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 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 National Council of Churches.
1. Before the Lord we bow, The God who reigns above And rules the world below In boundless pow'r and love. Our thanks we bring, In joy and praise Our hearts we raise To heav'n's high King.
2. The nation Thou hast blest May well Thy love declare, From foes and fears at rest, Protected by Thy care. For this fair land, For this bright day, Our thanks we pay-- Gifts of Thy hand.
3. May ev'ry mountain height, Each vale and forest green, Shine in Thy Word's pure light And its rich fruits be seen! May ev'ry tongue Be tuned to praise And join to raise A grateful song!
4. Earth, hear thy Maker's voice, Thy great Redeemer own; Believe, obey, rejoice, And worship Him alone. Cast down thy pride, Thy sin deplore, And bow before The Crucified.
5. And when in power He comes, Oh, may our native land From all its rending tombs Send forth a glorious band, A countless throng, For aye to sing To heaven's high King Salvation's song!
Hymn #575 The Lutheran Hymnal Text: Psalm 145:1 Author: Francis S. Key, 1832, alt. Composer: John Darwall, 1770 Tune: "Darwall's 148th"
George Washington at Valley Forge, by Arnold Friberg
Francis Scott Key He freed his own slaves, Handbook, TLH, p. 531.
3 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
"Professor Tonstad is a constructive theologian working at the intersection of Christian theology with feminist and queer theory. Her first book, God and Difference: The Trinity, Sexuality, and the Transformation of Finitude(link is external), was published by Routledge in 2016 and was named both as a best new book in ethics and a best new book in theology in Christian Century in the spring of 2017."
Employees at multiple federal agencies were ordered to remove pronouns from their email signatures by Friday afternoon, according to internal memos obtained by ABC News that cited two executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office seeking to curb diversity and equity programs in the federal government.
"Pronouns and any other information not permitted in the policy must be removed from CDC/ATSDR employee signatures by 5.p.m. ET on Friday," according to one such message sent Friday morning to CDC staff.
I was a bit confused about media people "using their pronouns with their names" when writing to the White House. Apparently the journalists were still adding pronouns to their signatures to prove something as stale as yesterday's scrambled eggs. So the White House did not even respond to the pronoun abusers.
Recently someone from Yale Divinity encouraged me to drive down to Little Rock for some kind of YDS conference, ending the request with he, him, they or some vapid variation for the gender sensitive. I responded by saying "Me, myself, and I will not attend...ever." Messages stopped.
Before that, the 1973 YDS graduate class seemed to be immune to a 50 year reunion. I wonder why.
I recently noticed that the University of Phoenix was still addicted to pronouns, in spite of their DEI flop. Recently they were still sending out messages with their names and a group of pronouns in parentheses.
7. First he says: “Tell ye” the daughter of Zion. This is said to the ministry and a new sermon is given them to preach, namely, nothing but what the words following indicate, a right knowledge of Christ. Whoever preaches anything else is a wolf and deceiver. This is one of the verses in which the Gospel is promised of which Paul writes in Romans 1:2; for the Gospel is a sermon from Christ, as he is here placed before us, calling for faith in him.
8. I have often said that there are two kinds of faith. First, a faith in which you indeed believe that Christ is such a man as he is described and proclaimed here and in all the Gospels, but do not believe that he is such a man for you, and are in doubt whether you have any part in him and think:
Yes, he is such a man to others, to Peter, Paul, and the blessed saints; but who knows that he is such to me and that I may expect the same from him and may confide in it, as these saints did?
9. Behold, this faith is nothing, it does not receive Christ nor enjoy him, neither can it feel any love and affection for him or from him. It is a faith about Christ and not in or of Christ, a faith which the devils also have as well as evil men. For who is it that does not believe that Christ is a gracious king to the saints? This vain and wicked faith is now taught by the pernicious synagogues of Satan. The universities (Paris and her sister schools), together with the monasteries and all Papists, say that this faith is sufficient to make Christians. In this way they virtually deny Christian faith, make heathen and Turks out of Christians, as St. Peter in 2 Peter 2:1 had foretold: “There shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them.”
