of those who in any tribulation or distress cry to You graciously come before You,

C so that in all their necessities they may rejoice in Your manifold help and comfort; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

P Let us pray for all who are outside the Church, that our
Lord God would be pleased to deliver them from their error, call them to faith in the true and living God and His only Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, and gather them into His family, the Church:

Almighty and everlasting God, because You seek not the death but the life of all, hear our prayers for all who have no right knowledge of You,

C free them from their error, and for the glory of Your
name bring them into the fellowship of Your holy Church; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

P Let us pray for peace, that we may come to the knowledge
of God's holy Word and walk before Him as is fitting for Christians:
Almighty and everlasting God, King of Glory, and Lord of heaven and earth, by whose Spirit all things are governed, by whose providence all things are ordered, the God of peace and the author of all concord, grant us, we implore You, Your heavenly peace and concord

C that we may serve You in true fear, to the praise and
glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

P Let us pray for our enemies, that God would remember
them in mercy and graciously grant them such things as are both needful for them and profitable for their salvation:
O almighty, everlasting God, through Your only Son, our blessed Lord, You have commanded us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, and to pray for those who persecute us. We therefore earnestly implore You

C that by Your gracious visitation all our enemies may
be led to true repentance and may have the same love and be of one accord and one mind and heart with us and with Your whole Christian Church; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

P Let us pray for the fruits of the earth, that God would send down His blessing upon them and graciously dispose our hearts to enjoy them according to His own good will:
O Lord, Father Almighty, by Your Word You created and You continue to bless and uphold all things. We pray You so to reveal to us Your Word, our Lord Jesus Christ

C that, through His dwelling in our hearts, we may by
Your grace be made ready to receive Your blessing on all the fruits of the earth and whatsoever pertains to our bodily need; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Stand

The Sentence and Response
Spoken three times in sequence

P Behold the life-giving cross on which was hung the salvation of the world.

C Oh, come, let us worship Him.

Sit

The Reproaches

These are the words of the Lord against His people, the Church, to which the congregation replies with a plea for mercy.

P Thus says the Lord: What have I done to you, O My people, and wherein have I offended You? Answer Me. For I have raised you up out of the prison house of sin and death, and you have delivered up your Redeemer to be scourged. For I have redeemed you from the house of bondage, and you have nailed your Savior to the cross. O My people. Micah 6:3-4

Holy Lord God, holy and mighty God, holy and most merciful Redeemer; God eternal, leave us not to bitter death. O Lord, have mercy.

C "Lamb of God, Pure and Holy," LSB #434 st. 1

P Thus says the Lord: What have I done to you, O My people, and wherein have I offended You? Answer Me. For I have conquered all your foes, and you have given Me over and delivered Me to those who persecute Me. For I have fed you with My Word and refreshed you with living water, and you have given Me gall and vinegar to drink. O My people. Jeremiah 2:6-7

Holy Lord God, holy and mighty God, holy and most merciful Redeemer; God eternal, allow us not to lose hope in the face of death and hell. O Lord, have mercy.

C "Lamb of God, Pure and Holy," LSB #434 st. 2

P Thus says the Lord: What have I done to you, O My people, and wherein have I offended You? Answer Me. What more could I have done for My vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? My people, is this how you thank your God? O My people. Isaiah 5:2-4

Holy Lord God, holy and mighty God, holy and most merciful Redeemer; God eternal, keep us steadfast in the true faith. O Lord, have mercy.

C "Lamb of God, Pure and Holy," LSB #434 st. 3

Stand

P We adore You, O Lord,

C and we praise and glorify Your holy resurrection.

P For behold, by the wood of Your cross

C joy has come into all the world.

P God be merciful to us and bless us,

C and cause His face to shine upon us, and have mercy upon us.

P We adore You, O Lord,

C and we praise and glorify Your holy resurrection.

P For behold, by the wood of Your cross

C joy has come into all the world.

Stand

Hymn: "Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle" LSB #454

Service of the Sacrament

The Preface

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Lift up your hearts.

