Mid-Week Lenten Service, March 22, 2023. 7 PM Central.

Mid-week Vimeo Link is here.

Mid-Week Lenten Service, 7 PM Central

Bethany Lutheran Church

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson 

The Hymn #159                    Go to Dark Gethsemane        
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

The Psalmody   Psalm 23                                       p. 128
The Lections                            The Passion History

                                                                   

The Sermon Hymn #149           Come to Calvary's Holy Mountain

 

The Sermon –   The First and the Final Temple

 
The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymn #552              Abide with Me

Sermon -The First and the Final Temple

There is no other New Testament book which is so eloquent - and is also the most difficult one in Greek. One pastor told me he was going through the Greek New Testament fast - until he reached Hebrews.

The first Temple is described in this chapter of Hebrews. This is especially important in the union of the Old and New Testaments. Everything about the Temple was a foretaste of Christ, which is why Jesus made His opponents so angry about Him. He spoke as the Son of God and they only thought of their history and the building itself  (Herod's Temple).

That seems strange to us, that the Jewish people would sacrifice animals for their sins, over such a period of time. Yet, the Promises began with the Garden of Eden and the Promise of a Savior. There was so much to teach so each item of the Messianic Promises was written into the Scriptures over centuries. They begin with Genesis 3:15 and continue until the last OT book. 

Hebrew 9's chapter has covenant taught 3 times and testament 9 times. The difference is that covenant is a mutual term, each party does something. Zoning covenants mean that the seller must obey limitations on the use of property when sold. That keeps people from a residential area from having a junkyard. A testament is one-sided, so the other party has no say in what is written - a will, and not a covenant. Calvinists only speak of covenants even though Paul in particular and Hebrews speak of the Testament. With a will, called a Last Will and Testament, I can designate any person to receive something without them knowing it.

KJV Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

All those centuries of worship in the Tabernacle and the Temples - they were a foreshadowing of the One Great Sacrifice, accomplished for us. We can see how many ways God prepared us - just a few of them:

1. The matter of sin, the Garden of Eden.
2. The first Gospel in Genesis 3:15
3. The sacrifice of Abraham, changed to a substitute sheep, Genesis 22.
4. The Psalms and Isaiah 53.

Anyone who claims to ignore the Gospel in the Old Testament is a fool. The Word of God, which always at work with the Spirit, brings Christ to us - and us to Christ. That is the meaning of faith in Jesus Christ being "access to grace" in Romans 5:1-2. Forgiveness of sin comes only through faith, and that gives us access to the Savior and removal of sin from Him alone.

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

This simply means that there was one true sacrifice - Jesus' death on the cross, where He represented the ultimate and only sacrifice for sin - only one time and never to be repeated. Crawling or walking on glass or any kind of self punishment is a mockery of the sacrifice of Christ. Those Protestants who covet the papacy must necessarily fall into such foolishness that suggests, even declares that faith in Him is not enough but must be supplemented by self-punishment and financial offerings.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

The KJV is a work of incomparable beauty, so we should not entrust the Scriptures to illiterates who want to make the Bible as tone-deaf as they are. The theory about "modern" Bibles is confused, because all the English-speaking peoples of the world used the KJV, and that -- with Shakespeare (the Earl of Oxford) - shaped the language we use today. No one forced the KJV on anyone. It was designated the official pulpit Bible of England - only - but its excellence simply left the others on the shelf of former English Bibles. 

Those who used apostate politics to "revise" the KJV in the 19th century produced something so bad that they could not fix it or keep printing that lame duck. The worst of the Greek New Testament experts (Tischendorf, Westcott-Hort, Nestle, Kurt Aland) took over to erase as much of the New Testament as possible, so the modern versions are a travesty of the English language and the precision of the Greek New Testament. The smart-alecks and snake oil salesmen mock the KJV and push their profitable, and expensive apostate Bibles.

Hebrews is difficult, and yet its eloquence makes us spend much more time in getting its message from the Holy Spirit. The work is quite visual and poetic and stays with us.

Announcements and Prayers

• Sarah Buck's birthday is tomorrow.
• Holy Week will include Maundy Thursday Holy Communion and Good Friday Vespers.
• Easter Sunday - with Holy Communion - is April 9th.

KJV Hebrews 9

9 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Holy Communion, 7 PM Central Standard, Thursday - Tonight

The Sunday service suffered from various problems, which seem to be fixed. Sunday's service will serve as our mid-week tonight.

