Behold a Stranger - Trinity 3 Based on Luke 15, March 4, 2026

 

Trinity  - Previously Trinity 3, 2026

 Trinity 3 2026. Luke 15 and the Gracious Mercy of God

9 AM Sunday March 4

 

Bethany Lutheran Church

The Third Sunday after Trinity, 2026

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Bethany Lutheran Church

The Hymn #650                Behold a Stranger 

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Turn Thee unto me and have mercy upon me: 

for I am desolate and afflicted.

Look upon mine affliction and my pain: 

and forgive all my sins.

Psalm. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul: 

O my God, I trust in Thee, let me not be ashamed.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O God, the Protector of all that trust in Thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, increase and multiply upon us Thy mercy that, Thou being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

Cast thy burden upon the Lord: 

and He shall sustain thee.

V. I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me: 

He hath delivered my soul in peace. 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. I will love Thee, O Lord my Strength: 

the Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer. Hallelujah!

     

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #436            The Lord's My Shepherd, I'll Not Want

       

God And Angels Rejoice

The Communion Hymn #179                     On My Heart

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 #49                 Almighty God Thy Word Is Cast

In Our Prayers and Announcements

• Medical treatment -those with emotional issues and those with metabolic disorders. Tom Fisher - very tough year with the sheep.

 By Norma A. Boeckler

KJV 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

KJV Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.  3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Third Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father, we all like sheep have gone astray, having suffered ourselves to be led away from the right path by Satan and our own sinful flesh: We beseech Thee graciously to forgive us all our sins for the sake of Thy Son, Jesus Christ; and quicken our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may abide in Thy word, and in true repentance and a steadfast faith continue in Thy Church unto the end, and obtain eternal salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end Amen.

God And Angels Rejoice

KJV Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth [welcomes!] sinners, and eateth with them.

Luke 15 is often called Luke's Great Passage - the Loving Mercy of Jesus.

1. The Lost Sheep - Luke 15:1-7

2. The Lost Coin - Luke 15:8-10

3. The Lost Son - Luke 15:11-32.

These three passages are distinctive in dealing with one particular theme, Jesus' gracious love - comparing that to the self-righteous or works-righteous Pharisees and scribes.

The Lost Sheep is not so much about the animal but God. 

3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

This is painfully clear. The works-righteous have their feet to the fire, as people say. Someone could have 100 sheep and still go after that one sheep until it is found. How about seeing people as God does? Sheep are timid, easily frightened, hard to control. The owner cares about them and their suffering. So this part alone is easy to see - the scribes and Pharisees are placed in the position of God. Jesus is saying, "Wouldn't you go out and look for that sheep, dying in the wilderness, growing weaker by the hour?" Our emotions would respond - we have to try. We can't let the little guy suffer. We will find him! But that is not all! The owner will search until he finds the lost sheep.

1. Searches
2. Finds
3. Lays it on the shoulders - 
4. Rejoices
5. Calls friends and neighbors - 
6. Rejoices
7. The lost one is found!
8. More joy in Heaven than the 99 almost perfect ones - a jibe from Jesus - for those who think they are without sin.

I often hear from people who have reached the bottom of life from alcohol and drug abuse. The Savior has rescued them from almost complete destruction and have experienced the long passage back from the wilderness, which very difficult. But it also means someone can be a good counselor after coming back. 

Most importantly - This is a parable about the graciousness of God. He delights in mercy.

When graduate students write about how tough Jeremiah is, I remind them of the name that came from the prophet's long, angry speeches. The denunciations are called jeremiads, in honor of Jeremiah. But I respond to Jeremiah 31

31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

This is a great follow-up, which can make anyone sweat bullets - as they say - go bats trying to find lost items - tickets, glasses, maps, etc. Once again, the emphasis is about rejoicing over the lost coin. Just as the angels rejoice in this parable, so does the individual have joy in telling the friends and neighbors. 

The joy is over repentance, not coin collecting. Just as we find a thrill in the object of value lost and then found, even more significant are the angels rejoicing over one repentant sinner.

