Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
The Order of Vespers p. 41
The
Psalmody Psalm 23 p
The Lection The Passion History
The Lection The Passion History
The Sermon – I AM the Resurrection and the Life
The Prayers
The
Lord’s Prayer
Prayers and Announcements
- Treatment and recovery - Rush Limbaugh, Kermit Way, Christina Jackson. Recovery - John Hicks.
- In the last stage of cancer and heart disease - Tom Fulcher, Diane Popp's brother-in-law.
- Surgery - Randy Anderson, Andrea's father.
- Two brothers, both with health issues.
- Pray for our country as the major trials begin.
- Wednesdays are Vespers at 7 PM, followed by The Gospel of John in Greek, starting slowly for newcomers.
- Pastor Palangyos' daughter Jeshra is being treated for seizures.
I AM the Resurrection and the Life
John 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I AM the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
25 ειπεν αυτη ο ιησους εγω ειμι η αναστασις και η ζωη: ο πιστευων εις εμε καν αποθανη, ζησεται.
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
This is pivotal for the entire Gospel and is featured in the Gospel of John. What people do not grasp from the story of Jesus is - why did they kill someone kind, gentle, Who constantly healed people?
The foundational reason is that He taught the righteousness of faith in Him. That continues to be something that infuriates people, as the Objective Justification addicts prove daily.
The pivotal point came from the raising of Lazarus and his walk with Jesus into Jerusalem. That proved the divinity of Christ, that He was and is the Promised Messiah, the Savior and Redeemer.
The Jewish leaders plotted to murder Jesus and Lazarus, because Lazarus was living proof of the power of Jesus' Word. He called Lazarus by name and commanded him to come from the tomb.
That makes this conversation with Martha so poignant. Jesus deliberately delayed His arrival so Lazarus would be in the tomb for days. He could have rushed but did not. He could have cured his friend but did the opposite.
So Jesus experienced the pain of knowing Lazarus would die wondering, "Where is the Christ? Why am I dying alone?" His sisters said the same thing, somewhat in reproach but also in faith. They knew what Jesus could have done but not what He could do at any moment. Jesus raised the dead at least twice before. Why didn't they know? We can guess that there were many stories from His travels. More significantly, how does one grasp and believe such a wonder?
Jesus also knew He would face death too, and not as a local, wealthy celebrity but as a criminal, a traitor, a blasphemer, tortured, stripped, and jeered at. He trembled at Lazarus tomb. Most of us have had that experience. The tension is so great that we shake and cannot stop the shaking.
John 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
Martha expressed open-ended hope in what Jesus could do. There is conflict between her faith in Him and her hope in Him. That cannot be resolved.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
From John himself we know that Jesus delayed His arrival on purpose. The disciples assumed they would die together near Jerusalem. Jesus planned this moment, as the Father commanded. This would force the Roman government and Jewish leaders into retribution based on fear. The Jewish leaders feared losing the Temple and everything. The Romans feared a bloody civil war, which happened in 40 years anyway.
Martha believed in eternal life but was not looking at the miracle of the moment.
25 Jesus said unto her, I AM the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Luther put it well when he said, Wherever the Gospel is taught, eternal life springs up. The grace of God teaches us that we are on the doorstep of heaven already. That changes how we conduct ourselves here, laying up treasures in heaven, and how we look at everything.
I have had many books in the past. I even took a photo of our library room, with bookshelves lining the walls to hold them all, new paint, carpeting, the window blocked. But I never had so many great classics of faith as I have now. They were partly unreachable before the used market reached online. And someone had to dig for them and find out they existed. They still look for the gold from the Lost Dutchman's Goldmine, outside Phoenix. One man devoted his life to finding it.
But the treasure of the Gospel is constantly being distributed by the Holy Spirit in the Word and Sacraments. That comes from sermons, faithful hymns, Christian art. The work of spreading that is scattering treasures for all to enjoy.
Greek Lesson
11 εις τα ιδια ηλθεν, και οι ιδιοι αυτον ου παρελαβον
12 οσοι δε ελαβον αυτον, εδωκεν αυτοις εξουσιαν τεκνα θεου γενεσθαι, τοις πιστευουσιν εις το ονομα αυτου
13 οι ουκ εξ αιματων ουδε εκ θεληματος σαρκος ουδε εκ θεληματος ανδρος αλλ εκ θεου εγεννηθησαν
14 και ο λογος σαρξ εγενετο και εσκηνωσεν εν ημιν και εθεασαμεθα την δοξαν αυτου, δοξαν ως μονογενους παρα πατρος, πληρης χαριτος και αληθειας
15 ιωαννης μαρτυρει περι αυτου, και κεκραγεν, λεγων, "ουτος ην ον ειπον ο οπισω μου ερχομενος εμπροσθεν μου γεγονεν οτι πρωτος μου ην."
Ways to learn Greek -
Ways to learn Greek -
- learn common, frequently used Greek words,
- learn to look for the English equivalents,
- do not write English in or keep a translation open.
16 και εκ του πληρωματος αυτου ημεις παντες ελαβομεν και χαριν αντι χαριτος
charismatic, charism, eucharist
17 οτι ο νομος δια μωσεως εδοθη η χαρις και η αληθεια δια ιησου χριστου εγενετο
18 θεον ουδεις εωρακεν πωποτε; ο μονογενης υιος ο ων εις τον κολπον του πατρος εκεινος εξηγησατο
exegete