Third Mid-Week Lenten Service, 2015

Third Mid-Week Lenten Vespers, 2015

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 7 PM Central Time 

The Hymn # 159  Go to Dark Gethsemane            2.30
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

The Psalmody                   Psalm 2                  p. 128
The Lections                            The Passion History

                                                 John 8

The Sermon Hymn # 479       Zion Rise                    2.13

The Sermon –     I AM the Light of the World

 
The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymn # 654       Now the Day Is Over             2.7

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.

 I AM the Light of the World

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

We know "light" is an important word, because everyone wants to take it away from the Son of God and attribute "light" to their delusions.

The Enlightenment was a time when rationalism took over Europe and ministers gave sermons on building bridges and other practical matters - because they had nothing to say about matters of faith - just like today.

The Enlightenment had taken over the training of ministers when CFW Walther went to Leipzig University (where he earned his only degree, a bachelor's). 

Morningstar is associated with Christ but also with Satan, who is named Lucifer in a derivation of the morningstar name. This is appropriate because Satan always apes the Christian faith in every way possible. Thus the Satanists use Christian rites backwards and say such things as Bless God instead of God bless.

In the name of human reason, the most absurd and evil things take place because people think they are free from the restraints of society when they are in fact obsessed with those restraints, enslaved by their rebellion.

This sermonic exchange is something the unbelievers like to make fun of. In fact, I had a logic book that liked to use exchanges like this. The sayings of Jesus are comforting and strengthening for believers, but they offend unbelievers.

I AM - this a divine claim, because I AM is the Name of God. Moses asked, "What is Your Name," and the Angel of the Lord (the Son of God, before the Incarnation) answered, "Tell them I AM sent you."

The statement is triadic, which makes it easier to remember, when seen as poetic stanzas. 

• I AM the light of the world: 
• he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, 
• but shall have the light of life.

The Son of God is defined as the source of all wisdom and understanding. This is the ultimate claim, and it is extraordinary. This claim excludes the idea is nice, or is a placebo, or is something sentimental and sweet and nostalgic.

That means, if Genesis 1 and John 1 say Jesus is the Creating Word, then every single plant, animal, microbe, and mineral was created through Christ - and nothing was made apart from Him - all in six 24-hour days.

There can be no compromise between this article of faith and the rationalistic view of evolving Creation over millions of years and other such nonsense. The Evangelicals were already compromising on evolution in the 19th Century, which shows how shaky the Protestant foundations became, long ago.

• he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, 

Those who follow the Savior will not walk in darkness. Faith in Him means having our lives illuminated by the Gospel He gave us, and that light truly matters.

When something is lost or missing, the first thing we want is a bright light that will distinguish between one thing and another. Walking in darkness is no fun either. I used to take Sassy outside at night to get something - in Bella Vista with no street lights. I could not find anything or see our dog in the dark. Finally I got a little LED light on the key change. 

Walking in darkness is allegorical - it means tripping and falling - and it can also mean being scared. "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet."

This light is true Christian understanding, which quite the opposite of human wisdom.

• but shall have the light of life.

Darkness and light. Good and evil. Falsehood and truth. John's Gospel highlights what the Savior teaches, in the most basic language, so that no one needs to feel puzzled, confused, or conflicted.

13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

The opposition of the Pharisees made it easy for Jesus to clarify His message, which was and is the Father-Son relationship.

If someone rejects this relationship, the statements by Jesus are easy to ridicule. We often ridicule what we do not understand. But these truths are revealed by the Holy Spirit, so believers can easily grasp what is being taught. After all, the Bible has hundreds of references to the Trinity, and many more about the Father-Son relationship. Believers understand this spiritually, so this is Jesus explaining it further.

The Two Persons (Father and Son) agree. That is one point Jesus makes. And the Third Person bears witness to this (the Holy Spirit). 

Let us assume for a moment that Jesus is the Son of God. He knows Who He is, and where He has come from. How can anyone argue with that? We have no way to grasp His divine experience and He cannot prove it to us with facts.

One fake on TV said today that He went to heaven and obtained two books to help with translating (very Mormon-like). He wanted to take another one, but was not allowed - an extra chapter of John's Gospel. Was that new to you, too?

Maybe later this fake will reveal it to us, for a price. He raised a baby from the dead too, and he was so full of the Presence one day that people fell down all around him.