Selah - Good To Remember - Book of Psalms

 

Selah is an ancient Hebrew word found 74 times in the Old Testament—71 times in the Book of Psalms and 3 times in Habakkuk chapter 3—where its exact meaning remains a matter of scholarly debate. [1, 2]

Main Interpretations

A Musical Pause: Most biblical scholars believe it functions as a liturgical or musical notation. It likely instructed musicians to play louder, pause, or signal an instrumental interlude while the singers stopped.
To Lift Up or Exalt: Etymologically, it may derive from a Hebrew root meaning "to lift up" or "to weigh" (as in raising voices in praise or lifting hands in worship).
A Call to Reflection: Spiritually, it acts as a prompt for the reader or listener to stop, breathe, and deeply ponder the truth just spoken. Modern paraphrases like the Amplified Bible often translate it as "Pause, and calmly think about that." [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Would you like to explore how Selah is used in a specific psalm (like Psalm 46 or Psalm 3), or look into how ancient translations like the Septuagint handled the word?

Martin Jackson - National Assisted Living Week, 2026.This Is Your Life. Family Tribute, Gregory Jackson

 

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Greg Jackson was born and grew up in Moline, Illinois. His mother and father were both from farm families and were familiar with the farm lifestyle - getting up early and working hard all day - but neither of them went into farming. His father, Homer, was a baker, he owned and operated the Melo Creme Donut Shop for many years, famous for its cinnamon fries and long johns. His mother was an elementary school teacher until she retired.

KNOWN FOR

"Did you know that I worked in a doughnut as a kid?" Greg was very fond of telling his grandchildren about his experiences working in the Melo Creme Donut Shop in his childhood. Even after he got married and moved away, Greg and his family were still occasionally featured in Melo Creme advertising, including calendars. Pictures (and lots of devotional material and other commentary can be found at his blog "Ichabod, the Glory Has Departed" at https://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com.

WHAT THEY DID

Greg's work is defined by two major categories - his work as a Lutheran pastor and later a teaching career of his own. He earned a master's degree at Yale and a PhD at Notre Dame. He wrote many books about Lutheran history and also devotional material, including a biography of his now sainted wife Christina. In the latter part of his working life,  he taught online classes for a number of institutions, including the University of Phoenix and Grand Canyon University. His reviews were stellar and his classes were packed.

A TREASURED MEMORY

When his son Martin's family was fairly young, he organized a trip to Disneyland in California for the whole family, including Greg and Chris. Together with Martin, his wife, and two children (at the time) they rode the rides, ate the food, and enjoyed  the park and each other. One of the best parts was a character breakfast where Josie (the older sister, about four at the time) helped feed Danielle (the younger sister, who was two then). Pictures from this event still hang on the younger Jacksons' wall in Bentonville, Arkansas. 

AND ONE MORE THING

Greg was married to Christina for fifty-two years. The classic marriage views say it, and they did it - they were together for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. They met at Augustana (college) in Rock Island and were inseparable from the age of 18.

With thanks to [Martin Jackson] for sharing these memories.

Beatitudes Based on Previous Post

The Hymn #656     Behold a Host Arrayed in White          

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Almighty God, who hast knit together Thine elect 

in one communion and fellow-ship in the mystical body of 

Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, grant us grace so to follow Thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that we may come to those unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love Thee; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O almighty God, who hast knit together Thine elect in one communion 

and fellowship in the mystical body of Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, 

grant us grace so to follow Thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly 

living that we may come to those unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared 

for those who unfeignedly love Thee; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, 

our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual    

Oh, fear the Lord, ye His saints: 

for there is no want to them that fear Him.

V. They that seek the Lord: 

shall not want any good thing. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden: 

and I will give you rest. Hallelujah!

 

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn # 463            For All the Saints                   

                    The Word of Faith Towards God

The Communion Hymn #313              O Lord We Praise Thee - Luther

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 #657            Beautiful Savior

 By Norma A. Boeckler

Revelation - Epistle 7:2 ff

Gospel

KJV Matthew 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

ZOOM! - Mothers - Children - Husbands - 9 AM Sunday. Biblical Families.Week Extension Seven Extensions

 

Based on Jubilate - Easter 3 - 2026. Mikron (which means)  A Little While

Sermon on the Biblical State - By Pastor Gregory Jackson

Mother's Day has been popular for many years, one of the most recent ones. 

However, so much is missing without the divine work of the Holy Spirit - the

Word of God. Someone alerted to me recently - on the power of the Psalms - 250 smaller and also

a few much longer. 

The anonymous one said to me, "Don't just skip around but spend weeks or months to absorb

the goldmine's Psalms. Those among the 250 readers can appreciate how much they 

gain. The source is the Holy Spirit, God speaking, repeating, and gathering."

