ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
Sent by a reader, who added - "This is you." He added - "Time to give more reason to fear the truth."
Reverend John Thorpe
The first minister of record to preach here was a Calvinist minister, Reverend John Thorpe. Unfortunately soon after arriving in 1659, it became apparent he did not adhere to the gospel he preached. His shortcomings included addiction to strong drink, extreme profanity, and a foul disposition. In 1661, he was forbidden by court order to continue preaching. GJ - Note - he was banned, not promoted. Read Jane's story here.
A parish member - who knows the numbers - agrees - Nutritious food is dirt cheap, but bad food is very expensive.
Beans and greens are popular with poor people because both food groups are satisfying. As I discovered in Creation gardening, there is an abundant supply of fresh, very nutritious weeds in any yard, starting with the hated dandelion, an herb brought up from Europe. Dandelions spawned a major industry - herbicides - like Scotts Lawn and Garden toxins. I used to eat Purslane and Pig Weed.
The joke of the ages is that the promoted food groups - meat, milk, cheese, eggs, are very high in fat and relatively low in nutrition. When it comes to cost per meal, beans and greens are a steal.
I always grew beans and tomatoes; Christina loved both, especially uncooked beans. Anything grown from seed is dirt cheap, to coin a phrase.
A bigger joke is paying for fattening over-salted food at a burger joint. The food is often old and dry, costs a bundle, and offers salt and fat in abundance. The Sass and I have a little at McDonalds because it means so much to her. I fail to order potato produces and soft drinks.
For lunch I had two huge bowls of spinach, a little bit of dressing, milled flaxseed, and blueberries. I find it ironic - eating a bale of spinach does not stuff the stomach the way SAD food does. I added flaxseed because it is good for blood pressure, somewhat like walnuts and blueberries. I will have walnuts later, too satisfied now.
My desserts are either oranges or apples. The WM cashier was shocked at the price of Envy apples. But she would not have been surprised if I checked out a pound of steak, for $16 or more. WM even charges high prices for roadkill (just kidding, tougher than roadkill).
My blood pressure is way down and my weight is now at its lowest since the last century.
Truth must be unified and powerful, so it is no wonder that philosophers today are almost 100% atheists. We must allow for a few exceptions, or the previous claim is not true.
Truth survives, even though there is almost universal antagonism toward it. Many attacks have been organized against the truth, but not one has been successful.
The source of the truth must be solitary, because a host of competing claims would blunt the message. That can be seen in the ways so many meal-tickets modern versions of the Bible are printed, but not one agrees with the other. One version - the NIV - has claimed to be the top seller, though it remains in the minority with the rest of the fakes.
No one has the ability to grasp the foundational claim that God became man, dwelling among us, full of grace and truth. That had to be revealed by the Holy Spirit in writing, using such simple words and grammar that a child could learn and believe the nature of God.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Word made flesh. As God's only-begotten Son, Jesus explains the Father-Son relationship, the transmission of this truth revealed by the Spirit through the beloved Apostle John.
Truth is eternal, not seasonal, so the truth remains, even when attacked on every side. God is delighted to let the great and powerful cower and crumble before Him, the proud scatter like autumn leaves. But He watches over the humble, the poor, the weak, and the children.
One residual item mocks and condemns mankind's modern hatred of the truth. If someone is in desperate straits, complete in the assumed knowledge of all the errors and contradictions of the Scriptures, he will still pray. How can such a weak and fallible God hear this silent - or spoken - prayer? How can God, with so many infirmities - carefully described by brilliant philosophers, Biblical critics, and bishops - do anything about that prayer?
One little word explains this - faith. A person's faith is established by the truth, spoken or read. A great philosopher at Yale, mostly unknown today, explained how he became a Christian. "My mother taught me."
Eye surgery was yesterday and follow up was today. This computer is rigged for large print, so I do not need reading glasses for writing. Now I feel like Burgess Meredith in the famous Twilight Zone episode where he has vast amount of books to read - oh joy - and broken glasses - oh no!