We read The Great Gatsby in English class. Later, Christina and I watched the movie together in 1974. The 100th anniversary of the novel is this year - that went fast!
We watched the DiCaprio version of Gatsby - just a kid!
I found a good video about the literature experts fighting over the F. Scott Fitzgerald story and the facts behind writing the novel. That is another layer of Gatsby - a spooky parallel to the so-called Biblical scholars who know everything except the actual text.
Novels are not interesting to me anymore. I opened Moby Dick recently and thought, "I cannot read this!"
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11. 5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; 10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
CHRIST AN EXAMPLE OF LOVE.
1. Here Paul again presents to us as a powerful example of the celestial and eternal fire, the love of Christ, for the purpose of persuading us to exercise a loving concern for one another. The apostle employs fine words and precious admonitions, having perceived the indolence and negligence displayed by Christians in this matter of loving. For this the flesh is responsible. The flesh continually resists the willing spirit, seeking its own interest and causing sects and factions. Although a sermon on this same text went forth in my name a few years ago, entitled “The Twofold Righteousness,” the text was not exhausted; therefore we will now examine it word by word. “Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
2. You are Christians; you have Christ, and in him and through him all fullness of comfort for time and eternity: therefore nothing should appeal to your thought, your judgment, your pleasure, but that which was in the mind of Christ concerning you as the source of your welfare. For his motive throughout was not his own advantage; everything he did was done for your sake and in your interest. Let men therefore, in accord with his example, work every good thing for one another’s benefit. “Who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.” [“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant.”] 3. If Christ, who was true God by nature, has humbled himself to become servant of all, how much more should such action befit us who are of no worth, and are by nature children of sin, death and the devil! Were we similarly to humble ourselves, and even to go beyond Christ in humility — a thing, however, impossible — we should do nothing extraordinary. Our humility would still reek of sin in comparison with his. Suppose Christ to humble himself in the least degree — but a hair’s breadth, so to speak — below the most exalted angels; and suppose we were to humble ourselves to a position a thousand times more abased than that of the devils in hell; yet our humility would not compare in the least with that of Christ. For he is an infinite blessing — God himself — and we are but miserable creatures whose existence and life are not for one moment secure.
4. What terrible judgment must come upon those who fail to imitate the ineffable example of Christ; who do not humble themselves below their neighbors and serve them, but rather exalt themselves above them! Indeed, the example of Christ may well terrify the exalted, and those high in authority; and still more the self-exalted. Who would not shrink from occupying the uppermost seat and from lording it over others when he sees the Son of God humble and eliminate himself?
Someone contacted me about previously serving as the pastor at Faith (CLC) in New Ulm, MN. Once that was established, I was asked to provide a photo from those years, because they are making a pastor picture wall. Would you be able to share?
I am always willing to share pre-historic photos when asked, so I sent one.
"Actually I am looking for a picture of you about the
time you served. We are making a pastor picture wall. Would
you be able to share?"
This was the bonus - "I have to say you have aged well. Do you have one of you for back then.
I have one of you and your wife. But you two are to (sic) close for me to
her not showing."
The emails ended with "Ok. TY. Have a wonderful"
Faith in New Ulm no longer holds worship services, as far as I could tell. They closed the Nicollet parish many years go. Sleepy Eye has a CLC (sic) parish, so maybe they have enough space for all the previous pastors.
Donkey basketball fills the rafters at the CLC high school/college/seminary, so they might want to increase the franchise.
Oh how quickly the LCMS follows the ELCA standards of expensive gowns!
When I read about Matt the Fatt dealing with universities, I have to suppress a chuckle. After all, he only earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree to be ordained - maybe even a Master's Degree. He might have earned an STM, fairly simple, but that was only one notch up, not likely for someone always looking for advancement. Scholars are divided on this issue.
I wrote master's degree because that is what the seminaries adopted when everyone wanted to get a degree beefier than a B.Div. Many paid $50 to replace the bachelor's degree with a master's, an expensive switch.