Now we take the written Psalms down or recited but we lose the contempt because we 

take so much for granted.

Psalm 8 KJV

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Bethany Lutheran Church

Video Broadcast Repeats

Sleepy Eye, Minnesota

Pastor Gregory Jackson

Note - four The Lutheran Hymnal tunes were fixed below, 

and they should work well for home, church, and office.

The Hymn #657     Beautiful Savior

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Make a joyful noise (Jubilate) unto God, all ye lands: sing forth the honor of His name; make His praise glorious.

Psalm. Say unto God, How terrible art Thou in Thy works: through the greatness of Thy power shall Thine enemies submit themselves unto Thee.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Almighty God, who showest to them that be in error the light of Thy truth to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness, grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. The Lord hath sent redemption unto His people. Hallelujah!

V. It behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead: and thus to enter into His glory. Hallelujah!

     

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
 Sermon Hymn #209   Who Is This That Comes from Eden?

Our Triumphant Holy Day

Communion Hymn #250      Holy God We Praise Thy Name

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 #514       God Moves in a Mysterious Way

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

Lord God, heavenly Father, who of Thy fatherly goodness dost suffer Thy children to come under Thy chastening rod here on earth, that we may be like unto Thine only-begotten Son in suffering and hereafter in glory: We beseech Thee, comfort us in temptations and afflictions by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not fall into despair, but that we may continually trust in Thy Son's promise, that our trials will endure but a little while, and will then be followed by eternal joy; that we thus, in patient hope, may overcome all evil, and at last obtain eternal salvation, through the same, Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

 

KJV 1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

 

KJV John 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. 17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? 18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. 19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

 

Mikron - A Little While

KJV John 16:16 A little while,  μικρον and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. 17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?

This is a one-word sermon, so concise that one little word - mikron -  is repeated seven times. If we pay attention to what Jesus is saying - concise and yet a lifetime of wisdom - we will change our entire perspective. I could say a microscope or a telescope. One is very short, the other reaches out millions and billions of miles. Micro is tiny and scope means "exam closely." Tele means a long distance yet it provides a close examination. I used to stop traffic on a state highway when I got my very large telescope out in the front yard. People parked their cars to look, so they could look at craters within craters on the moon. Jupiter, Saturn? yes yes!

This passage has three vital lessons - parallels. 

1. The first involves Jesus Himself, who will undergo the worst of all punishments from Rome and the Jewish opponents. 
2. The second is the disciples going through the same kind of torture, the agony of losing their Savior in a horrible and drastic way - the cross. Childbirth is often no better and is always the cause of great concern. 
3. The third is the experience of the disciples, which begins with Stephen (ordained to serve under the disciples) being stoned to death by the Jewish mob yet seeing Heaven opened up.

KJV Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

At a district meeting (LCA), a Harvard PhD seminary professor told the LCA pastors that Christianity grew by the sword. Nobody objected until I said, "You are completely wrong." He said, "Why are you saying that? I must have been taught that." I said, "You went to Harvard. That's why." Yale had a beautiful and serious, separate Day Missions Library. 

Day Missions Library, Yale Divinity.
Main YDS section - National Council of Churches, RSV editing.

This passage from John's Gospel is so clear that we miss the lesson about us. If we apply this to our own lives, we can see and experience what Jesus is saying about Himself, the disciples, and us. It is so simple that people skip past the message, and yet the early arrangers of worship though this was a very important study.  Great turmoil, discouragement, and release from the pain and sorrows - Jesus, the disciples, and the Christian believers - all participate together.

The lesson from Jesus is easy to remember (but often forgotten). We can dwell on the difficulties but they will be taken away. The Psalms especially are good at providing spiritual wisdom for our lives. The ending of Proverbs about the ideal wife and mother is just as true today and it was long ago.

What About the Anger And Guilt Dredged from the Past?

Some episodes can be extremely hurtful and discouraging, but what if they are the road to peace and calm? Even a step to all that one could hope?

The Good Shepherd is all of that - protecting us and guiding us to the still waters, driving away evil, resentment, and useless anger. We can say, "I know for a fact that the Savior will resolve this, the opposite of clenching our teeth or getting even or shunning as a punishment."

Prayers and Announcements

• Medical treatment - Kermit Way.