C We lift them to the Lord.

P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who accomplished the salvation of mankind by the tree of the cross that, where death arose, there life also might rise again and that the serpent who overcame by the tree of the garden might likewise by the tree of the cross be overcome. Hear us as we Hear us as we pray in His name and as He has taught us:

The Lord's Prayer

C Our Father, who art in heaven . . .

The Words of Our Lord

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: "Take eat; this is My + body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me."

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: "Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My + blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.

Peace of the Lord

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C Amen.

Distribution

Stand

Concluding Collect

P We implore You, O Lord, that Your abundant blessing may be upon Your people, who have had the passion and death of Your Son in devout remembrance

C that we may receive Your pardon and the gift of Your comfort, and may increase in faith and take hold of eternal salvation; 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.

Hymn: "The Royal Banners Forward Go" LSB #455

The pastor and congregation leave in silence.

+ + +

GOOD FRIDAY AT NOONDAY

GOOD FRIDAY AT NOONDAY

To listen to the service and pray along, go to this MP3 audio link.

http://lcmssermons.com/images/aut52/CY2012/ GoodFridayNoonday.mp3

The minister enters in silence and goes to his place.

STAND

SENTENCES AND COLLECTS

P: He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him,
C: and with His stripes we are healed.

P: Almighty God, graciously behold this Your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, to be given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death on the cross;

C: who now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

P:We all, like sheep, have gone astray;
C: and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

P: Almighty and most merciful God, give us grace so to contemplate the Passion of our Lord

C: that we may find in it the forgiveness of our sins; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

SIT

The HYMN, “Upon the Cross Extended,” LSB # 453, is sung.

COLLECTS ON THE SEVEN WORDS

THE FIRST WORD:

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” Luke 23:34

P: Lord Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate, who by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God was taken, and by the hand of wicked men was crucified and slain, and did make intercession for the transgressors, we pray Thee, grant unto us all the blessed assurance that there is now no condemnation to them which are in Thee,

C: and that, if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father in Thee, the Righteous, whose blood speaks better things than Abel’s blood, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE SECOND WORD:

“Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise” Luke 23:43

P: Lord Jesus Christ, Thou merciful King and Prince of Peace, who didst veil Thy divine glory and was robed in humility, crowned with thorns, nailed upon the tree of shame, and numbered with the transgressors, we thank Thee that Thou hast remembered us in our condemnation and hast translated us into Thy Kingdom of Grace.

C: We pray Thee, rule in our hearts and lives with the scepter of Thy Word, and when life’s brief day is ended, take us with Thee into Paradise, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE THIRD WORD:

“Woman, behold thy son!” – “Behold thy mother!” John 19:26, 27

P: O Compassionate Lord Jesus Christ, we thank Thee for Thy perfect obedience which Thou did render for us even to the death of the cross. We pray Thee, grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that He may write Thy holy Law upon our hearts, so that, following Thy example of filial love and obedience, we may honor and serve our parents, and, from the least to the greatest, may learn obedience and walk in Thy footsteps.

C: And let Thy strength be made perfect in our weakness, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE FOURTH WORD:

“My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46

P: Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Author and Finisher of our faith, who didst tread the winepress of God’s wrath alone and wast made a curse for us on the accursed tree, being forsaken of God, we pray Thee, grant that our faith in Thee may never know doubt or change. Strengthen us in the sure knowledge and confidence that nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Thee and that, though Thy Father hide His face from us in a little moment of wrath,

C: we may never despair of His loving-kindness, for the sake of Thy bitter agony, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE FIFTH WORD:

“I thirst!” John 19:28

P: O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Redeemer of the world, who on the cross didst endure the pains and anguish of body and soul to accomplish all things for our redemption and in Thy cry “I thirst!” didst reveal Thy fervent desire and zeal to draw all men unto Thyself,

C: grant that the souls of men everywhere may hear Thy gracious Gospel and drink of the waters of life and be satisfied, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE SIXTH WORD:

“It is finished!” John 19:30

P: Lord Jesus, who on the cross didst cry out: “It is finished!” we thank Thee that Thou didst complete the work which Thy Father gave Thee to do: Thou didst fulfill the Law of God for us; Thou didst bear its curse in our stead; Thou didst reconcile all men to God.