The key date was December 8th. The regular doctor identified my pancreas warrantee running out. Later that day, the ophthalmologist found eye pressure going up, even with two kinds of drops. I did not want glaucoma to do any more damage, so I scheduled the operations.
The route of the optic nerve is a spot on the back of the eyeball, and that spot is called a macula, Latin for spot. Macular degeneration is the gradual loss of that bundle of nerves. (Note for the Lutheran Librarian - that is not an Wiki link, so it may be factually accurate.)
December 8th is the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. I mention that because many get mixed up. The invented and promoted dogma - Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox - is that the Virgin Mary was spotless (immaculate) her entire life and never committed a sin. That dogma grew and flourished with Mary as the Queen of Heaven, the one who comforted the suffering souls in Purgatory. And yet, Purgatory came from pagan sources, not the Scriptures. She is contrasted with the distorted teaching that Jesus is harsh and angry with sinners, Mary demanding mercy for them as the Mother of the Redeemer.
So December 8th began my change to nutrition and away from desserts, sweets, and atrocious choices in food. In one week, between eye operations, my blood pressure dropped 45 points (top part) which became a 30 point drop before surgery, due to white coat syndrome - being nervous when a doctor shows up.
Christina's job at Yale Medical School, The Child Study Center, was researching the use of books for helping children and parents. It is ironic that her copy of Eat To Live was in my library when I got the shocking pancreas news. Fortunately, Dr. Fuhrman's book became my therapy for reducing blood sugar and lowering blood pressure.
I have avoided desserts, candy, and snack-food the entire time - replacing them with almonds, walnuts, and fruits. Lunch today was a combo of green peppers, onions, and sweet potatoes. Sassy and I had our last fish later because I was getting low on mercury and plastic. (That's a joke.)
Fuhrman's prescription for a lot more exercise is expressed well, but it fell into the abyss of taking it easy for eye surgery. Soon that will be a daily routine to supplement the low-cost gym I use, which is an exit away.
Thrivent brings us all together in one big fellowship of love.
Conference of Presidents January 2022 meeting
The Conference of Presidents (COP) held its winter meeting in another deluxe Caribbean trip funded by Thrivent on Jan. 3-6. The following items were discussed, avoided, or decided:
Representatives from the Conference of Presidents will meet with the Board for Home Missions leadership and with several members of the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary faculty as a part of the planning process for the effort to open 10 new home missions in ten years beginning in 2023, God willing.
Northwestern Publishing House (NPH) is continuing its search for a new president. Mr. Bill Ziche, current NPH president, has announced his plans to retire. Mr. Mark Buske, director of marketing for NPH, will serve as acting president until a new president is found. What about Eve?
There are currently 143 pastoral vacancies in the synod, 124 of which are parish pastor positions. Forty of the pastoral vacancies are in associate pastor positions (meaning those congregations are still being served by at least one pastor). This year’s graduating class at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary will be larger than those tiny ones in recent years, which will help to reduce the number of pastoral vacancies.
With expanding enrollment at our WELS schools, the growing shortage of teachers continues, especially in the area of early childhood. The COP discussed ideas for enhancing recruitment efforts and more child development buildings at Martin Luther College.
The COP recently issued a pastoral letter on Christian freedom. Ironic?
Compensation for vicars was set at $42,000, slightly lower than last year’s amount.
The COP expressed thanks to God for the high level of Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO) in 2021. The exact total will be published in the coming days.
Congregations are asked to submit their 2021 statistics and CMO subscriptions by the Feb. 4 deadline.
The COP expressed its support for a proposal by Northwestern Publishing House and the Commission on Lutheran Schools to develop a comprehensive K-12 religion curriculum for schools, DPs, and Sunday schools.
The COP has been making final edits on yet another restatement of the synod’s teaching on male and female roles. It is hoped that the final document will be ready for review by the district conventions this summer.
Why not both, male and female?
Why not both, male and female?
Serving with you in Christ, From the Love Shack: WELS President Mark Schroeder
That bit of fun is missing online. I finished one class last night.
We are bound to be more appreciative when we realize how fragile our bodies are. Surgery yesterday was very easy and soon I was home again. Ranger Bob did the driving and will again today.