Olson had a buddy write to Christian News (sic) doubting whether Larry ever went to Fuller Seminary. I read Olson's DMin essay (not really a thesis) in the Martin Luther Library. McGavran was pro-abortion in his famous book.
But lo, the Lutheran DMin was promoted next - to make more money for their seminaries. Robert Preus boasted that the Ft. Wayne's DMin for Church Growth was much better than "others." Hint - It was said that Fuller had the largest number of Lutheran DMin students, certainly a source of pride for them and their addled students. Fuller built up their business by having all the denominations study foreign missions at first, then gathering the American executives for a much greater harvest of fools for the overflowing Fuller coffers.
Archbishop Liz Eaton is up for election in July, in Phoenix, enjoying the cooling zephyrs of summer.
Nota bene. All the Lutheran executives (foreign and American) studied together at Pasadena - LCA/ALC then ELCA, LCMS, WELS, and a dash of ELS. Fuller and Thrivent also united the Lutherans because they had so much toxicity in common. I recall a notorious drunken WELS leader telling me about the ELCA executives he knew from the latest pan-Lutheran conference.
The gardens are coming alive now in Northwest Arkansas. There is enough sun and rain to see the contrast between dead roses and exuberant ones (like Enchanted Peace). Local weeds fill in all the spaces and soon the weed-whacker will diminish them to create new opportunities. One does not simply chop away at plants.
The collapsing Lutherans are vanishing quickly because they have nothing Scriptural and promote everything commercial. Some mission pastors are selling "merch" to potential members, as if fad clothing replaces the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace.
1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
1. In the preface I said that there are two things to be noted and considered in the Gospel lessons: first, the works of Christ presented to us as a gift and blessing on which our faith is to cling and exercise itself; secondly, the same works offered as an example and model for us to imitate and follow.
All the Gospel lessons thus throw light first on faith and then on good works. We will therefore consider this Gospel under three heads: speaking first of faith; secondly of good works, and thirdly of the lesson story and its hidden meaning.
I. CONCERNING FAITH.
2. This Gospel encourages and demands faith, for it prefigures Christ coming with grace, whom none may receive or accept save he who believes him to be the man, and has the mind, as this Gospel portrays in Christ. Nothing but the mercy, tenderness and kindness of Christ are here shown, and he who so receives and believes on him is saved. He sits not upon a proud steed, an animal of war, nor does he come in great pomp and power, but sitting upon an ass, an animal of peace fit only for burdens and labor and a help to man. He indicates by this that he comes not to frighten man, nor to drive or crush him, but to help him and to carry his burden for him. And although it was the custom of the country to ride on asses and to use horses for war, as the Scriptures often tell us, yet here the object is to show that the entrance of this king shall be meek and lowly.
Again it also shows the pomp and conduct of the disciples towards Christ who bring the colt to Christ, set him thereon, and spread their garments in the way; also that of the multitude who also spread their garments in the way and cut branches from the trees. They manifested no fear nor terror, but only blessed confidence in him as one for whom they dared to do such things and who would take it kindly and readily consent to it.
3. Again, he begins his journey and comes to the Mount of Olives to indicate that he comes out of pure mercy. For olive oil in the Scriptures signifies the grace of God that soothes and strengthens the soul as oil soothes and strengthens the body.
4. Thirdly, there is no armor present, no war-cry, but songs and praise, rejoicing and thanksgiving to the Lord.
5. Fourthly, Christ weeps, as Luke 19:41, writes, weeps over Jerusalem because she does not know nor receive such grace; yet he was so grieved at her loss that he did not deal harshly with her.
6. Fifthly, his goodness and mercy are best shown when he quotes the words of the prophets, Isaiah 62:11; Zechariah 9:9, and tenderly invites men to believe and accept Christ, for the fulfilling of which prophecies the events of this Gospel took place and the story was written, as the Evangelist himself testifies. Therefore we must look upon this verse as the chief part of this Gospel, for in it Christ is pictured to us and we are told what we are to believe, and to expect of him, what we are to seek in him, and how we may be benefited by him.