C: Grant that we may with our whole heart believe this and that we may never rely on any work or merit of our own, but always trust in Thy finished work on Calvary, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE SEVENTH WORD:

“Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit” Luke 23:46

P: Lord Jesus Christ, who in Thy dying moment didst commend Thy soul into Thy Father’s hands, thereby assuring us that Thou didst finish the work of our redemption and that Thy Father is well pleased in Thee, we pray Thee,

C: grant us by Thy Holy Spirit such confidence in Thy redemption that, washed of our sin in Thy blood, we, too, in our dying hour may confidently commend our soul into the Father’s hand, trusting wholly in Thy merits, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

The HYMN, “O O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” LSB #450, is sung.

STAND

PRAYERS

P: O Savior of the world, by Your cross and precious blood You redeemed the world.

C: Save us and help us, we humbly implore You, O Lord.

P: We adore You, Lord Jesus, in Your cross and Passion, through which You have brought life and joy into the world.

C: Be gracious to us according to Your mercy and bless us and lift up the Light of Your countenance upon us and give us Your peace.

P: Gracious Jesus, our Lord and our God, at this hour You bore our sins in Your own body on the tree so that we, being dead to sin, might live unto righteousness.

C: Have mercy upon us now and at the hour of our death and grant to us, Your servants, with all others who devoutly remember Your blessed Passion, a holy and peaceful life in this world and through Your grace eternal glory in the life to come, where, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, You live and reign, God forever. Amen.

P: Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;

C: have mercy upon us.

P: Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;

C: have mercy upon us.

P: Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;
C: grant us peace.

STAND

BLESSING

P: Christ crucified draw you to Himself, to find in Him a sure ground of faith, a firm support for hope, and the assurance of sins forgiven; and the blessing of almighty God, the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you now and forever.

C: Amen.

The minister and worshipers leave in silence.

+ + +

Sent to the House of Israel

Today is Reminiscere, "You Remember," Sunday in the life of Christ's Church. To hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church at Layton, Utah based upon the Gospel for Invocavit, Matthew 15:21-28, "Sent to the House of Israel," click on this mp3 audio link provided.

The audio recording begins with the Old Testament reading, and includes the Hymn of the Day, LSB #615--"When in the Hour of Deepest Need." The sermon begins at 12:24. The audio continues through and concludes with the Prayer of the Church.

The preaching transcript follows below if you prefer to read along, or read instead.

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear people of God,

The house of Israel is the house of faith—or Jesus is a liar.

All this business of the end times being fulfilled in the Middle East is a distraction, deception, and delusion born of the father of lies, who shall here remain nameless in derision of this most damnable derelict.

Do not be deceived, dear people. You are in the House of Israel, you are of the House of Israel, for you have been baptized into the faith that defines Israel—you have been baptized into Christ Jesus.

And that is the lesson of our Gospel text today, the lesson of the blessed Canaanite woman and her daughter—both saved by faith, that is, saved by Jesus the Christ the Son of the living God.

We read:
TEXT: 21Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25But she came and knelt before [i.e. worshipped. She worshiped before] him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. Matthew 15:21-28

This is worship, dear people of God. This is worship in the House of Israel—kneeling before the Lord and begging for His help; begging for His healing; begging for Him to cast away our demons; begging for Him to heal even our children.

When Jesus commends this woman’s faith and heals her daughter, He is declaring her and her child to be two of those lost sheep of the House of Israel to whom He was sent. And so He declares you to be of those lost sheep of the House of Israel to whom He was sent--sent to gather you together here in the House of Israel, that is, the house that struggles with, and at times against God as we struggle with and against His Word, His very promise for us.