They were a little grumpy that they had to supply me with a mask. I said, "I will give it back when I'm done." The receptionists burst out laughing and declined the offer.
I have taken my glasses off five time already today because the plastic shield over the right eye is attached to my eyebrow with Gorilla tape (not really).
I will have surgery in a few hours, so right now I have the concentration of a ferret - about five seconds at a time.
I often read Fuhrman's two books before going to sleep. He offers so much information about food that I return to basic issues, to route them to permanent storage rather than RAM.
Blood pressure and weight both dropped as soon as I stopped bad food. I also reduced portions in favor of greens and beans, fruit and nuts.
Missing from the menu are significant portions of bread, meat, cheese, and eggs.
Yes, it is possible to have four fruit portions per day, and that erases the need and desire for desserts and candy.
Mounds of greens with a tiny bit of dressing? Yes, I enjoy that and continue to marvel over the nutrition in "rabbit food" as we called it in Illinois. The tables for nutritional value are shocking, because the least admired (greens, beans, fruits, nuts) are the best while the standard fodder is really pitiful (milk, eggs, meat, bread).
In addition, dark greens (collards, spinach) are even better than greens (like green beans), and greens are better than rainbow foods (like bananas and sweet potatoes). The dark greens and greens satisfy hunger while providing a wealth of protein, vitamins, minerals, and all those obscure food combinations.
The upside-down value of food reminded me of the time I discovered organic gardening in Midland, while going through the gardening books at the Grace Dow Midland Public Library. I also bought a lot of those books and devoured them. Everything natural was in harmony with Creation, which led to the Wormhaven Gardening book and the later Creation Gardening book.
Christina would say, "You graduated from Notre Dame and became a farmer?" We ate all kinds of vegetables from the garden - asparagus, beans, tomatoes, Silver Queen corn, egg plant, etc. I ate so-called weeds full of nutrition, such as Goose Foot and Purslane. When people complained about Purslane, I replied, "Eat it - delicious and crunchy." I learned how to grow spinach so perfect and crunchy that I could plant it in the fall and harvest it in the early spring (no bugs to eat it, no heat to make it bitter tasting). Gardening was good exercise and good nutrition. Kids came over and ate from the garden - green peppers and carrots pulled from the soil.
Pet rabbits got the dandelion greens and flowers, donating healthy amounts of Rabbit-Grow to feed the earthworms in kiddy pools under their cages (Christina's idea).
I am back to my down on the farm experience but I have to pay for the fresh foods. The rabbits and squirrels do not leave anything edible alone.
We had a breakfast nook at home in Moline, which served as my mother's office for grading papers, which she did with speed and efficiency. An electric typewriter was there for some work, and bookshelves filled the upper half of one wall.
The more useful books were there, including a set of encyclopedias. She said, "I read a whole set once," and I had no reason to doubt her.
The King James Bible was there, so I often saw it with a paper cover on it, somewhat like the graphic at the top. I was curious about the Authorized Version on the front page. That happens to be one of the strange aspects of that sub-title. That was not the official title, but it seems to be the favorite in England, just as KJV is here.
The back and forth of critics, good and bad, made me reminisce about the musical, majestic tone of the KJV. I tried my hand at translating some books of the New Testament. I learned - tis easier to imagine a better translation than to execute one.
Can anyone improve on the KJV's 23rd Psalm, John 10 - I am the Good Shepherd, The Lord's Prayer, and 1 Corinthians 13 - the love chapter perfectly recited at Princess Diane's wedding?
I remember little tidbits from the past - the doxology from the Lord's Prayer - "Oh that was taken from the Didache, an early Christian document."
Going over the historical trickery used against the Majority Text - I thought - "More likely the Didache took the doxology from Matthew!" So why do Roman Catholics not use the doxology to the Lord's Prayer and we retain it? There is a very long history of papal corruption of the apostolic Majority Text. It is much easier to corrupt by erasing than by adding clumsy extra words - the ending of Mark, the woman caught in adultery, the Johannine comma, and the Lord's Prayer doxology.