7. First he says: “Tell ye” the daughter of Zion. This is said to the ministry and a new sermon is given them to preach, namely, nothing but what the words following indicate, a right knowledge of Christ. Whoever preaches anything else is a wolf and deceiver. This is one of the verses in which the Gospel is promised of which Paul writes in Romans 1:2; for the Gospel is a sermon from Christ, as he is here placed before us, calling for faith in him.
Charlie Sue is highly trained in handling the handler.
My favorite is looking down at Charlie as she fixes a stare at me, failing to serve her needs. No smiles, just a glare of disappointment.
She has trained me in taking her to the PARK! twice a day. If the second trip is not starting out, she jumps on the bed and begins lightly chewing on my forearms with a demonic and fun attitude.
Sessions with snacks are expected, encouraged by dramatic licking of the jaws.
She has impressed me outdoors with a great love of bolting out of hidden places, grinning, and creating a circle of evasion. This is her best trick and she loves to engage and then tear off in another direction.
She volunteers as the acolyte, getting ready for each service, always sitting nearby, then retiring to favorite place.
TEXT: Matthew 21:1-9. And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village that is over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any one say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. Now this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.
And the disciples went, and did even as Jesus appointed them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their garments; and he sat thereon. And the most part of the multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the way. And the multitudes that went before him, and that followed, cried saying, Hosanna to the son of David:
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
This Gospel with its Postil is found on the First Sunday in Advent.
There is a crisis of belief in the Catholic Church. Will the priests and bishops of America remedy that?
GJ - Judging by the religious in Notre Dame classes 50 years ago, those who belonged to religious orders were as Unitarian as the mainline Protestants. For example, when the class rejected the infallibility of the Pope, a local priest railed at everyone and said, "How can you call yourselves Catholic?"
I pointed out the paganism of Paul Tillich and the professor said, "Lutherans do not understand Lutheranism." I responded "Lutherans do not understand Luther?" Dead silence followed.
The Courage To Be, by Tillich, was a best seller. Other Protestants - like Bultmann and Barth - were equally apostate.
LutherQuest is revealing its rapidly increasing failure in LCMS higher education. The Texas situation is a disaster, and so is Michigan.
If I were Matt the Fatt, I would tell Texas, "Go and sin no more!"
As for Michigan - there is always the insolvency issue, because that glowing spark of Enthusiasm has fanned itself into ashes. They could have boosted the baby population decades ago, but now is a bit late.
Valpo - Not a Just A Breakfast Cereal Anymore
Valparaiso University is a private university in Valparaiso, Indiana, United States. It is an independent Lutheran university with five colleges. It enrolls nearly 2,300 students and has a 350-acre campus.Wikipedia. Oops, I mean Maypo.
A member said something that should awaken more people - "I hope we can keep this going." That is starting from the top layer downward.
Our task is not to keep anything going but to sow the living seed - the Word. A simple graphic illustrates this.
The seed quickly becomes the plant. Our only job is to scatter the seed, because the energy (efficacy of the Word in Greek - ενέργεια - energeia) is already alive and growing.
I recall the newly graduated pastors who hugged their three-ring binders from Fuller, Willow Creek, and other fraudulent emporiums. The other suckers were nimbly scouting the nearest Priest's Warehouse to plot their way to Rome.
Whether higher education or lower expectations in schools, the Boomer leaders have wasted their inheritance.
Judge me, O God: and plead my cause against an ungodly nation.
Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man: for Thou art the God of my strength.
Psalm. Oh, send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill.
The Gloria Patri The Kyrie p. 17 The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
We beseech Thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon Thy people, that by
Thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore both
in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Gradual
Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies; teach me to do Thy will.
He delivereth me from mine enemies: yes. Thou liftest me up above those that rise against me; Thou hast delivered me: Thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
Tract. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth.
May Israel now say: many a time have they afflicted me from my youth.
