Norma Boeckler's Art for All

 

Trinity 24 2024 - testing

 

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Trinity 24, 2024

YouTube

 

The Hymn #  577                 God Bless Our Native Land                      

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Oh, come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.

For He is our God: and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.

Psalm. Oh, come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.

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

Collect

Stir up, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the wills of Thy faithful people that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of Thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual   

Gradual

Thou hast delivered my soul from death: mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

V. I love the Lord: because He hath heard my voice and my supplication. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. With Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light. Hallelujah!

    

The Gospel              

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

The Sermon Hymn #236                Creator Spirit By Whose Aid         

              

Two Examples of Faith and Power

The Communion Hymn #  307            Draw Nigh and Take the Body of the Lord   

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 #240      Father Most Holy

Prayers and Announcements

• Tomorrow Is Veterans Day.
• Anita Engleman's birthday is Tuesday.
• One year ago. Our Biblical doctrine series has a name - Reformation Seminary.
• Medical care - Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris; Sarah Buck;  Dr. Lito Cruz and his grandson. 
• Those suffering from emotional and metabolic stress.

Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Matthew 9:18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

Matthew 9:18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

Matthew 9 begins with a number of episodes and sayings, then  a father fearing he had lost his daughter but asking Jesus to bless the girl and give her life. The father has great faith in Jesus, asking that He lay His healing hand on the girl so that she might live.

19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 

They were together but all of them responded to the request, Jesus rising up and the disciples following. This beginning of a miracle is framed by another request for healing, the woman with an extended, painful, and difficult disorder. We can see from the Gospel of Mark that Jesus performed miracles, and they were so many that they were grouped together. 

A delightful German woman in Ontario had this to say to people who never went to church. "So you are better than Jesus?" The targets would say, "Oh no. I am not saying I am better than Jesus." She always responded, "You must be better than Jesus because he prayed in the synagogue." Jesus' prayers are emphasized in all four Gospels. Miracles are offensive among the modernists, who want the blessings of the Gospel but not faith of Jesus. Others take these celestial matters for granted, as if everything else was important but not what belongs to God Himself.

20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

This is the well known miracle concerning the woman who was suffering from a long-lasting disorder - 12 years. She had so much faith in Jesus - faith comes from hearing the Gospel - Romans 10 - that she was confident of His healing power. On the other hand, Jesus knew the thoughts and understanding of all those around Him. She did not need to touch His robe, but it was good for the crowd to realize what was happening. That spread the Gospel but also incited the works-righteous who found many ways to be offended.

22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Luke 8:43ff has a lot more details.

Mark 5:25ff has details similar to Luke.

This collection of three stories annoys the skeptics because they want everything smooth and rational. Their little-faith content concerns the Son of God having this power, so the writers and editors want to make it smooth and not offensive in any way. That leads to people changing the facts and also exaggerating what they want to enlarge. As Nils A. Dahl said, "What do we know for certain? The text! That is what we know."

The text is the very Word of God, and we should honor that and be patient with the difficulties of life. When we are young, we are impatient about everything. Decades later, we marvel at how fast things went and even how well the worst situations turned out.

23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 

This is especially dramatic. Everyone is already in mourning and certain of the facts. The young lady has passed away and they are engaged in carrying out their duties. The noisy mourners are completely wrong, relying on the problem rather than the divine solution. We can glean quite a lot from a few Biblical miracles:

1. They may not happen immediately.
2. They can take a very long time to reveal themselves.
3. They can take place anywhere .
4. They can be expressed in many ways.

24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 

The truth of Jesus the Messiah is met by laughter and scorn. That is how the Gospel moves forward. Those who harden themselves against the Savior may see their foolishness at times and repent. Here the mourners make matters worse by being coarse and obnoxious. 

Luke 8:47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

Luke 8:51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. 52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. 53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. 54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. 55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

Jesus response was not to bring fire and brimstone down on the scornful noise-makers. He shocked them the greatest possible way, by taking the young girl's hand so they could feel the sting of their foolishness, the joy of her parents.