If I could take everyone through each erasure in the NIV, the precious ESV, and the RSV, each would be shocked beyond belief, that such flagrant pilfering has taken place by the very people who praise themselves for being "scientific, exacting, scholars of the text." The erased words are directly related to faith in Christ and His divinity.
Even more laughable is how these masters of deceit have achieved the most perfect text (cobbled together as if by drunks, skunks, and enfeebled monks) and the most glorious dynamic equivalent translation, yet they differ from each other hundred or thousands of times, and differ from their own previous efforts hundreds more times.
The Majority Text was preserved by the Christian Church, from the Apostolic Era onward, and beautifully expressed in the King James Version.
The modern paraphrases, passed off as translations, come from corrupt and fraudulent sources (Vaticanus - a LCMS fave; Sinaiticus - pure fraud; the Vulgate - Rome again!). Who prints these disasters? - Profiteering Bible businesses do - and their greedy denominational sponsors.
The Confession of Sins The Absolution The Introit p. 16
Introit
All the earth shall worship Thee: and shall sing unto Thee, O God.
They shall sing to Thy name: O Thou Most High.
Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
sing forth the honor of His name, make His praise glorious.
The Gloria Patri The Kyrie p. 17 The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth, mercifully hear the supplications of Thy people and grant us Thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Gradual
The Lord sent His Word and healed them:
and delivered them from their destructions.
V. Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness:
and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. Praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts. Hallelujah!
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 Hymn #54Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
In Our Prayers
Prayers and Announcements
Doctor's care - Pastor Shrader, Pastor K, Dr. Lito Cruz, Randy Anderson. Alicia Meyer - flu symptoms.
Pastor Jackson, right eye surgery, Monday.
A Pilgrim and a Stranger is from Paul Gerhardt, next to Luther, the greatest hymn-writer of all time. Gerhardt was a children's tutor and became a beloved pastor in Berlin. However, he was forced out of the parish because he would not concede anything to the Calvinists. He finally got a small parish. He lost his wife and all his children but one. He wrote Sacred Head Now Wounded and many other great hymns.
KJV Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
KJV John 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins [GJ -10 gallons per firkin] apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee, that of Thy grace Thou hast instituted holy matrimony, in which Thou keepest us from unchastity, and other offenses: We beseech Thee to send Thy blessing upon every husband and wife, that they may not provoke each other to anger and strife, but live peaceably together in love and godliness, receive Thy gracious help in all temptations, and rear their children in accordance with Thy will; grant unto us all to walk before Thee, in purity and holiness, to put all our trust in Thee, and lead such lives on earth, that in the world to come we may have everlasting life, through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Water into Wine - The Ordinary into the Extraordinary
KJV John 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
Introductory:
The conclusion of this miracle notes that this was the first miracle performed by Jesus - and His disciples believed. The miracle is especially important for two or more reasons. One is that it involved all the disciples, so they could verify to each other that this actually happened - the details proving it a miracle and not a fraudulent display . Secondly, Mary and the disciples being there with Jesus meant He honored marriage - and early Christianity did so as well. Only later did paganism influence pastors to believe they should live without being married and be monks, as if that were a higher calling. That was already true when Western Rome fell and Augustine was the famous bishop and theologian. This one miracle anticipates the anti-marriage law that took over and also the elevating of Mary beyond reality and the truth.
People are inclined to reduce individual episodes like this into one or two sentences. The Gospel of John is especially generous with details of great importance in Christianity. Because the Holy Spirit is so stingy with words, we need to consider each verse, sometimes each phrase, to understand the complete message. This miracle proves the Lordship of Jesus over all earthly matters - and the disciples believed - but it also supports marriage as God's will, the actual place of Mary as the mother of Jesus, and an example of God transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
God created marriage through His Word - the Logos, and Jesus honored marriage by His presence with His mother and the disciples there. This one miracle explains quite a few important ideas. Official Roman Catholic teaching has Mary commanding Jesus to do her will, and also serving - priest-like, offering Jesus as the sacrifice of the eucharist. This corruption of the relationship between Jesus and Mary began after one conference (Theotokos - Ephesus, 431 A.D.) And as we can see, the corruption blossomed ever since. As Luther commented, one error can lead to an entire nation falling prey to false doctrine. Similarly, Calvinism separated the Spirit from the Word, which provided a steep path into rationalism and the Unitarian denial of the Trinity.
