Tom Fisher - Lent, 2026

 

Dear Pastor Jackson,

I have been seeking Bible passages that describe the will of  God the Father toward us sinners. Soon I am at the Garden of Gethsemane hearing Christ my Lord earnestly praying to God His Father saying:

Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Luke 22:42

 As we ponder this passage we understand it is God the Father's will for His only begotten Son to bear our sins. Carefully ponder Gethsemane. Ponder the merciful will of God the Father toward you:

39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. Luke 22:39-46

Isaiah 53 reveals God the Father's merciful will toward us sinners. 

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 53:10-12

Christ always did the will of His Father. Psalm 40 is prophecy of Christ:

6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Psalm 40:6-7

Hebrews 10 explains that the prophecy in Psalm 40 is Christ:

 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:3-10

John 6 describes God's merciful will toward us sinners:

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:37-40

Luther reveals that God our Heavenly Father has REMOVED us and our salvation from being under our own will, and has put us and our salvation under His own merciful will. Carefully ponder this most precious passage from Luther's Bondage Of The Will:

"As to myself, I openly confess, that I should not wish "Free-will" to be granted me, even if it could be so, nor anything else to be left in my own hands, whereby I might endeavour something towards my own salvation. And that, not merely because in so many opposing dangers, and so many assaulting devils, I could not stand and hold it fast, (in which state no man could be saved, seeing that one devil is stronger than all men;) but because, even though there were no dangers, no conflicts, no devils, I should be compelled to labor under a continual uncertainty, and to beat the air only. Nor would my conscience, even if I should live and work to all eternity, ever come to a settled certainty, how much it ought to do in order to satisfy God. For whatever work should be done, there would still remain a scrupling, whether or not it pleased God, or whether He required anything more; as is proved in the experience of all judiciaries, and as I myself learned to my bitter cost, through so many years of my own experience. 

But now, since God has put my salvation out of the way of my will, and has taken it under His own, and has promised to save me, not according to my working or manner of life, but according to His own grace and mercy, I rest fully assured and persuaded that He is faithful, and will not lie, and moreover great and powerful, so that no devils, no adversities can destroy Him, or pluck me out of His hand. "No one (saith He) shall pluck them out of my hand, because My Father which gave them me is greater than all." (John 10:27-28). Hence it is certain, that in this way, if all are not saved, yet some, yea, many shall be saved; whereas by the power of "Free-will," no one whatever could be saved, but all must perish together. And moreover, we are certain and persuaded, that in this way, we please God, not from the merit of our own works, but from the favor of His mercy promised unto us; and that, if we work less, or work badly, He does not impute it unto us, but, as a Father, pardons us and makes us better. This is the glorying which all the saints have in their God!" (Martin Luther, Bondage of The Will, Associated Publishers and Authors, Grand Rapids Michigan, 1971, pages 148-149)

If you truly believe God your Heavenly Father has put your salvation under His own will, then why would you as a true Lutheran Christian follow Protestant churches that put your salvation under your own will?  Perhaps your Protestant relatives insist you MUST 'ask Jesus into your heart', or 'make a decision for Christ', or 'receive Jesus into your heart', or 'put Christ first', or 'dedicate your life to Christ', or DECIDE to follow Jesus' or DECIDE to accept the (LCMS, WELS, ELS, ELCA) lie of universal justification PRIOR TO AND WITHOUT TRUE FAITH AND HOLY BAPTISM.  Perhaps your Baptist, Calvinists, Pentecostal, and Objective Justification Lutheran relatives need to be reminded that they have FALLEN FROM GRACE by putting their salvation under their own will.

Lent is repenting of and DESPAIRING of putting our salvation under our own will instead of leaving our salvation entirely under God's MERCIFUL WILL AND GRACE.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Romans 9:14-16

In Christ,

Tom Fisher

KJV Psalms - Excellent for Reading and Meditation

 

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

2 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,

3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

4 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

6 O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long?

4 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.

5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

6 I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

9 The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.

10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Lost in the Narration Lent 4

 

Narration was a fad some time ago, more like a revival, an attempt to bring back "the story." We were offered narration through the use of denominational printing, but that was far more of a gimmick than the story.

Actual reading from a book was fading quickly away, and we are in the Slough of Despond for good. John Bunyan left us there, one of the great moments of Pilgrim's Progress. 

My English teacher, who spent a lot of time with British literature, shamed us for never having a thorough study of Bunyan's classic. I caught up much later than English class!

One reason for the wealth of Christian worship was the organized settings for Advent, Lent, and Easter. The most important parts are the Story of Jesus. 

Once the denominations began to remove the miraculous work and teaching of Jesus, the dwindling response became political, feminist, Marxist, and worse. Like the sparklers on the Fourth of July, they were better at burning quickly away.

This leaves me with the unparalleled richness of Lent, hymns, and the glory of the Resurrection. The wealth continues throughout the year. Once I had a lot of congregational things to do, but now I have the KJV in Large Print. 

I look forward to Psalm 91 every morning with a second speech for 91 at the end of the day. 

I look for shorter Psalms that remind me of the fantastic great poetry of that section. I aim for the shorter Psalms, and they remind me of the jewels which are  also the basis for so many hymns., 

Today I looked from the bus to watch the infinite flatness of the countryside. I felt honored to talk about John Deere's (Moline's) machines. One man wanted to emphasize his own favorite and a grandmother said instead, "Allis Chalmer!"

No one can grasp all the Creation powers at work. Unfortunately, few stop to meaning of so much in the soil, the clouds, the rain, and the millions of creatures.

 

The Savior is a burden to many people, because of Jesus' speaking. His physical miracles even conjure humanity's own ideas about Him - in many different ways. This did not turn out so well for the Carpenter. When people objected to Him, Jesus became clearer about the message from the Son of God.

The Trinity is consoling about our fragile to speak to us, through the spoken Word, the miracles, the physical gestures (the Feeding of the 5,000) and much more.

No message from Jesus Christ' power will reject Him.  In contrast, we easily find excuses against Him, but that opens up their errors much more quickly.

For that reason Jesus was especially effective in showing bystanders how easily they cowered  - even better - how they found faith in Jesus and also how they saw the clarity of the Messiah's power.  

Overflowing with God's Work Through the Savior

 

The Savior is a burden to many people, because of Jesus' speaking. His physical miracles conjure up their own ideas about Him - in many different ways.

 

Golden - From the Earliest Days of Christianity - The Apostles Creed

 

I Saw a New Heaven And a New Earth

 

21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My Son. Revelation 21:7

I have said - because of the nature of Revelation - "This is the summary of the entire Bible, woven together, Old and New Testaments." 

If we open our eyes throughout 65 books of the Bible, particles of Revelation show up.

Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

Alas, we no longer have the strength and fortitude to match the Old and New Testaments. 

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

KJV Revelation 22:1-7

22.1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

The last half of Revelation is especially grand in its positive descriptions of the Gospel. Starting from the very last is a good way to work back to the middle area.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The Four Angels at the Four Corners of the Earth

7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. [Note the 144,000 with the Lamb, chapter 7.]

Thou Hast Created All Things, And for Thy Pleasure, They Are And Were Created.

KJV Revelation 4:11

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.

Norma Boeckler