The history of Israel is a history of those who strive, those who wrestle with and against God, as we heard in our Old Testament lesson today. The history of Israel is the history of struggling and wrestling with and against God, that is, of faith in Him and unfaith. And it is ultimately the history of The faithful One, Jesus the Christ—the one man Who was and is faithful unto death and receives the crown of life, that passage from Revelation 2:10 that is the confirmation passage that’s read to all of our confirmands here at Trinity.

The history of Israel, those who strive and wrestle with and against God is the history of one man, Jacob, as we again heard in our Old Testament lesson. But from Jacob comes the nation of Israel--a nation who struggles, who wrestles with and against God, the people of His holy Word and His promise. And ultimately the history of Israel, through Jacob that one called Israel; that nation in the middle east 2000+ years ago, that nation of Israel comes back to the one Man--Jesus the Christ, the true Israel.

What all of these have in common is the Word of God that is the promise of the Savior that abides with and even in them.

In Genesis 25 we hear of the birth of that one sinful man who would be called Israel:
This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. [Abraham to whom that promise was given and that promise sent with him into the promised land; that from his generations, from his sons would come the Son of God and the Son of Man, the Savior.] Abraham begot Isaac—[in his old age, if you recall]. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. 21 Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the LORD.
23 And the LORD said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.”
24 So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
27 So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

So Esau being the oldest one held the birthright of his father--that birthright of the promise from God, and he esteemed it not; he honored it not. He didn’t give a fig for it, in other words. And he sold his birthright for a pot of stew. He was weary, he was hungry from hunting and all he could think about was his stomach. Kind of reminds us of the temptation of Jesus we heard about last week, Who was hungry from forty days and nights in the wilderness without food and drink yet did not betray the promise that was placed upon Him and entrusted to Him as does Esau here.

Being hungry he entreats his brother to give him something to eat. And his brother Jacob, “the one who grasps the heel,” deals treacherously. He says, “Oh, I’ll feed you, Brother--if you give me your birthright.”

And so Esau says, “Look, I’m about to die. So what is this birthright to me?” And Jacob says, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright [and gave it up—gave up the very promise of God given to him through his father.]

And as we continue we see that the mother of these children loved Jacob more. And to seal that birthright and hear that promise given from the lips of the father to whom it was given directly to that son, she tricks her own husband putting skins of goats on Isaac to cover his neck and hands to fool his father, whose eyesight was growing very dim.

And she gave him savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, [to mimic the game that Esau was out getting for his father. And so Jacob takes these things disguised as his brother, goes to him and says]: “My father.”

“Here I am. Who are you, my son?” [Isaac says. And Jacob says,] “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” Genesis 27

And so by trickery, this promise of God; the promise of salvation; the promise of the Savior; the promise of the Israel to come is handed down to Jacob…on the surface through his own trickery.

Certainly Jacob reminds us of ourselves here, doesn’t he?--willing to trick, to fool our own brother, our own father, caring not for any neighbor, much less—all as long as we get what we want, what we deserve, right?

The history of Israel continues with Jacob [Genesis 32]. He arises one night, takes “his two wives, [as we heard in our Old Testament text today], his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crosse[s] over the ford of [the] Jabbok [River]. 23 He [takes] them, [sends] them over the brook, and [all that he has, and is] left alone; and a Man [capitalized “M”] wrestle[s] with him until the breaking of day. [That man--the pre-incarnate Christ--He wrestles with this man and] when He saw that He did not prevail against him, [that Man, that God-Man] touched the socket of [Jacob’s] hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”

[And Jacob says,] “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”

The one whose hip socket has been put out, he will not let go. As if he’s in charge here! Boy, that Jacob sounds more and more like you and me, doesn’t he?

[And the Man says to Jacob], “What is your name?”

“Jacob.”

28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob. [That is, one who deals treacherously with his brother. But now you will be called the one who struggles, who wrestles with God and with men. Your name is “Israel,” [the God-Man says.]

And to this one is given the promise of the Savior.

