Reformation Seminary Lecture - John 19 Part 2

 

KJV John 19

17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews.

20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. [Not like the I AM]

22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. [Ignore the fake shroud story.]

24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! [Woman, like chapter 3, not "dear woman"]

27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.

33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Can It Get Any Worse in Lutherdom?

 

The Big Five Apostates - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - have electrified the world with their laziness, lack of intelligence, substance abuse, spiritual adultery, and mutual envy.

I was tempted to trace the unsober path of their trek into the future, but that is too time consuming. All five apostates are very much the same - embracing every theologian except Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz. 

I am certain that most of the clergy and professors know as little as possible about the basics of the Christian Faith. One seminary professor was on the Internet at a church - defining the Reformation by shouting GRACE! five times. I am not saying he was drunk in the pulpit, but I am not claiming he was sober.

Most of what happens today is absent the basics of faith in Christ. Luther always taught the efficacy of the Spirit at work in the Word of God. The apostates buy and sell the latest fad. That is why they are going down the drain so fast. I noticed Unstuck was still being tried out! In WELS they have unfit snake oil salesmen who sell their goods and charm for others to buy and sell.

You gotta have a team! and excitement! and coaching underlings to build a team of coaches!

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Reminiscere - "Now, what does the poor woman do? She turns her eyes from all this unfriendly treatment of Christ; all this does not lead her astray, neither does she take it to heart, but she continues immediately and firmly to cling in her confidence to the good news she had heard and embraced concerning him, and never gives up. We must also do the same and learn firmly to cling to the Word, even though God with all his creatures appears different than his Word teaches."

 

Dr. Walter A. Maier created the media ministry that Billy Graham followed. The museum at Wheaton College included one Lutheran - Dr. Maier. David Scaer, who flunked his doctorate in Germany, went after WAM II at Ft. Wayne - for teaching Justification by Faith.

Luther's Sermons - Matthew 15:21-28.
Reminiscere. Second Sunday in Lent.

REMINISCERE. SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

4. Now, what does the poor woman do? She turns her eyes from all this unfriendly treatment of Christ; all this does not lead her astray, neither does she take it to heart, but she continues immediately and firmly to cling in her confidence to the good news she had heard and embraced concerning him, and never gives up. We must also do the same and learn firmly to cling to the Word, even though God with all his creatures appears different than his Word teaches. But, oh, how painful it is to nature and reason, that this woman should strip herself of self and forsake all that she experienced, and cling alone to God’s bare Word, until she experienced the contrary. May God help us in time of need and of death to possess like courage and faith!

5. Secondly, since her cry and faith avail nothing, the disciples approach with their faith, and pray for her, and imagine they will surely be heard. But while they thought he should be more tenderhearted, he became only the more indifferent, as we see and think. For now he is silent no more nor leaves them in doubt; he declines their prayer and says: “I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This rebuff is still harder since not only our own person is rejected, but the only comfort that remains to us, namely, the comfort and prayers of pious and holy persons, are rejected. For our last resort, when we feel that God is ungracious or we are in need, is that we go to pious, spiritual persons and there seek counsel and help, and they are willing to help as love demands; and yet, that may amount to nothing, even they may not be heard and our condition becomes only worse.

6. Here one might upbraid Christ with all the words in which he promised to hear his saints, as Matthew 18:19: “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them.”

Likewise, Mark 11:24: “All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them;” and many more like passages. What becomes of such promises in this woman’s case? Christ, however, promptly answers and says: Yes, it is true, I hear all prayers, but I gave these promises only to the house of Israel. What do you think? Is not that a thunderbolt that dashes both heart and faith into a thousand pieces, when one feels that God’s Word, upon which one trusts, was not spoken for him, but applies only to others? Here all saints and prayers must be speechless, yea, here the heart must let go of the Word, to which it would gladly hold, if it would consult its oven feelings.

7. But what does the poor woman do? She does not give up, she clings to the Word although it be torn out of her heart by force, is not turned away by this stern answer, still firmly believes his goodness is yet concealed in that answer, and still she will not pass judgment that Christ is or may be ungracious. That is persevering steadfastness.

