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.
"It’s too bad that people aren’t interested in reading books anymore. We can probably that the school system for not encouraging mind to use books instead of phones for reading. Our generations seems to be the only one that does now. Too bad.
I’m am sure thankful for the books you have sent me over the years, I still go back to them every once in a while for reference or just to re read it once again. It’s too bad that people aren’t interested in reading books anymore. We can probably thank (edit) the school system for not (edit) encouraging minds to use books instead of phones for reading. Our generations seems to be the only one that does now. Too bad.
I’m am sure thankful for the books you have sent me over the years, I still go back to them every once in a while for reference or just to re-read it once again."
GJ - What do they call Lutherans who publish authors and then erase them?
Tomorrow morning is Easter Sunday! There was a great earthquake as the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the stone and sat upon it. His face was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow. Ponder the words of God's angel: "He is risen from the dead."
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Matthew 28:1-10
Christ rose from the dead for your benefit. He is at the right hand of God the Father to be your high priest forever. He is your advocate with the Father forever. He promises to raise you from the dead on the last day.
Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord. Ezekiel 37:13-14
Christ rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples, but they were terrified. Here Christ proves He is true God and true man in one person. He ate some food. He urged His disciples to grab a hold of him. He urged them to "handle me". He wanted them to be certain He is true man.
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. Luke 24:36-53
The Confession of Sins The Absolution The Introit p. 16
Introit
As newborn babes: desire the sincere milk of the Word.
Hear, O My people, and I will testify unto thee:
O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto Me.
Psalm. Sing aloud unto God, our Strength:
make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
The Gloria Patri The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who celebrate the solemnities of the Lord’s Pascal Feast kindled with heavenly desires; may ever thirst for the Fountain of Life, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Gradual
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
This is the day which the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Christ , our Passover: is sacrificed for us.
Let us keep the feast: with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 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 The Hymn #187Christ Is Arisen
Christ is arisen, from the grave's dark prison.
We now rejoice with gladness; Christ will end all sadness. Lord have mercy.
All our hopes were ended
Had Jesus not ascended.
From the grave triumphantly.
For this, Lord Christ, we worship Thee. Lord, have mercy.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
We now rejoice with gladness
Christ will end all sadness. Lord, have mercy. Amen.
Prayers and Announcements
Medical care - Pastor Jim Shrader, Sarah Buck, Doc Lito Cruz and his family.
In memory of Randy Anderson, Walter Boeckler, Carl Roper, Gary Meyer, Christina Jackson, Gladys Meyer, Lori Howell's mother, Bethany Joan Marie, Erin Joy, and many others.
Pray for our country as major trials continue. Help all those suffering from economic difficulties and emotional distress.
The Bethany Hymnal Blog finished six years ago, with Norma Boeckler's art, ever since April 2020. 89,391 total views.
Caravaggio
KJV 1 Corinthian 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
KJV Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
Easter Sunday
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee, that of Thine ineffable grace, for the sake of Thy Son, Thou hast given us the holy gospel, and hast instituted the holy sacraments, that through the same we may have comfort and forgiveness of sin: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that we may heartily believe Thy word; and through the holy sacraments day by day establish our faith, until we at last obtain salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Life Everlasting
KJV Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
The rationalists, skeptics, doubters, and modernists love to pursue the facts in front of them, because they love to ignore and resist what is there in the text. They want to stop at Mark 16:8 so they can ignore the rest of that Gospel. Therefore, anything else gives them discontent, arguing, and denying.
This attitude begins with lack of faith, which is quite powerful in these days. Apart from trusting in all that is revealed in the entire Bible, nothing makes sense for the rationalistic mind. The women at the tomb trust, they have faith, but they do not grasp it all at once. Still they listen to the angels there and run back to tell the disciples, who nevertheless have their doubts - very much like Thomas on the first round of doubting.
The women wanted to tend to the body because that was polite and reverend, finishing what they expected to be true, showing their love for Jesus and expressing their loss. The four Gospels as a whole reveal their doubts because the reality is so great to absorb. However we say, "I can't believe it!" or "I am incredulous!" Many things happen which are described as "It's a miracle."
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
The women were not afraid. They were up very early to pay their respects and to see Him one more time, making Him presentable, unlike the torture of the cross. They brought along the sweet spices but were too shaken to consider moving the enormous stone lid. However, they did not give up but asked, "Who will roll the stone lid aside (or perhaps flatten it on the ground?" both impossible for the ladies.)
Notice that they did not give up, only asking in faith how this could be done? How many miracles have been rejected because the individuals or congregations could not imagine something being accomplished...beyond all hope, why try? why ask in the Name of Christ? When we moved the boulder away from the Poinsettia house, it took three men and equipment to move it.
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
The sun was just starting to rise, so the effect was dramatic. The fear that they could not do anything was being erased by the sun itself. They did not run away, as most people would do - and as the soldiers did - but continued in faith to see what had
happened. We often worry or fear or deny what is offered to us in faith, ignoring "Heaven and earth may pass away but My Word will never pass away."
