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| Norma A. Boeckler |
The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity. 2018
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
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 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
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Power of Faith
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 #657 Beautiful Savior
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 #657 Beautiful Savior
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| Norma A. Boeckler |
KJV 2 Corinthians 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
KJV Mark 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
Twelfth Sunday After Trinity
Almighty and everlasting God, who hast created all things: We thank Thee that Thou hast given us sound bodies, and hast graciously preserved our tongues and other members from the power of the adversary: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy grace, that we may rightly use our ears and tongues; help us to hear Thy word diligently and devoutly, and with our tongues so to praise and magnify Thy grace, that no one shall be offended by our words, but that all may be edified thereby, through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Introductory Material
The purpose of the Christian Church is to teach faith in the Savior, not to promote the strength and wealth of the institution. If we look at our main documents as Lutherans, we find they concern Jesus and His Gospel. The Reformers did not obsess about the history or disposition or even the government of the churches during the Reformation. When people spend most of their time worrying about the institution, they spend far less time on the treasures of the Scriptures.
There is a physician in this area who attended seminary. Like others we know who are Christians, he is clear about Creation. He says, "The issue is faith. Not my faith, but faith in God. The Scriptures say God created in six 24-hour days. I trust in God and what He reveals." And I added, "It is the power of God's Word."
The measure of truth in this Me Generation has become, "What do I like and what upsets me." When I told one person that reincarnation was not Scriptural, she said, "But I like the idea." When I criticized Paul (now David) Y. Cho, a couple just looked dazed. They recently heard him speak! They liked what he said about using God to get what we want. Many articles of faith have been removed (infant baptism and infant faith, the Real Presence, even the Resurrection of Christ) because people did not like them. Once that attitude takes hold, the Bible is not God's Word but one more book about God.
The Bible does not contradict itself, but people contradict themselves when they are wrong or confused about what the Bible teaches. The noble claim - everyone sees something different - is no less than claiming God speaks with such a lack of clarity that no one can tell what He is saying.
When people diminish God, they start on the path toward rationalism, then Unitarianism, then atheism. Those filters are applied to the Word and the result matches their assumptions. Now when Old Testament students have questions about the Bible - based on the criticsm - I give them three books to buy and study, two of them from Lutherans:
- Bible Difficulties and Seeming Contradictions - Arndt
- The Flood - Rehwinkel
- The New Evidence - Josh McDowell
But the best is the Bible itself, because the Scriptures have an inner authority, from the Holy Spirit, that guides and teaches and convicts.
As Jesus taught and still teaches today, John 16
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.8 And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:9 Of sin, because they believe not on Me;10 Of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see me no More;11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.So it is not what people say about the Bible but how they treat the message as God's Word. They have flowery words about the Word of God, but do they teach exactly what this Word teaches?
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| Norma A. Boeckler |
The Power of Faith
KJV Mark 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
Why do we have these details? They tell us about the location and the person who was healed. The Gospels are very concise, Mark especially, so details given are essential. So many were healed. This man (in my opinion) was known in the early Church, so the message that inspires faith in Jesus was doubly impressive to those who knew him as the healed person.
32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
Jesus had cured so many people that they had faith in Him. To borrow from the Reformer, they had faith enough and to spare, to bring this suffering man to Jesus for a cure. He was deaf and could hardly speak. So the believing friends begged Jesus to "lay His hand on him."
They already saw or heard of Jesus' work of mercy. The revelation of God as He really is creates a firm faith in our hearts and also moves us to do whatever is pleasing to Him.
33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
The rationalists always find something to question or mock, so this passage is exactly what they want to talk about, to prove how crude Mark's Gospel was. However, the actions make sense and show us how Jesus comforted the man in the act of healing him.
- He took him aside - The man could see and perhaps hear (or sense ) noise. The helpful people would have confused the man, because shouting and hand-waving do not cure deafness.
- Fingers in his ears - that means "I will heal you." Spitting and touching his tongue - "I will unbind your tongue." These two handicaps kept the man from hearing and from speaking.
- Looking up to heaven - Jesus was showing the man and everyone who could see where the power was from.
- "Be opened." The divine Word accomplished the will of God.
Jesus might have gathered and converted many without these miracles. The miracles He performed were a sign of God's compassion and confirmed the power of His sermons. The sermons were heard but the miracles were seen and experienced, moving doubters and those at a distance to have faith the Son of David was with them.