Son of Dr. Walter Maier - Paul Maier - Died at the Age of 94

 

Note that Herman Otten opposed Justification by Faith and Biblical inerrancy (the laughable Beck-for-bucks Bible).

Yes indeed, Otten opposed inerrancy and Justification by Faith, but Otten printed this on the back cover of the book he published - Walter A. Maier Still Speaks.

These four are descendants of Walter Maier. The professor on the left was savagely treated by the Objective Justification fanatics at Concordia, Ft. Wayne. The OJ faculty made sure he could no longer teach Romans.

The Rev. Dr. Paul L. Maier, noted author and Luther scholar who also served many years on the Praesidium of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), died on Feb. 27. He was 94.

Maier was born in St. Louis on May 31, 1930, to the Rev. Dr. Walter A. and Hulda (Eickhoff) Maier. He and his brother, the Rev. Dr. Walter A. Maier II, spent much of their childhood on the campus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL), where their father was a professor.

Paul Maier married Joan M. Ludtke in 1967. He earned a Master of Arts from Harvard University (1954), a Master of Divinity from CSL (1955), and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Basel, Switzerland (1957), where he was the first American to graduate summa cum laude. He also received three honorary doctorates — from CSL (1995); Concordia University Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Mich. (2000); and Concordia University Irvine, Irvine, Calif. (2007).

Maier served on the faculty of Western Michigan University (WMU), Kalamazoo, for 52 years, including serving as campus chaplain for 39 of those years. At the time of his retirement, he had served longer than any other WMU professor. He served as a member of the LCMS Praesidium — fourth vice-president (2001–2004), second vice-president (2004–2010) and third vice-president (2010–2013) — as well as on the boards of the Concordia University System (1989–2001) and CSL (2001–2010).  

He was the author of a variety of historical fiction and nonfiction books, including a #1 national best-seller in religious fiction, A Skeleton in God’s Closet (1993). His first book, A Man Spoke, A World Listened (1963), was a biography of his father, the founding speaker of the radio program, “The Lutheran Hour.” Maier also wrote several children’s books, including The Very First Christmas (1999); The Very First Easter (2000); and The Very First Christians (2001).

Maier received numerous awards, including the “Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award” (2018); the Gold Medallion Book Award (1999); a citation from the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters (1985); “Professor of the Year” from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (1984); “Distinguished Faculty Scholar” from WMU (1981); and the “Alumni Award for Teaching Excellence,” also from WMU (1974). He was widely known as a Luther scholar and a historian with expertise in the Early Church and the life of Jesus. He lectured extensively; appeared frequently in national radio, television and newspaper interviews; and wrote more than 200 scholarly articles. He was a frequent speaker at Camp Arcadia, Arcadia, Mich. 

LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison reflected on Maier’s service to the church: “Paul lived a remarkable life. He was a blessing to the LCMS and well beyond. His books defending the historicity of the biblical witness to Christ and the Early Church helped give us confidence and boldness to preach Christ. His novels intrigued, delighted and educated us about Christ and His church. It was my pleasure to spend years with him as he served on the Praesidium of the Synod. Christ is risen!”

Maier is survived by four daughters — Laura (Brett) Alexander, Julie Maier, Krista (Zach) Klepchak and Katie (Brad Toepper) Maier-Toepper; 10 grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Leah Maier; nephews Rev. Dr. Walter A. Maier III and Rev. Dr. David PE Maier; and great nieces and nephews.

Visitation will take place Thursday, March 13, 4–6:30 p.m., at Zion Lutheran Church, 2122 Bronson Blvd., Kalamazoo, Mich., with a funeral the next morning, March 14, at 11 a.m., also at Zion. Clergy are invited to robe and process. Additional visitation will be held at the church beginning at 10 a.m. before the service and again following the service during a light reception. A graveside service for family will follow at 2 p.m. at West Oshtemo Cemetery in Kalamazoo.

Memorials may be made to:

• The Dr. Paul Maier Endowment for Ancient History—WMU Foundation;
• Camp Arcadia; and
• Zion Lutheran Church, Kalamazoo.

Posted March 3, 2025