Luther suggested that Mary was substituting for the couple's parents, since she stepped into the wine shortage problem. The lack of wine suggested that this was a wedding feast limited by a lack of money, since wine was a staple and not just a sip for a toast to the bride and groom. The disciples were all there, so that increased the demand, but they bore witness to this miracle. Some are going to say, "Then why did they have doubts and fears, and worry about their future glory?" They are mirrors of our failings, since we know about all the miracles and the greatest one of all - defeating death and granting eternal life to Christian believers.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
There are two parts to this wine solution, on the part of Mary. One is that she took the problem to Jesus, believing He would solve the problem. The second is that she remained undaunted when He appeared to dismiss her request. That is an important parallel to the Canaanite woman, who kept asking Jesus and kept getting apparent rebukes from Him, thus showing her utter trust in Jesus. Mary is another example. She first asked then assured the stewards that Jesus would take care of matters.
4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
Jesus addressed His mother as "Woman," without any modifiers. He did the same at the cross, addressing her as "woman" but referring her to the beloved disciple John as a "mother to him." Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother. Like many passages in the Fourth Gospel, this one anticipates and shreds the elevation of Mary while honoring her faith in Jesus. The point of the miracle is Jesus' power through the Word, not Mary being in charge over Him.
People are inclined to think, "Why should I pray about something so trivial. I am nobody in the Kingdom of God, and this is too minor to take to God." But so was the lack of wine, and Jesus took care of the problem without being told how to do it. It is a sad spectacle that pastors and lay leaders tell God what to do - and give Him a deadline for getting it done. I saw the prayer on the Episcopalian bulletin board - "We are praying to God for a 10% increase in membership and offerings each year, for the next three years." (The pastor just got back from Fuller, where he was taught this nonsense.)
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins [GJ -10 gallons per firkin] apiece.
Firkins are named in "The Music Man," which was produced in our lifetimes.
So they had 120 gallons - or more - of storage possible.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
These details matter because there have always been con artists with their pre-set tricks. Many basic magic tricks are now taught on video, where the magic comes from special tools or misdirection of the eye. In this case, the pots were empty, but filled to the brim with water from the well, as Jesus directed. He and his disciples did not touch anything. He then ordered the stewards to take some of the liquid to the toastmaster.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
The toastmaster did not know the origin of the water turned into wine, he called for the bridegroom, to teach him some wedding etiquettes. This is subtle humor, which is often found in the Fourth Gospel. The toastmaster is angry with the broom, and neither one knows what has happened.
10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good [noble, the best] wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good [the best] wine until now.
In the language of two men utterly baffled, the miracle is told in words that describe what has happened. They ran out of wine for the wedding, but instead of bringing in cheaper wine, they provided the best wine. This is the term used by Jesus in John 10 - I AM the Good Shepherd (the ultimate or best or noble; Greek is subtle, the word for good suggests being useful; this means the Shepherd above all shepherds).
Nothing is more ordinary than water, so this transformation from water to the best wine is very much worth thinking about. The Fourth Gospel involves a lot of symbolism, as the Bible does in general. Physical signs are good for reminding us of the spiritual message they teach.
What is more ordinary than marriage. People despise marriage and run away from it. And no matter what the couple's love might be, there will always be the ordinary - friction about money, raising the children, and goals in life. No matter how difficult things can be, God has blessed marriage among believers many times over. Those who believe in Christ also know about sin, contrition, and forgiveness. Partners (whether business or marital) cannot continue when there is a lack of forgiveness. And forgiveness is a great blessing from God, where all past problems are set aside and drowned in the sea of God's grace. Luther wondered about how long Adam and Eve argued about the forbidden fruit - whose fault was it?