America is going through a chastening. People laughed with scorn over a real estate tycoon running for president. His faults were piled up to heaven, but he won the first election. The second election had 15 million (or more) extra votes - higher than either 2016 or 2024. People laughed that he could get past all the obstacles on his way to the 2024 election, including a bullet wound and another attempt.

If we continue on this course of promoting trafficking, abortion, toxic drugs, and every style of life except the traditional family, we will experience fire come down from heaven, as it did before, with Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 13 - and Romans 1:28-32.

Great Lutheran Hymns -- Also Found on the Left Column

 

Hymns of Hope, Peace, and Comfort from 

The Lutheran Hymnal.
Illustrated by Norma A. Boekler.

Heaven Is My Home - #660

Be Still My Soul - #651

A Pilgrim and a Stranger - #586 - Gerhardt

What Our Father Does Is Well - #571

Abide with Me, Fast Falls the Eventide - #552

What God Ordains Is Always Good - #521

Commit Whatever Grieves Thee - Gerhardt - #520

If Thou But Suffer God To Guide Thee - #518

God Moves in a Mysterious Way - Cowper - #514

Art Thou Weary, Art Thou Troubled? - John Mason Neale - #513

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

What Is the World To Me? - #430

I Walk in Danger All the Way - Brorson - #413

Just As I Am Without One Plea - #388

From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee - Luther - #329

If God Had Not Been On Our Side - Luther - #267

Trinity 6 from YouTube

 

Click on the YouTube link.

https://youtu.be/EsILP69mYhM

sun two just looking around - it will go away soon.

 https://youtu.be/WcaGkRt9ATc

Building More Posts for Ichabod

 

Who can imagine the beauty and staggering form of Jupiter, considering the size and establish of its power?

 

Trial Thessalonians

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNEBPaD-mpM

Using Good Shepherd Sunday. August 2, 2026

 9 AM

Sunday, April 26, 2026

Good Shepherd Sunday. Misericordias Domini

 "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."
Isaiah 40:11. The Good Shepherd painting by Norma A. Boeckler

Misericordias Domini – 

The Second Sunday after Easter, 2021

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

The Hymn #436         The Lord's My Shepherd

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord: by the word of the Lord were the heavens made. Psalm. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

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

God, who by the humiliation of Thy Son didst raise up the fallen world, grant unto Thy faithful ones perpetual gladness, and those whom Thou hast delivered from the danger of everlasting death do Thou make partakers of eternal joys; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Then was the Lord Jesus known of the disciples: in the breaking of bread. Hallelujah!

V. I am the Good Shepherd: and know My sheep and am known of Mine. Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #206      Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense - Winkworth translation

          

 The Good Shepherd

The Communion Hymn # 328          O Jesus Lamb of God Thou Art - CPE Bach

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 #50              Lord Dismiss Us    

The Bible Book is moving along rapidly and should be in print in June, God willing.

            

Second Sunday After Easter

Lord God, heavenly Father, who of Thy fatherly goodness hast been mindful of us poor, miserable sinners, and hast given Thy beloved Son to be our shepherd, not only to nourish us by His word, but also to defend us from sin, death, and the devil: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that, even as this Shepherd doth know us and succor us in every affliction, we also may know Him, and, trusting in Him, seek help and comfort in Him, from our hearts obey His voice, and obtain eternal salvation, through the same, Thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

KJV 1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

KJV John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Three of Luther’s sermons on this text:

• Misericordias Domini. Second Sunday After Easter. John 10:11-16. Christ’s Office and Kingdom; or How Christ is the True Shepherd
• Second Sermon: Preachers, Civil Authorities, and the Knowledge of Christ
• Third Sermon: The Good Shepherd and his Sheep; or Christ’s Person, Office and Rulership

The Good Shepherd

Background for the Sermon on John 10 - The Good Shepherd

One of the most prominent themes in the Bible is that of the shepherd and shepherding - about 500 references. This is another instance of the Son of God, the Creating Word, teaching from His own handiwork. Flocks of sheep were essential for providing so many products and were useful for the examples used. Sheep are completely reliant on their shepherds, because they have little self-defense. Besides that, their weaknesses do not make them humble. Instead, they will go ahead and do what they want or follow sheep ahead of them. They will crowd into a pen just because one sheep got pointed that way (as our family friend showed us). They continue to push and shove with nowhere to go.

In the Bible, Jesus is both the powerful and loving Shepherd and the innocent Lamb of God. This is where Madam Hulda, human reason - as Luther named it, becomes all confused. It is great sport for unbelievers to ask how the Savior can be the Lamb sacrificed and the Good Shepherd at the same time. But that is how God teaches us, from many different perspectives, so we can identify as the lost sheep of Luke 15 and see Jesus as the Good Shepherd leading his flock and thrashes robbers and false teachers.

KJV John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

εγω ειμι ο ποιμην ο καλος ο ποιμην ο καλος την ψυχην αυτου τιθησιν υπερ των προβατων

John's Gospel has this word order - I am the Shepherd the Good, the Shepherd the good lays down His life for the sheep.

The words used to describe Jesus mean - in effect - I am the Shepherd above all Shepherds. The repetition of those four words remind us of Psalms, especially Psalm 23, and Isaiah's description of the Messiah - "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." Isaiah 40:11.

Throughout John's Gospel (but not in his Gospel alone), Jesus uses I AM as the Name of God, with the special significance of I AM and the Burning Bush in Exodus 3. Moreover, the introductory ministry of John the Baptist pointed everyone to Isaiah 40 and the passages following. Some call Isaiah the "Fifth Gospel" because of all the predictions about the Messiah. With Isaiah 40 proclaiming a voice crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, and John the Baptist fulfilling it, the region was charged with the thoughts

of John bringing on the Messianic Age they longed for.

But Jesus' statement, now so comforting, incited anger and confusion. Jesus clearly identified as the promised Messiah and was God Himself in the flesh. But the reaction of the opponents was "You are not the Messiah we wanted and expected."

This clash had to happen, because no one could grasp God in the flesh, though they saw His divinity in the miracles and the sermons. His true mission was not their mission. That struggle can even be seen in His carefully trained disciples. To prove themselves right, the opponents had make Jesus weak, a criminal, all predicted in Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22.

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

The hired hand does not protect the sheep, so they run from the wolves and leave the sheep on their own. The wolves catch, kill, and scatter them.

Luther:

21. He names three kinds of persons or three offices which have to do with the sheep: The true shepherd, which, as has been said, he is himself; the hireling, including all besides him who preach the Law and teach how we ought to live and do good, but do not point to Christ, like the scribes and Pharisees among the Jews of old; and finally the wolf, who wishes to be among the sheep and to rule over them but only works injury and ruin. The wolf is the devil, who also has his messengers and preachers. However, they have not the Word of God, neither the ten commandments nor the Gospel, but they mislead souls by false doctrine and heresies, which St. Paul, 1 Timothy 4:1-2, calls “doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy.” Such are now the pope’s anti-christian doctrines, the Koran of the Turks, and doctrines of other sects. These three kinds of teachers have always been in the world from the beginning. We should keep the first, reform the second, and shun the third. None do this, however, except the true sheep, that is, the little flock which knows Christ.

Decades ago, an LCA district mocked the inerrancy of the Bible, saying that people who teach inerrancy "don't have the guts to rely on Jesus Christ." That was the strangest example of cause and effect. When the district president was in trouble with a radical group taking control of a parish (with the pastor's help), the same district president wanted to quote Luther about the wolves and Satan. Luther always taught the efficacy and inerrancy of the Scriptures. In fact, the Latin words for inerrancy and infallibility are in the Large Catechism, part of our Book of Concord.

The Good Shepherd is the standard because He died for our sins in our stead. No one can approach His excellence and His grace and mercy. Pastor is Latin for shepherd, so pastors are to protect and care for their flock, keeping wolves away. One part of this is providing spiritual food and drink, so the flock is filled with Scriptural knowledge and strengthened against the wiles of Satan. He may have 1,000 arts, but the Word - as Luther wrote - has 100,000 arts. 

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

In the early days of America, the pastors often stayed in the parish their entire lives. When denominations gained more control, they began moving men around, so the best way to have a larger congregation and more comforts was to get a better call. 

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

There is only one Good Shepherd because He alone is innocent of sin yet died as a criminal and blasphemer. Everything possibly wrong was done against Him, because He was sent to be the atoning sacrifice. Blood sacrifice stopped at the Temple when the Roman army came in and destroyed it. Another rebellion caused even more damage and the Jewish people were forbidden to enter the area. The priesthood could no longer do their jobs because Jesus was and is the priest and the sacrifice.

I never understood Melchizedek (King of Righteousness) very well until I saw the passage in Hebrews - again - and looked at Lenski. Abraham honored Melchizedek because that man represented the eternal priesthood of the Son. Centuries of blood sacrifice in the Temple and the Passover meals featuring the spotless lamb taught the people the meaning of Atonement. Jesus fulfilled it, and that is the heart of the Gospel.

Faith comes from hearing the Report of the Gospel (Isaiah 53, Romans 10). Faith is the access we have to the grace of God in Jesus Christ the Son of God. 

Isaiah 53 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

One of my graduate students in Old Testament expressed her change of perspective well.

"Growing up in a strict denomination, I always felt a sense of guilt when I did things wrong.  I have to admit that the one thing I began to resent about the church is that we were "scared" into doing the right thing.  We were told of God's love, but guilt was always there.  Throughout this course, I have seen that God's love is what we experience even when we sin.  I have seen that there is no end to God's love, He is there for us and He will forgive us and give us another chance.  He is the God of another chance, not just a second chance.  All is takes is faith in God and he will transform us."

Those who rely on fear, or the Law, or their works will never provide comfort in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 

Sometimes people present the loving and gracious Jesus but leave the imaginary picture of God the Father, angry and punishing. The picture in Roman Catholicism is a kindly and helpful Blessed Virgin Mother, but an angry Jesus as judge.

St. John's true picture is that Jesus is a perfect mirror of God's love, mercy, and forgiveness. The anger of Jesus is aimed at little-faith and even more at no-faith. 

John 16 - 8 And when He (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

And how is this expressed by the Holy Spirit? - In the written and spoken Scriptures, in preaching and teaching. Flipping to the positive side, the Holy Spirit will teach faith in Jesus and oppose doubt and rejection. The foundational sin is lack of faith - not the carnal sins or covert sins but not believing in Jesus Christ.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

This too was confounding, because Judaism was largely an ethnic religion and very limited by its language, worship, and customs. Christianity - and this was a struggle - went out to all races and types, using the universal language of Greek. The Old Testament was already in Greek and the New Testament was written only in Greek until expansion made translations necessary.

There is only True Church, and that consists in those who believe in Jesus alone as their Savior, to take away their sins and give them eternal life.

The Book of Psalms - Book One. Psalm 2

 

Psalm 2

 

 

 

 

1 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,

Let the great kings and their warriors fashion themselves and scatter their weapons. 

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

4 He that sitteth in the heavens - Almighty God - 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.

Almighty God will fill them with their folly and harshly punish them.

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.

The Son of God will be enthroned on the holy hill of Zion. God Himself declared. I made Him my Son and crowned Him on Zion.

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.

Almighty God will fill the earth throughout the world. Many will be crushed and  smashed like clay.

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.

Kiss the Son of God --- instead of angering Him and being an apostate. Instead, bless all those who trust in Him, the Son of God.