36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
7. You know the fundamental truth is, that man cannot be just and acceptable before God, save alone by faith. So that they have lied and spoken falsely who have taught heretofore that we may deal with God through our works. Moreover it was much more foolish that they taught us to rely upon the works and faith of other persons, pretending that nuns, monks and priests can help other persons by their wailing which they perform in their cloisters at night, and that in this manner they can help other people and distribute their treasures. Therefore, let everyone here remember, that no one dare undertake to be saved by the faith, or by the work of another person; in truth, it cannot be done by the faith or work of Mary, or of any saint, yea, not even by Christ’s work and faith, but through your own personal faith. For God will not permit Mary, or any other saint, not even Christ himself, to take your place, in order that you might be godly and righteous, unless you believe for your own self. If Christ’s faith and work will not do it, you will much less accomplish it by the work or faith of all the monks and priests. Hence our Gospel lesson gives us an occasion to speak of the faith of others.
For here we read that they led this person to Christ in their own faith and work; the man did nothing toward it, but merely suffered it to be done.
For here we read that they led this person to Christ in their own faith and work; the man did nothing toward it, but merely suffered it to be done.
Some people puzzle over why Jesus said not to tell anyone. The most obvious is the best answer. Jesus was working according to His Father's will and schedule. Messianic expectations meant hailing Him as King too early, and also to murder Him too early. To fulfill all the Promises of the Old Testament, everything had to move according to the Father's Plan. Jesus precipitated the Passion by delaying, then raising Lazarus from the dead, very close to Jerusalem. The raising of Lazarus was spectacular and mattered especially because he was a well known, powerful person, and dead for days. The old swoon theory - not really dead - could not be applied to Lazarus. If details had been different, such as healing Lazarus before the man died, the reaction would have been so great. The crowd would have been small rather than large - at the funeral gathering.
Jesus' power to perform all kinds of miracles raised Him in the esteem of the crowds. Some came to make fun, no doubt, but they also heard the Word from the Son of God. They had the living example of what we experience today from having so much available about the Word.
The miraculous healing power of Jesus is available to all people, world wide. We only need to teach the Gospel, preach the Gospel, witness to the Gospel. How can anyone resist, knowing the truth? Contrition, or genuine sorrow for sin, makes us receptive to the Gospel. As long as we trust in ourselves, our strength, we do not rely on God.
Many difficulties block our way to the peaceful life. What is almost impossible for one is not a problem for others, so we cannot judge. Each believer already had a cross on his back - he does not need to look for it. The very fact of faith In the Savior will lead others to jeer and mock and look for any fault they can find - or imagine. And we all have faults. Some rejoice in the challenges faced by believers, and that only adds to the burden.
I was thinking of material things lost, and that is not a minor thing. It made me think, "I needed to let go of those to grasp Luther and the Gospel." The things that elevate us in this life are gilded cages, so being free of those honors means being free to do what is most worthwhile, teaching Justification by Faith.
In the gym, they want everyone to have sore muscles, because the challenge to the physical body makes muscles and bones stronger. Spiritual challenges are similar, because we can be as weak as kittens physically and yet growth in spiritual strength - there are no barriers to what the Word can accomplish in us.
And that power is there all the time. For many years I ready everything possible about gardening and Creation. Then one author filled me in about how all the beneficial insects behave to destroy pests. It bothered Darwin that God could be like that. But all those little beings were suddenly alive before my eyes. They were there before, but I focused on mulch, earthworms, weeds, flowers, everything but God's tiny Air Force. It was always helping me and coming inside in my hair and on my clothes. But now I look for it and appreciate all of them.
The treasures of the Bible are far more vivid once we realize they are glittering and shining for us to appreciate. Luther would think about a word or phrase all day. That is why the Lutheran Reformers picked up on Luther's mining background (his father's business) and spoke of the Gospel proclamations as treasures.
25. But the part of the story, that Christ took the man apart from the others, looks up to heaven, has this meaning: If God do not take me alone to a separate place, and give me the Holy Spirit, so that I cling to the Word which I have heard, then all preaching is in vain. But why does this require so much that he looks up to heaven and makes use of divine power, calling upon God’s grace to come and to act? By this he teaches us that such power must come from heaven, working in the heart of man by divine strength; then help comes to him. Again the spittle which is the Word of God is a noble thing for the Old Adam. Then they go forth to praise and glorify God.
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| Norma A. Boeckler |
