The First Sunday after Trinity, 2014
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship
Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Daylight Time
The Hymn # 427 How Firm a Foundation 2:18
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #429 Lord, Thee I Love 2.54
Lazarus Had No Works
The Communion Hymn # 311 Jesus Christ 2:79
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 #347 Jesus Priceless Treasure 2:77
KJV 1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
KJV Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
First Sunday After Trinity
Lord God, heavenly Father, we beseech Thee so to rule and govern our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not, like the rich man, hear Thy word in vain, and become so devoted to things temporal as to forget things eternal; but that we readily and according to our ability minister to such as are in need, and not defile ourselves with surfeiting and pride; in trial and misfortune keep us from despair, and grant us to put our trust wholly in Thy fatherly help and grace, so that in faith and Christian patience we may overcome all things, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
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| This is a good sermon about the leaders of WELS/LCMS/ELS and the hyenas who run Concordia Publishing House. Marvin Schwan charities? Charity starts at home with the directors' salaries and benefits. Whooee! |
Lazarus Had No Works
KJV Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
In three phrases, Jesus set up a parable rich in detail. First of all - "there was a certain rich man." This means the story is a parable, a story designed to teach. We know how powerful words plus graphics can be. By wrapping His lessons in a picture, a clear story, Jesus gave his teaching a way to reach people of all cultures.
"Clothed in purple and fine linen" - Clothing was extremely expensive, so having plenty of deluxe robes was a sign of great wealth. Purple was a difficult dye to obtain and use, often limited to royalty. Linen was much finer than ordinary clothing. Someone would be in charge of taking care of such finery.
A recent contrast - Some Civil War soldiers wore their uniforms for years because they had no other clothing. Until recently a stand-alone closet (wardrobe) was enough for most people, because no one had many clothes. An older mansion had little storage space for clothes because there was no need. That was only a century ago.
"And fared sumptuously every day." Food is another item that often consumes a budget. Being able to eat enough is a challenge for most in the world. But to dine in luxury every day - that is costly by anyone's standards.
In other words, the rich man had so much that he could use it, flaunt it, and never worry.
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
A certain beggar - this is a parable. Named Lazarus. Everyone will remember his name, and yet the rich man is nameless. This beggar was laid at the rich man's gate because the demographics showed it was a good place to get extras. Deliveries came by. Important people stopped in. And some extras might come out the gate just for him - leftovers.
Lazarus was "full of sores." That is common for poor people with untreated health conditions and little food. The causes are many. Now we know that many nagging conditions can be alleviated or cured with the right ointment.
A wet spring in Arkansas means people are in agony over allergies. Burning eyes, stuffed noses, sore throats, congestion. When the pollens peak, it is difficult to do anything.
All Lazarus wanted was some food from the rich man's table - and there had to be plenty. But the dogs of the street (despised animals of the time) were the only ones who showed him love, by licking his sores. Now they realize dogs are quite good at finding problems and trying to heal them the only way they know how. Sassy will find a minor infection on my toe and ask permission to heal it. Her idea is to gently cleanse it with her tongue.
From this we see that the beggar has nothing and does nothing. He is too weak to accomplish anything worthwhile, in the eyes of society. Meanwhile the rich man may have investments, estates, businesses, and connections. He can urge that someone receive a powerful position or keep another from having a position.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Judgment is portrayed in word-pictures. The beggar has faith in His Savior, so his soul is carried by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. This represents a position of great honor. When a leaders sits next to someone, such as DP Buchholz sitting next to Jeff Gunn at every conference, it is a sign of honor, respect, and friendship. So Lazarus is transported by death to the place of highest honor.
Why Abraham and not Moses? Wouldn't Moses or David be the key figures to honor Lazarus? The law came through Moses, grace and truth through Jesus.
Abraham is the father of faith, Genesis 15, and a repeated example of justification by faith - Romans 4, Galatians, and here.
What did Lazarus do? He was too weak and poor to do anything. He was justified by faith.
In contrast, the man of action, the rich man, died and was buried.
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
The dialogue, as Luther said, is imaginary, part of the story, and yet it is truthful in teaching us many things about the afterlife.
Dying without faith, the rich man was in everlasting torment but suddenly sees the man he never saw when they were both alive. Since Abraham and Lazarus are best buddies now, the rich man asks Abraham to have Lazarus to give him some relief, which is ironic.
The man who never had a crumb of bread or a drop of wine for Lazarus would love to have a little bit of water to relieve his torment.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Abraham taught the rich man about spiritual matters. The rich man had nothing but good in his life and Lazarus nothing but evil. This is something Luther described in similar words. The cross means a mortal life full of woe but an eternity of peace. But people would rather have a brief lifetime of luxury and an eternity of torment.
What the rich man wants (what the Roman Catholics teach) cannot be. There is a gulf between those worlds and it cannot be breeched.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
Ignoring the first no, as any good salesman would, the rich man begged for Lazarus to tutor his five brothers.
This is a powerful message about the efficacy of the Word in the Old Testament. The Gospel did not begin in the New Testament, but specifically in Genesis 3:15, when the Savior was promised.
Moses and the Prophets - most of the Old Testament. The Writings (Psalms,etc) were accepted as Jewish canon a little later. There are enough Messianic promises in Moses and the Prophets to teach anyone about the Savior.
They have enough. They have the Virgin Birth, the Atonement, justification by faith, the implicit Trinity.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
The rich man pushed away the second No and tried again. Always Be Closing is the salesman's motto.
This is the greatest irony of all, because we have this from the crucified and risen Messiah. Someone has risen from the dead, and yet people do not believe.
