Reformation Seminary Lecture - John 18 Part 1 - 10 AM Central

KJV John 18 Part 1

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. [often went there with]

3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. [I AM]

6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. [I AM]

7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,

13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.

14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.

16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.

18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.

19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Quinquagesima - "From this it now follows how foolish they act who teach that people should patiently bear their sufferings and death in order to atone for their sins and obtain grace; and especially those who comfort such, who should be put out of the way by the civil law and the sentence of death, or who are to die in other ways; and pretend that if they suffer willingly all their sins will consequently be forgiven them."

 

Quinquagesima Sunday. Luke 18:31-43. Christ’s Passion and the Faith and Love of the Blind Man

5. From this it now follows how foolish they act who teach that people should patiently bear their sufferings and death in order to atone for their sins and obtain grace; and especially those who comfort such, who should be put out of the way by the civil law and the sentence of death, or who are to die in other ways; and pretend that if they suffer willingly all their sins will consequently be forgiven them. Such persons only mislead the people for they bury out of sight Christ and his death upon whom our comfort is founded, and bring the people to a false confidence in their own suffering and death. This is the worst of all things a man can experience at the end of his life, and by it he is led direct into perdition. But you learn and say.

Whose death! Whose patience! My death is nothing; will not have it nor hear of it for my consolation. Christ’s suffering and death are my consolation, upon it I rely for the forgiveness of my sins; but my own death I will suffer, to the praise and honor of my God, freely and gratuitously, and for the advantage and profit of my neighbor, and in no way whatever depend upon it to avail anything in my own behalf before God.

6. It is indeed one thing to die boldly and fearlessly, or to suffer death patiently, or to bear other pain willingly; and another thing to atone for sin by such death and sufferings, and thus obtain grace from God. The first the heathen have done, and many reckless villains and rough people still do; but the other is a poisonous addition, devised by Satan, like all other lies, by which he founds our trust and consolation upon our own doings, and works, against which we are to guard. For as firmly as I should resist one, who teaches me to enter a monastery, when I wish to be saved; so firmly should I also oppose any who would in my last hour point me to my own death and suffering for consolation and hope, as if they would help to wash away my sins. For both deny God and his Christ, blaspheme his grace and pervert his Gospel. They, however, do much better who hold a crucifix before the dying and admonish them of Christ’s death and sufferings.

7. I must relate an example and experience that is in point here and is not to be despised. There was once a good hermit, reared in this faith of human merit, who was called upon to comfort a man of prominence upon his death bed, and he approached the sick man dauntlessly and consoled him thus: My dear friend, only suffer death patiently and willingly and I will pledge you my soul you will be a child of eternal life. Well, he promised him he would do so, and he passed away by death with this comfort. But three days later the hermit himself became sick unto death, when the true teacher, Rev. Reuling, came and opened his eyes so that he saw what he had done and taught, and he lay until he died and lamented that he had given such counsel and consolation: O, woe is me, what have I advised!

Frivolous people laughed at him that he failed to do as he had taught others to do; he offered another the pledge of his own soul that he might die in peace and he himself now sinks in despair not only before death, but also at the advice he so confidently had given and now so publicly rebuked and recalled. But God surely said to him that which is written in Luke 4:23: “Physician, heal thyself;” and another passage, Luke 12:21; “So is he that layeth up treasures for himself, and is not rich toward God.” For here surely the blind led the blind and both fell into the ditch, and both were condemned. Luke 6:39. The first, because he died trusting in his own patient suffering and death, the other, because he despaired of God’s grace and had not acknowledged it, and besides he also thought, had he not committed sin, he would have departed this life saved; and in both Christ remained unknown and was denied. On this point some books are misleading, in which the sayings also of St. Augustine and others are sounded forth, how death is only a door to life and a medicine against sin; for they do not see that these words are to be understood as referring to Christ’s death and sufferings. But simple and plain as this example is, it teaches us in a masterly manner how no work, no human suffering, no death can help us or stand before God. For one cannot indeed deny here that the first did the highest work, namely, suffered death with patience, in which free will did its best; and yet he was lost as the other who confessed and clearly proved by his despair. And whoever will not believe these two examples must find it out by experience for himself.

Start at the Top - Wisconsin Sect - Denials and Lies Continue

 

Clergy and teachers of the Wisconsin Sect created the many examples they keeping hiding away. Their tiny synod high schools are limited to Michigan Lutheran Seminary and Northwestern. Their colleges combined by erasing the Dr. in Dr. Martin Lutheran College. Their shrinking seminary is Mequon.

The key is having the upper class men abuse and haze the youngest guys. As one WELS leader said solemnly, "That means they end up the same." Indeed. Verbal and physical abuse are considered therapeutic, but only on the receiving side. Anyone who objects to the abuse is guaranteed to get even more of it. If they quit - yippee! - they had it coming. They cannot tell their parents the truth and survive.

The parents are kept in the dark, unless they are synodical leaders.

Alcoholism is basic to being manly men. WELS clergy and teachers are noted for the volume used, the behavior noted. Cool. Since the synod educational leaders are so addicted, encouragement at all levels is a plus - and sobriety is scorned.

WELS is a culture of lying and abuse, keeping the secrets. WELSian clergy were furious that I  published facts about their secret hazing ritual aimed at the new seminary students. They said "GA" hazing no longer existed. Others said "only a few" participated. They have their own precious Grapevine, where scandals are erased and the innocent scorned. 

Note that WELS hazing - high school, college, seminary - is very much like secular university hazing: drink too much, pass out, force the youngest into dangerous situations. Pride and joy emanate from activities where lives are threatened and health permanently damaged. Yes, new studies show that drinking binges can wreck metabolism after only one unhinged bout.

Justin Liepert, age 35, attended Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, one of two synodical high schools. Why is anyone shocked about MLS men dressed as women cheerleaders?

Why did Martin Luther College dorms compete with their obnoxious videos, including one wildly popular plagiarism - Party in the MLC - Fire Island Pines? Gay publications picked up on the Fire Island Pines theme... for some reason.

Police -  A 16-year-old student reported to police that they had been talking with a man on social media. The student described the man as a "married, Lutheran school teacher with a young son."

A WELS District President played the role of - yes - GA Pope - as the climax of their drinking and hazing. GA introduces the new seminary students to Mequon, and the seniors start by lying about whether GA is going to continue. Hint for each year - it is an annual deception.