Further on in Genesis 35, [God reminds him,] “Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. 11And God said unto [this Israel, formerly Jacob], I am God Almighty [in other words, “Not you, Jacob, I Am”]: be fruitful and multiply [because I Am God Almighty and say that it will be so]; [be] a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee[because I Am God Almighty and I have given it to thee], and kings shall come out of thy loins [even, as we know, the King of kings because I Am God Almighty said it would be so]; 12And the land which [this God Almighty] gave Abraham and Isaac, to [Israel He gave] it, and to [his] seed [singular! To his seed, that is the One, the God-Man Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary—that seed He promised way back in Genesis 3 that we heard about last week. That seed would come through him.

And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

“Where he talked with him,” this is the legacy of Israel. This is what we have inherited. This is what defines the House of Israel, the House of Faith. It is where God talks with His people; where He gives them His promise of salvation; where He dwells with them in the flesh now and forever.

The nation--that is, the family, the people of Israel are those who strive and wrestle with God in His holy Word. We would see it later on as that nation of Israel that springs from Jacob’s loins gets taken into slavery into Egypt –both to discipline them because of their unfaith, but also to protect and bless them from the famine that is in the land from which they come.

We see that nation of Israel then delivered from slavery in Egypt; delivered from the things of this world; the kings and princes of this world; all the finery and lusts of the flesh of this world. And we see them wandering in the wilderness for forty years, then, because of their unfaith; because of their complaint against God for taking them out of that land of slavery; their complaint against the manna. The bread of life sent from heaven to sustain them wasn’t good enough for them.

Wow! That is you and me.

And ultimately He delivered that people Israel into the Promised Land. This history of Israel through one man and his seed, through a nation in Old Testament times, and finally in Christ Jesus Himself is about a nation, a people of the Promise, a people of faith.

The Psalmist writes in that worship hymnal of the Israelites, “Do not put your trust in princes.” [Psalm 146:2-4] And yet that people of Israel often did that. And for that they were often disciplined and punished. But yet the Lord always strove with them by His holy Word. And after He would put out their hip from their sockets to weaken them when they were stubborn and wanted to do things their own way, then having done that and driven them to their knees He once again would give them that promise of salvation—that promise of salvation that took on flesh in the person of Jesus the Christ.

In the first chapter of John we see Jesus going out and gathering His disciples. And one of the first disciples, Nathanael, He sees “coming to him, and [says] of him [of this Nathanael], Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!—[no deception, no untruth, no unfaith.]

48Nathanael [says] unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answer[s] and sa[ys] unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. [Not within eyesight, surely. And Nathanael knew this. So he answer[s] and sa[ys] unto him, Rabbi, [teacher] thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. 50Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. 51And [Jesus said] unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Does that sound familiar to you from Sunday School days? Jacob’s Ladder! That one who was first called Israel by God, this was his dream, angels of God ascending and descending from heaven to earth and back to heaven again. That’s what Jesus does. This ladder of which he dreamed, these angels ascending and descending were ascending and descending upon the place where God reveals Himself to man—where He strives with them with His Word to drive them to their knees with the Law that tells them they can’t do it alone no matter how hard they’re going to try. And then that lifts them up again and sends them on their way of faith, trusting in Him to deliver them--to redeem Israel, yes, redeem even Jesus, Who could have down from that cross Himself; Who wouldn’t have had to die, but yet submitted Himself to the will of His Father who wants all of us to be saved [1 Timothy 2:4].

He did the opposite of that first Israel. He cared more for His brother and died for him, rather than grasp that promise that was placed upon Him [Philippians 2:6]. He was glad to fulfill that promise for that first Israel, and for the nation of Israel, and for you and me.

Indeed in suffering death and condemnation--the damnation, the forsakenness of God--He was THE faithful One. He is THE faith, Who died and submitted Himself to the Father and trusted His Father to lift Him up out of the grave—that is, to redeem Him, the true Israel--along with the nation that bears His name out of all their troubles, which are indeed self inflicted, self generated, self desired.

Yes, Jesus is THE faithful One, Who is faithful unto death, was faithful unto death, who has received the crown of life and gives it to all those who are called to the house that He was sent to.