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 The Hymn #410Jesus Lead Thou On
Prayers and Announcements
In our prayers - Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Dr. Lito Cruz and his family, Sarah Buck.
Matt Howell had a birthday recently.
Acts of the Apostles, Tuesday and Thursday 10 AM. Zoom.
Midweek Vespers, 7 PM
Holy Week - Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday Communion 7 PM. Good Friday Vespers 7 PM. Easter Sunday 10 AM. Acts at 10 AM on Tuesday and Thursday.
KJV Hebrews 9:11 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.
KJV John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Not of God
KJV John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
The Fourth Gospel has so much to teach us - and with such clarity. Matthew-Mark-Luke give us a lifetime of study and John gathers it all together in one phrase - Faith in Jesus.
Faith in Jesus is not just a theme but the bedrock of everything He says and does. This Faith in Jesus is both the foundation and the ultimate truth. The miraculous change of water into wine showed that little wedding party in Cana His ability to accomplish anything we can imagine - and far beyond that miracle. He enraged the officials in Jerusalem, John 2 after the wedding, because the Temple was distorted into a multi-national Walmart.
This comes down to believing rather than doing. The truly hip churches now feature their personal garments to wear as their "merch" to buy - and many more travesties, which are always promoted with great excitement and errors. That began with a "new" Bible in 1881 - exciting new wording! And everything unraveled from there, so the basis was the latest and not the best.
The miracles of Jesus were displayed so all the people would believe rather than try topurchase. After carrying the burden of works so long - with little relief - they longed to have healing, peace, and forgiveness - Faith in Jesus.
48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
Faith in Jesus enrages unbelievers. Some are filled with anger. Others sneer about faith. Still others find ways to compromise - the elixir of modernism, which lets people pick here and there to approve the message. Two great insults are thrown at Jesus - one is that He belongs to the hated Samaritans (in Luke Jesus is the Samaritan, the Good Samaritan, a mystery to many do-gooders). The other is that He belongs to Satan. One Church Growther denied that he was a Church Growther even though he "earned" a D.Min. in Church Growth. A pastor from the ELS was outraged that I criticized CG! Hatred is the response that comes from unbelievers pretending to have something better, more successful, more winsome.
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Isn't it strange - or natural - that our technology consists of yes and no, one and zero? One of my early computer courses had all of us using binary (the old fashioned version) and most students fell into despair using 0 and 1 instead of base 10. The basis of the universe is Yes or No, Light or Darkness, Truth or Falsehood.
Jesus made this clear - there is life and death, only.
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
Abraham is the Faith of Faith in the New Testament. The Genesis 15:6 passage is clear. Abraham's faith concerns his impossible age with a first-born son but also the continuous Promise that would lead to King David and then the King of Kings, Jesus.
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
This is the clearest possible message about Jesus the Son and His Father. That is why so many academics (hipsters, philosophers, modernists etc) scorn the Fourth Gospel, the miracles of Jesus and the Holy Trinity. One does not simply scoff at the Chief Article of the Bible - Justification by Faith in Jesus Christ. This builds up so that no one is confused unless that person cannot grasp the words clearly.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was,I AM.
The Son is from everlasting. When God spoke and said "Let there be Light," He was ordering the Son to execute the command. John's Gospel revealed this clearly.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
This shows how Jesus' His divine nature was not limited by His human nature, because an ordinary man would have been killed in short order.
This passage in John is a bundle of divine knowledge, which moves us to rely on that power freely given to us, according to God's wisdom, power, and sense of timing.
Exodus 3:2And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AMhath sent me unto you.
Genesis 15:6And he [Abraham] believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Prayer
O Lord Jesus Christ, we thank Thee, that of Thine infinite mercy Thou hast instituted this Thy sacrament, in which we eat Thy body and drink Thy blood: Grant us, we beseech Thee, by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not receive this gift unworthily, but that we may confess our sins, remember Thine agony and death, believe the forgiveness of sin, and day by day grow in faith and love, until we obtain eternal salvation through Thee, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
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