Quasimodogeniti, The First Sunday after Easter, 2014
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
The Hymn # 199 Jesus Christ is Risen 1:83
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #200 I Know that My Redeemer 1:80
Two Natures United in One Person
The Communion Hymn #187 Christ Is Arisen 1:45
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 195 (Luther) Christ Jesus 1:46
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Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead with His life-giving Word,
by Norma Boeckler. |
First Sunday After Easter
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee, that of Thine ineffable grace, for the sake of Thy Son, Thou hast given us the holy gospel, and hast instituted the holy sacraments, that through the same we may have comfort and forgiveness of sin: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that we may heartily believe Thy word; and through the holy sacraments day by day establish our faith, until we at last obtain salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
KJV 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
KJV John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Two Natures United in One Person
KJV John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
In one verse, John shows us once again the Two Natures of Christ. The Fourth Gospel is often called the Gospel of Faith, but one listener added, "It is also the Doctrinal Gospel."
True indeed. John's Gospel teaches us about the Trinity, the Father-Son relationship, the work of the Holy Spirit, faith, Creation, the Sacraments, forgiveness, and the Two Natures of Christ.
This one narrative teaches us about faith and about the Two Natures of Christ, human and divine, united in One Person - Jesus.
This is a contrast between faith and doubt. Thomas had years of experience with Christ. He was not a traitor like Judas. He was the eye-witness to those miracles we read about. He not only heard Jesus teaching but also Jesus explaining His teaching.
How did this happen? Perhaps fear overcame faith. They are not the same. Fear is an emotion. Trust is not an emotion, which is why leaders fail when they try to emphasize feelings.
Luther observed that when fear takes over, faith goes out the window. Fear is generated by our experience and human reason. Thomas the disciples had good reason to be afraid. The power of the Roman Empire was overwhelming and they knew all about the religious opposition.
Religion always increases the power of evil. Norma retaliation on a secular level is raised to the highest degree because they are sure they are doing God's will. When the staff of a church takes a member to court for telling the truth, one has to wonder, "Were you even thinking when you planned this?"
The first verse shows us that the divine nature of Christ was not limited by His human nature. Rationalists have a door left open or a secret entrance. But the text simple says the doors were locked for fear of the Jews. There is nothing to hint at an alternative, which human reason demands. Just the opposite would be true of men fearing for their lives. They would make sure everything was locked down.
The Son of God cannot be locked out of a room. What man cannot imagine, God does all the time. When people fail to give honor to His power and guidance, they trust themselves and become like Doubting Thomas. "I will trust in miracles only if they conform to my requirements."
The visible Christian Church is governed by fear today, because their is a drought of the Word and a complete lack of faith at the highest levels. Doubt generates even more fear, and fear generates doubt. Therefore, people believe that money will solve their problems. When they get the money they covet, they spend it foolishly because God will not prosper those activities that go against His will, even if they are popular at the moment.
Let us hope that no one forgets this - In one generation, Robert Schuller went from teaching Possibility Thinking to seeing his Crystal Cathedral sold to the Roman Catholic Church.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
The disciples were at their lowest point before Jesus appeared. Everything seemed collapsed, but they were still together as a unit. Jesus said that no one of them would be lost. The memory of the crucifixion fears and dismay would animate their sermons as long as they lived. They and the others were chosen to see the risen Christ so their witness would be the foundation of the Christian Church.
Jesus appeared as a real man, with the marks of His crucifixion. He was not a vision, not a spirit, but God Incarnate. Only a human being would have scars from the crucifixion. But only God could appear at will.
The Incarnation is the ultimate test of Christian faith, expressed in many ways in the New Testament. No one had to say "bodily resurrection" because they knew what resurrection of the dead meant. It was not a dream, not a vision, but a reality.
Jesus prepared them by raising the widow's son, the young girl, and Lazarus, who came to Jerusalem with Jesus on Palm Sunday. Everyone hailed Jesus because the evidence of His power was there at the parade. The funeral party because the Messianic party and it spread across the city, leading to formation of the Christian Church there.
Jesus appearance to disciples restored their complete faith and promised them much more. The Holy Spirit would lead them and teach them, bringing to remembrance what Jesus had done and had taught.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
I keep looking for the missing Trinity in the Bible. The rationalists tell me the doctrine was invented 500 years after Christ. Knappe, the Halle Pietist who taught UOJ, said the doctrine of the Trinity was not Biblical.
But here is the Son speaking of the Father and Holy Spirit. In two verses, the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is revealed. Through the Gospel, the disciples will offer forgiveness and also non-forgiveness.
Forgiveness is receive through faith. Unbelief does not know anything about forgiveness or receive forgiveness, whether it is called the forgiveness of sin or absolution, grace.
The good tree of faith produces good fruit, while the evil tree of unbelief produces corrupt fruit.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
The reaction of Thomas is definitely criticized by Jesus in the strongest possible terms. You believe because you saw me? Blessed are those who believe without seeing.
This is a blessing offered to all those who believe now. Jesus is still present among us, but He is not visible to our eyes. We are blessed for believing without seeing, and through the eyes of faith we see what God does and promises.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
There are those who claim the name Lutheran who imagine that "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" has a special meaning, known only to a few hundred fanatics. Their delusion is that Jesus is the reason for the entire world being forgiven - without faith, without the Word, without the Means of Graces.
They must also mean that the Fourth Gospel predicts itself, since the opposite of universal forgiveness and salvation is taught throughout John's Gospel. The purpose of John's Gospel is to create faith - that you might believe, and in believing have life through His Name.