So, dear people of God, for you to be faithful unto death, for you to receive the crown of life you must die in Christ.

And die in Christ you do! Die in Christ you have! In Baptism, when that water as poured over your head with the blessed name of the One true God--Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit—you died with Christ and you were lifted up with Him into the heavenly realms as well [Ephesians 2:6].

And every single time you hear the Word of God that proceeds from, abides with, indeed even delivered you to the blessed font of living water in the first place; you have been brought into the House of Israel—that house to whom God, to whom Jesus has been sent.

Baptism is where you became a true Israelite in whom there is no guile--because Baptism is your Canaanite woman’s moment. Baptism is where Jesus—the One who was sent to the house of Israel was sent to you; where you and your children, like that Canaanite woman and her child receive His mercy, receive His forgiveness, receive His healing of every physical and spiritual disease unto eternal life-- in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Our Father, Who Art in Heaven and Thy Church

My father confessor once advised and encouraged me to be more specific about and focused upon preaching and teaching God the Father in my sermons and Bible studies.

Now there is great risk in this. There are a *lot* of Christians in our anti-authoritarian, feminist zeitgeist, who are just all right with Jesus (a rather large majority in my estimation). But that Father figure? Not so much. After all, He is the one who visited all the punishment of hell on His one and only beloved Son in whom He was supposedly well pleased. And fathers, along with the men born in their image, are the root of every evil in our day and age.

Why couldn’t our Father who art in heaven be a little more compassionate than our fathers here on earth? Shouldn't He be tolerant of the sin we might just happen to commit as we go about trying so hard to please Him, and love us enough to just fugettaboutit already without us begging Him for forgiveness every single Sunday--or whenever we might happen to find some free time to come to church and commune with His Son?

In restrospect, we lost a few families in which women were the "spiritual" halves and heads--as well as those whose situation prompted the advice--to other more tolerant churches and pastors because of my contemporary application of this salutary counsel to preach and teach the First Person of the Holy Trinity, Who is our God and the namesake of our congregation.

Sadly, Christian enthusiasts of the world like the aforementioned are to be found in great number even amongst our Lutheran churches. Certainly they will confess with us that where two or three are gathered in His name, there Jesus is with us. But for them this is a theoretical exercise accomplished by their gathering together as a body in the spirit of their hearts and bringing Him there, rather than by them being gathered by the Holy Spirit into His bodily presence. For them, the Son is with us spiritually in our hearts, but substantially He has left the building and given us a ministry almost totally defined by the activity of the spirit--whoever he may be. By this spirit Jesus lives in our hearts and we lift Him up and glorify Him with our worship, instead of worshiping the One who is Himself glorified in being lifted up on the cross and stooping down to us in the Divine Service of Word and Sacrament.

In other words, the real presence of Jesus—which they also will gladly confess with us--is located with His Church in the hearts of believers, rather than in His means of grace. The faith of the believers, rather than the Word of God, is the power by which Baptism saves and bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ.

All the while Christ is in absentia, sitting in some far-away heaven at the right hand of the Father, Who is watching this whole thing unfold before His eyes and being entertained by us as He kicks back in His great recliner in the sky--probably smoking a cigar and summoning His female angels to fetch them some beer.

So calling for these folks to repent of the evil thoughts, sinful desires, lustful immorality, and boastful self-service that proceed from the hearts of men; and pointing them to a Father whom we can only approach on bended knee, confessing our sins and pleading His forgiveness for the sake of His Son in the ministry of His Church; is like telling a liberated feminist to obey his or her father, or honor marriage as one man being the head and caretaker of his wife and household.

Therefore, though many may find it offensive and head for a more "spiritual" climate, I submit that Lutheran pastors owe it to their people (including, and even especially those who may take offense), and the God Whom they serve, to bring the Father back into their churches where He belongs--with His Son who, together with the Holy Spirit lives and reigns *now* and forever on earth in His Church even as He is in heaven.