If the Pharisees died without faith, they could NOT say, "No fair, You did not tell us about being the Son of God." But Jesus did and many were converted. How could they be converted when His experience and sermons were so different?

Jesus' miraculous healings were so dramatic and public that thousands saw the power of God manifested in many forms - healing and raising the dead, command over nature, and defying the laws He established - water into wine, walking on water, helping Peter to walk on water, and finally - rising from the dead.

19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.

Jesus compassion included both teaching the truth about Himself and final judgment against unbelievers. The opposition continues so he warned them against dying in unbelief.  This included a reference to the future crucifixion - lifting up the Son of Man, because He knew He would rise from the dead. What He taught the disciples nurtured their faith in the darkest days. What He taught the Pharisees condemned them if they did not believe.

And yet, many believed on Him. Jesus taught the Gospel plainly and planted faith in their hearts. He did not appeal to them or try to figure out their felt needs. He taught:

1. There is only One Truth.
2. He is the Truth and the Life-giver.
3. Believing in Him brings true wisdom and eternal life.

Mid-Week Lenten Service, April 2, 2014. Isaiah 53

Mid-Week Lenten Vespers, April 2, 2014

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 7 PM Central Daylight Time 

The Hymn #227   Come Holy Ghost                 2. 72  
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

The Psalmody                                                 p. 128
The Lection                            The Passion History

The Sermon Hymn #249            Isaiah Mighty Seer            2.72  

The Sermon –      Isaiah the Preacher

 
The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymn # 660                Heaven is My Home                         2:46

KJV Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it wereour faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah the Preacher

KJV Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

This  preaching of the Atonement is found in the greatest of the major prophets, hidden in plain sight for centuries.

There are many Messianic passages throughout the Psalms, found in the major and minor prophets. They begin with Genesis 3:15.

Romans 10 uses this passage in reference to preaching. Report - something heard. Faith comes by hearing the report - the preached Word of God.

This was hidden in plain sight because it was in plain sight, in this major prophet, and often read, but not seen for what it was. And yet, because people knew the words themselves, it was was clear when they were fulfilled.

In the same way we hear words growing up from our parents, too many times to count, and we realize what they mean much later when they come true. 

No one expected the Messiah to bear the sins of the world, to suffer and die in disgrace and abandonment, and yet to show Himself the true Savior by this death, to reveal this truth in His resurrection.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Verse two leads into verses 3-5 to give a picture of this great paradox - that He became our Savior and Messiah while becoming utterly disfigured and repulsive in the gore of the crucifixion. And it was not just the bloody torture, but also the rejection and abandonment - the cry of abandonment - Why have You abandoned Me?

Although the crucifixion was horrific, it was also life-giving  and peace-giving, since it was all done for a purpose - to pay for our sins, to give us the peace of justification, and to heal us with the Gospel. 

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

This is another paradoxical section, a seeming contradiction. First of all, we are the weak, foolish sheep, prone to wander away from the Shepherd, and yet He is the sheep sacrificed for His flock. He is both Lamb of God and Shepherd, victim and High Priest.

As anyone can see, Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by not making a defense for Himself. He warned the Romans and the religious leaders about what they were doing, giving them a chance to repent, but He did not defend Himself and spoke only reluctantly.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

All this  took place  to atone for the sins of all people. Just one verse shows how perfectly the crucifixion and resurrection were predicted, centuries before the events took place. Jesus died with known criminals, and all three were buried. But Jesus was buried in a rich man's tomb, one never used before.

He was honored in His death because He had done no wrong. Thus we speak of the righteousness of Christ that we receive through faith. There can only be a righteousness of faith or a righteousness of works. If faith is denied, works are being taught - and they are always taught in the name of grace (as Rome does). 

But grace is not grace when earned.

Thus we can only experience grace through faith, and this is delivered by Instruments or Means - the Word and Sacraments.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

This chapter is pure Gospel and used many times in the New Testament. This is a sermon about Jesus that creates and sustains faith. These verses comfort every sinner, because we all hear what Christ did for us, so the message - the report - would tell us forgiveness comes from Him, through God's grace, received in faith, not from our works, or some carefully crafted philosophical acrobatics lesson.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Jesus is exalted because of this atoning death. This is so clear that when I read it to children and ask who it is, they all say, "Jesus" without hesitation. How could it be anyone else?

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