God does more than transform marriage. He transforms the worst difficulties into the greatest gains, individualized for each person. How many people have said, "That disaster led me into the greatest part of my life." The biggest mistake we make is thinking that we have been plagued with a bad deal. Cannot God turn that ordinary into something extraordinary? This first of all the miracles Jesus performed - tells us yes.
I almost wrote - "four new hymns." The hymns on the Bethany Lutheran Hymnal Blog are classic, but the illustrations are new. Thank you, Norma Boeckler.
The best known hymn tunes are linked to the Tacoma Lutheran Church site, where they have posted most of the tunes of The Lutheran Hymnal.
1. Upon the cross extended,
See, world, thy Lord suspended,
Thy Savior yields His breath.
The Prince of Life from heaven
Himself hath freely given
To shame and blows and bitter death.
2. Come hither now and ponder,
'Twill fill thy soul with wonder,
Blood streams from every pore.
Through grief whose depth none knoweth,
From His great heart there floweth
Sigh after sigh of anguish o'er.
3. Who is it that hath bruised Thee?
Who hath so sore abused Thee
And caused Thee all Thy woe?
While we must make confession
Of sin and dire transgression,
Thou deeds of evil dost not know.
4. I caused Thy grief and sighing
By evils multiplying
As countless as the sands.
I caused the woes unnumbered
With which Thy soul is cumbered,
Thy sorrows raised by wicked hands.
5. 'Tis I who should be smitten
My doom should here be written:
Bound hand and foot in hell.
The fetters and the scourging,
The floods around Thee surging,
'Tis I who have deserved them well.
6. The load Thou takest on Thee,
That pressed so sorely on me,
t crushed me to the ground.
The cross for me enduring,
The crown for me securing,
My healing in Thy wounds is found.
7. A crown of thorns Thou wearest,
My shame and scorn Thou bearest,
That I might ransomed be.
My Bondsman, ever willing,
My place with patience filling,
From sin and guilt hast made me free.
8. Thy cords of love, my Savior,
Bind me to Thee forever,
I am no longer mine.
To Thee I gladly tender
All that my life can render
And all I have to Thee resign.
9. Thy cross I'll place before me,
Its saving power be o'er me,
Wherever I may be;
Thine innocence revealing,
Thy love and mercy sealing,
The pledge of truth and constancy.
10. How God at our transgression
To anger gives expression,
How loud His thunder rolls,
How fearfully He smiteth,
How sorely He requiteth,-
All this Thy sufferings teach my soul.
11. When evil men revile me,
With wicked tongues defile me,
I'll curb my vengeful heart.
The unjust wrong I'll suffer,
Unto my neighbor offer
Forgiveness for each bitter smart.
12. Thy groaning and thy sighing,
Thy bitter tears and dying,
With which Thou wast opprest,-
They shall, when life is ending,
Be guiding and attending
My way to Thine eternal rest.
The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #171
Text: Hebrews 9:28
Author: Paul Gerhardt
Translated by: John Kelly, 1867, alt.
Titled: O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben
Composer: Heinrich Friese, 1703
Tune: O Welt, sieh hier
1. To shepherds as they watched by night
Appeared a host of angels bright;
Behold the tender Babe, they said,
In yonder lowly manger laid.
2. At Bethlehem, in David's town,
As Micah did of old make known;
'Tis Jesus Christ, your Lord and King,
Who doth to all salvation bring.
3. Oh, then rejoice that through His Son
God is with sinners now at one;
Made like yourselves of flesh and blood,
Your brother is the eternal God.
4. What harm can sin and death then do?
The true God now abides with you.
Let hell and Satan rage and chafe,
Christ is your Brother--ye are safe.
5. Not one He will or can forsake
Who Him his confidence doth make.
Let all his wiles the Tempter try,
You may his utmost powers defy.
6. Ye shall and must at last prevail;
God's own ye are, ye cannnot fail.
To God forever sing your praise
With joy and patience all your days.
The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn 103
Text: Luke 2:10, 11
Author: Martin Luther, 1543
Translated by: Richard Massie, 1854, alt.
Titled: Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar Tune: Puer nobis nascitur
1st Published in: "Musae Sioniae," VI 1609
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