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
So many atheists and doubters miss the clear text, blinded by their own doubts. My first New Testament professors (Harvard ThD, Princeton PhD) denied the second angel and called that the proof that Jesus did not rise from the dead. "On the right side" does not deny the second angel but assumes that fact. The women were afraid because they went from mourning their beloved friend and not knowing what was next. Fear has a powerful effect on us. Even minor, unpleasant surprises can leave us weak, doubting, afraid, and eager to get away.
6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
First the angel tells them to have faith (do not be afraid - a theme throughout the Gospels). Jesus is named, described as crucified, risen! and not in the grave but clearly revealed by the angelic Word.
The staccato phrases are filled with divine energy:
Go Tell the disciples - and Peter
He goes before you into Galilee
There you will see Him.
As He said.
8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
There was confusion also among the disciples - and fear. The door was bolted shut where they were - (like my house in Bella Vista, because a previous occupant was justifiably afraid of an in-law).
What is great and glorious comes from the Scriptures, far too much to absorb in a lifetime, but nevertheless far greater than anything generated by man. Either we have trust in the Scriptures or demean and reject the Word of God. Many have gone before us. We all think of them and their impact on us. A large-scale poll would probably offer this result - "I should have valued that person as a child of God and a follower of Jesus the Son of God." That is especially important for older relatives, even parents and grandparents. There is a commandment, not just a suggestion (but now almost erased) in the Ten Commandments:
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
It's Good Friday, the day my Lord Jesus Christ took all my sins upon Himself, suffered my condemnation, my hell, my death. He did this to give me forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Today my Lord is delivering me from so great a death. He is delivering me from eternal death. So let us find relief and deliverance from our sins, death and hell in His wounds, suffering, and death.
Let us turn away from torturing ourselves with emotional distress and sadness. This is what the heathen prophets of Baal did. They cut and tormented themselves.
Instead let us have deep relief and trust in the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today He is utterly abolishing our death, hell, and sin. The darkness is past. The true light shines.
So ponder Isaiah 53 with a deep and abiding trust in the suffering and death of Christ your only Savior. His shed blood purges your sins away, giving you forgiveness of all your sins. So be thankful, relieved, and trusting in Christ alone
53 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 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.
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.
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
Dr. Lito Cruz family, Dr. Kermit Way, Bible John, Pastor Jim Shrader.
Those who are dealing with medical issues, loss, and emotional stress.
Our country, duly elected leaders, and military.
The Crucial Issue
So easily we speak about things being crucial, just as they are the best, worst, and how they describe always with favorite four-letter words. Someone referred to Jesus' Name, and I said, "We do not use His Name that way." And that stopped immediately.
People are not more emphatic when they use the divine name. They are actually more tiresome and pathetic. I can claim that the people who do this can be straightened out with just a few words.
Words are required for thinking, and thinking is impossible without words. People can communicate without spoken words but we do favor words. We give those words to babies and babies struggle to get them out at first. One of my fondest memories is play-acting our daughters' words because they knew, remembered, and responded but could not form the words.
The key word for Good Friday is the Cross. That is so bizarre, because the cross was the worst form ever for torture and death - and it was Roman. Jews did not use the cross, which was hideously painful and lengthy in its work. In contrast, St. Stephen was stoned to death. Just as Jesus belonged to Rome, so He was forced to be punished by Rome with the support of Judaism and their support of the great but fading empire, younger than Israel.
As we can see so clearly in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, the Old Testament gives us clear examples of something which could not have been known at that time. Even our modern kids overlook this fact when they skip over these passages - and many more - that paint the cross for us as that pivotal change in the world - the Christian Faith and Jesus as the risen Savior.
He suffered and died, atoning for our sins. I was vexed as a child thinking about this. How could Good Friday be good? I could not get a good answer from adults. Reading Luther has helped me immensely because he simply explained the Word of God as it is. Everyone had great respect for him in the Reformation (he is the Reformer, parallel with Melanchthon and Chemnitz). Very few esteem them now, which is especially true among the so-called Lutherans.
The Two Natures of Jesus Christ is essential to know and learn. The Son of God was and is God but also took on our humanity forever. Liz Eaton, Matt Harrison, and Mark Schroeder cannot parse this because they utterly reject Justification by Faith. They will not even say the words "Justified by Faith" because they have swapped Unitarianism for Trinitarian (no matter how much the squeal about it). Most telling - they refuse to debate because they cannot.
This comes down to one all-encompassing fact - we are in need of forgiveness all our lives or even if it is the last moment of our lives. The pivot is faith in Jesus because He died for us. He takes away our sin and gives us peace, forgiveness, and the fruits of growing on the True Vine (John 15).
The only way He can forgive our sins is His divine work of paying for those sins by Himself. No one else can do that. Pastors can teach forgiveness but faith is in the grasp of the individual, not as a work but as access to God's grace - Romans 5:1-2. We wait for the dentist - access. We get our groceries out the door of the grocery store - access. We wait for hours to meet or hear a famous person - access. That tiny ordinary Word is so simple in meaning that the Apostle Paul used his Word from 2000 years ago so we can grasp it without a thousand word essay.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
