Sunday, March 29, 2026

Palm Sunday - March 29 - 2026

 


Bethany Lutheran Church
Worship, 9 and at 10  AM - Central Daylight
Pastor Gregory Jackson


The Hymn #160         All Glory, Laud             
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution

The Introit 

Be not Thou far from me, O Lord: O my Strength, haste Thee to help me.

Save me from the lion’s mouth: and deliver me from the horns of the unicorns.

Psalm. My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? Why art Thou so far from helping Me?

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

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast sent Thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross that all mankind should follow the example of His great humility, mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of His patience and also be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual 
Gradual
Thou hast holden me by my right hand: Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory.

V. Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart: but as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well-nigh slipped; for I was grieved at the ungodly.

Tract. My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?

V. Why art Thou so far from helping Me: and from the words of My roaring?

V. I am a worm and no man: a reproach of men and despised of the people.

V. Be not Thou far from Me, O Lord; O My Strength, haste Thee to help Me.

V. I will declare Thy name unto My brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee. 

V. They shall come and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born: that He hath done this. 

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

The Sermon Hymn # 292                 Lord Jesus Christ With Us Abide                


Light and Darkness


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 #341              Crown Him with Many Crowns                          



Prayers and Announcements
  • In our prayers - John Popp, Dr. Kermit Way; Pastor James Shrader and Chris Shrader, Lito Cruz family.
  • Easter Sunday Holy Communion. 9 or 10 AM.
  • Thomas Stefan.

KJV Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

KJV Matthew 21:1 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 t hat 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.

Palm Sunday

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast caused Thy beloved Son to take our nature upon Himself, that He might give all mankind the example of humility and suffer death upon the cross for our sins: Mercifully grant us a believing knowledge of this, and that, following the example of His patience, we may be made partakers of the benefits of His sacred passion and death, through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Light and Darkness


KJV Matthew 21:1 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. 

One of the advantages in the Fourth Gospel - among many - is to see how John gives us essential facts about His Passion. Decades ago I had a member say, "Where is this in John? Why haven't we been told?" Two essential points in John 11 and 12 show how frightened and angered the Jewish leaders were and the importance of Lazarus utterly dead, yet rising from death, joining Jesus, and being at the dinner.

John 11: 47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
+++
John 12:1Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
John 12:2There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
John 12:9Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

The royal entrance can be experienced from two perspectives. First is the reference to the Scriptures. Secondly, Jesus is not there to cause riots and boast political authority but to assert His divinity for the benefit of the people and the consternation of the authorities. 

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. Zechariah 9:9

This is a great battle, between the Messiah and the two enemy forces - the pagan Romans, whose empire was about to start caving in, and Israel, which was soon to be destroyed, only 40 years later. 
  1. It was said that no one could defeat Jerusalem because of their position high up, its walls, and its abundance of water from beneath. 
  2. The Temple of Jerusalem was the symbol of their literature, their worship, and their holiness. Circumvallation and panic turned glory into slavery.

For Jesus, it was a combination of expanding the Gospel but in the knowledge of the great sorrows to come, for the Savior most of all, but also for the disciples and the women, including His mother.

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.

People came out to meet Jesus and others followed Him from Bethany. People also wanted to see Lazarus, which was a combination of rising from the dead because of Jesus' Word, and proving the miracle for all to see. Lazarus was a wealthy person (note the very expensive grave) and therefore well known. People saw Lazarus and spread the rumor. KJV Romans 10:17 - "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

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 t hat 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.

The Son of David is a great honor, promised centuries before when God promised Abraham and Sarah a son, a miracle  - and promised descendants as great as all the stars in the sky and the sands along the sea. King David inherited this faith, even with so many of his blunders and sins. That Promise continued on to Jesus and all of us who believe in Him.



Friday, March 27, 2026

Psalm 37 - KJV

 

This is especially encouraging,
and goes well with Psalm 91.
Books to read for those who love Luther and the Reformation.


Psalm 37 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.

18 The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

28 For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ

 




Abraham - counting the stars...





Thursday, March 26, 2026

Thomas Stefan

 

                                         Thomas Stefan




Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Access to Lutheran Books - Gregory L. Jackson - Good Reads

 


Click on the link below to see the information pop up on the rightat least I hope it will.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2474923.Gregory_L_Jackson



by 
 4.25 avg rating — 16 ratings — published 1993 — 7 editions
Surrender: The Secret to Pe...

 4.71 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 1994
Liberalism: Its Cause and C...

 2.40 avg rating — 5 ratings — 4 editions
Making Disciples: The Error...

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — 2 editions
The Bible Book: The KJV Reb...

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings
Luther vs. the UOJ PIetists...

liked it 3.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — 2 editions
The Faith of Jesus

by 
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — 4 editions
Thy Strong Word: The Effica...

liked it 3.00 avg rating — 2 ratings
The Holy Trinity Revealed i...

by 
it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions
treasures from luther's hou...

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating