Titian's Supper at Emmaus
I am always looking for artwork to accompany the doctrinal quotations from Megatron, the legendary ready-to-go database. I found a series of painting linked in no particular order and chose this one for later use.
The resurrection appearances of Christ alone should make us treasure the Word of God. Crucified for the sins of the world, the Savior patiently spent time in demonstrating His resurrection and its meaning, teaching His followers so that 500 eye-witnesses would serve as the foundation of the Christian Church.
Although we are certain that the resurrection filled His followers with joy, that response would not have lasted if He had not built them up with His Word. Regret, remorse, and guilt would have overcome their joy.
One of the frequent lessons of the Gospels is - This must come to pass. The Scripture must be fulfilled.
I was discussing doctrine with math genius Lito Cruz, PhD. No one equals Luther in his appreciation for the Gospel itself, for the motivating force of God's forgiveness received through faith. Departing from that message, since apostasy is a sign of the End Times, leads to all kinds of error and horrible behavior.
Emmaus
KJV Luke 24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things?
And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of
angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto
them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Scriptures Opened
Luther's point in preaching this text has stuck with me. The Emmaus disciples knew the Word superficially, but the risen Savior opened them up.
Luther's exegesis shows us how every phrase of the 66 books of the Bible contribute to the Gospel. The false teachers only see law - especially those who pretend to be all-Gospel and all-grace in their ravings. Their law is man-made law, which applies to everyone else. Their gospel is also manufactured, applying only to them and their buddies.
These things must be. When anyone threatens the works-righteousness of religious leaders, they respond with demonic fury. How can it be otherwise?
I saw another version of man's religion yesterday. Green Lantern is a perfect reproduction of the faith of Napoleon Hill. Guardians take care of the universe and watch over earth. They appoint people like Green Lantern to be the local franchise holders (uniform, perks). Green Lantern can do anything he imagines, thanks to the powers given him by these Guardians. This may seem a bit goofy in a feature film, but it is taken quite seriously by the Napoleon Hill Foundation and its many related franchises. This philosophy relates to those Asian religions which trust in spirits and magic to deliver what they ask, even demand, for their happiness. Robert Schuller, Mary Kay, Clement Stone, and many others are Napoleon Hill religious leaders.
Many times I find myself listening to religious leaders or reading their works and saying, "This is Napoleon Hill, not the Gospel!" or "Straight out of Asian religion."
All false doctrine belongs to the Prince of this world, so their convergence is no accident. When WELS, Missouri, and ELCA leaders got together at the Snowbird conference years ago, the Management by Objective (Druckerites) taught them. That is a secular version of the same thing. Hasn't that worked well for ELCA, Missouri, and WELS!
One Blogging Regret
My only regret in blogging is that I become a convenient excuse for the lazy and cowardly. Decades ago, all the problems in Columbus, Ohio were my fault - they claimed. They could not admit the errors of promoting a known sex offender as their Church Growth leader. They could not face all their doctrinal errors, straight from Fuller Seminary, enhanced and empowered by UOJ. But when I left Columbus, the WELS situation really blew up. Doctrinal Polecats Mueller and Seifert reaped from the weed seeds they had sown so vigorously.
I heard from one or more sources that WELS students are warned away from Ichabod. I should say so! Mequon's dogmatics notes have warnings about their own justification by faith quotations (not mine) being "misleading."
How blind can a seminary faculty be, to quote justification by faith (pre-Pietism), offer the quotation to students on the Net, and warn those same students against the words of wisdom.
I wonder - in the seminary book sales - do they warn students against their own Gausewitz? He belongs to the entire Syn Conference, not just to WELS. Have they starting trashing him yet? Ah, forgetting him is far better. Nothing to see, move on.
So Ichabod must remain a little coffee shop on the Net, so dangerous that it must be denounced and rebuked on the front page of Christian News. Readers, are you going to believe your lying eyes or your devoted Thrivent leaders?
About half the page-reads take place between supper and breakfast. Perhaps due to world time-zones or Icha-peeking, the page-reads are quite heavy all night. The next surge is in the mornings.
Casey Jones, who phones from time to time, says he looks for new material several times a day, so I feel obligated to keep producing. I see his location show up, so I am moved to write more.
I think about the Easter appearances, especially Emmaus. I wonder, "What happened to most illusions after that revelation? Mortgage? Business? The attitude of friends?" The disciples needed food and clothing. They had worries, too. But how did that compare to a post-resurrection supper with the Incarnate Word?
Other love Nappy Hill. Tune in to Time of Grace for more of that: one idiotic notion expanded into a lifetime of TV shows.
