Quinquagesima Sunday, 2018
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
Lyrics are linked in the hymn number.
The melody is linked in the hymn title.
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 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 #351 Love Divine
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #351 Love Divine
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
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
The Epistle. 1 Corinthians 13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
The Gospel. St. Luke 18. 31-43
Luke 18:31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. 39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. 40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. 39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. 40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
Quinquagesima Sunday
Lord God, heavenly Father, who didst manifest Thyself, with the Holy Ghost, in the fullness of grace at the baptism of Thy dear Son, and with Thy voice didst direct us to Him who hath borne our sins, that we might receive grace and the remission of sins: Keep us, we beseech Thee, in the true faith; and inasmuch as we have been baptized in accordance with Thy command, and the example of Thy dear Son, we pray Thee to strengthen our faith by Thy Holy Spirit, and lead us to everlasting life and salvation, through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Luke 18:31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
There are reasons I have posted one of my favorite quotations from Luther with this lesson. People hope and pray and become discouraged. There is a moment in time where we think nothing good will happen. It is good to remember that moment, that feeling - which may be agony, because soon after, everything changes.
Some are at that point and about to experience God's Promises, which often seem to arrive a bit late, yet just in time.
Psalm 30 I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.2 O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.3 O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.4 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.7 Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.8 I cried to thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication.9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper.11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.We are surrounded by fake gurus who have all the answers, because they have learned they can make a career out of being coaches. They have never done much, except coach others and taken credit for their coaching. They are big on setting goals and give goals divine power. If someone has goals, those goals will drag him across the finishing line. If he does not, the angry goals divinity will prevent him from doing anything. That works well on people in a society where God is only acknowledged in curses.
The Psalms are remarkably because they express every spiritual experience we have. Psalm 30 answers that issue raised by Luther so well.
The false hope created by the secular gurus inside the Christian Church is that goal setting will accomplish everything, so one only needs to be put on the correct success path. Someone can rent one of these "Christian coaches" for only $100 a month or so.
But as Luther wrote in relation to this topic, those who dictate to God will find that their orders are quashed and ignored. We are too finite to advise and manage God, but instead we should trust Him to provide for us, before we even begin to ask, and far beyond our finite thinking and imagination.
We nurture faith through the Means of Grace. Whenever we hear or read about God fulfilling His Promises, our faith is strengthened. We may not feel that way, but neglect of the Word will pay off in a bad way in a year or so. Likewise, someone bedridden by a severe illness or accident will feel better or stronger, but the first attempt to walk again will be more like a newborn barely balancing on two legs. Just as the body wants to exercise and needs to exercise, our spiritual side desires and needs the Spirit at work through the Word. No one has to ability to sustain faith on his own, so the Spirit draws us to desire the Word and God's Promises.
That is a long introduction to the Promises of God in the Old Testament. One of our members was pointing out that the dominance of the Law in the minds of some is a misreading of the Old Testament. For instance, God made Israel His People before giving the Law on Mt. Sinai. In fact, He promised a Savior while expelling Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden - Genesis 3:15.
Redemption and forgiveness are constant themes in the Old Testament, as well as fear. We are creatures of fear, anxious about many things. God says, "Do not be afraid, because..." And then follow the Promises and the reminders of the Promises fulfilled in the past.
What was written in the Old Testament about the Savior is our guarantee that God will take care of us through all the troubles that face us, from the minor ones which face us at the time to the major ones that all must face, such as disease, loss of loved ones, and so forth.
We can look at the disciples two ways. Their many weaknesses are plainly portrayed on many occasions, but we also see that Jesus strengthened them in advance by warning them of the crisis to come and the Promises kept by God. That is how this lesson begins, Jesus strengthening His disciples with the divine Promises.
32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
This is the most horrible kind of warning the disciples could face, but it also strengthened them, so that perhaps their knees buckled many times. But they knew it was truth when He said it, because it was coming true before their eyes.
There are many things we know are true about God's plans, but when something frightens us, faith goes out the window and fear takes over. Faith is not an emotion - it is trust in God that has been planted and nurtured by the Word of God. Fear is an emotion that feeds on itself, as everyone has known from the beginning of time. Alexander the Great used it to defeat a Persian army of 1 million men. He had 50,000. Once had had them afraid, they ran like scalded dogs, even though basic common sense told them they could simply swarm over the Greeks.
We were not about to spend a lot on our 94 Town Car, which still runs rather well. However, the next bill would be more than its value. So my neighbor offered us a completely rebuilt car for the price of one Town Car repair. I said to my wife, "That was my worry, how will we replace the limo when its time was up." I could not even imagine it. That is a minor event, all things considered.
A bigger one was having some impact with a universally ignored theologian named Luther. So someone I knew said, "I could use some Luther books sent to Africa. They are short on books." So we became a missionary church overnight, although I already considered our work a mission to apostate leaders (who are quite resistant).
As A. D. Mattson proved to his students almost a century ago, faith means putting out the fleece.
Judges 6:36-40 King James Version (KJV)36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
I have used that before, but it is a basic story to remind people to let God show His favor.
33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
We can say, "But this meant nothing to them. They forgot. They mostly ran away. Peter denied Jesus three times and only John was at the cross with the women."
People are always counting the negatives, which are certainly there. However, in this day, when people have no excuse whatsoever, I have seen pastors I know become atheists because they were losing their faith and they spun out of control - and still are atheists. The disciples stuck together and were there for the resurrection, the last part that they failed to comprehend. So faith in Jesus can be like a grain of mustard at times. But look at what grew from it, because the Promises of God created and nurtured that faith in the disciples.
Likewise we grow stronger from coming through difficult times with faith and then have more capacity to understand and encourage those with similar trials.
Sometimes people mock pastor's families for having so many problems. But pastors also live a long time, in spite of the trials and afflictions. And long life is a blessing, but a greater blessing is to be thankful for all that God gives.
People take photos all time time, and I enjoy them, especially since so many friends live far away and communicate on the Net. But I have flashbacks that provide pictures and sounds, reminders of many happy moments. One dental hygienist laughed when she almost drowned me with her squirter - and she laughed. That was so much like Erin - and that was the hygienist's name, Erin.
We can choose which photos, videos, and sounds from the past we want to play back. Sometimes painful memories come back, but one displaces the other. The laughter replaces the agony, especially since patient endurance is name for winning in the New Testament. We are always urged in the Bible to trust in the value of patient endurance, because God's time is not our time at all.
The moment between the crucifixion and the empty grave must have seemed like eternity for the disciples and followers, a time devoid of joy, peace, or thanksgiving. But the power of the resurrection filled the rest of their lives on earth.
35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
So why do we have this miracle as part of the Gospel lesson? We could ignore it, but there is great power in the healing. A blind man was begging and wanted to know about the great commotion. He was not told much, only that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
Next we see the power of the Gospel spread by word of mouth.
38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. 39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
As soon as he heard, the blind man took his greatest concern to God in prayer, crying out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." Luther said we hardly say thanks for one eye, let alone two eyes. We are not thankful to God for them. We never think how wonderful they are until our sight is threatened or taken away.
Then when we hear the news, which can be macular degeneration or glaucoma or worse, we are delighted and grateful for any medicine, any therapy that will help.
The Gospel planted faith in this man's heart. When he had his chance, he took his concerns directly to Jesus, an example for us. Very clearly, the crowd tried to silence him. "Rebuking" is the strongest possible term. But silencing him made him cry out all the more. That is one of the themes of the New Testament, where important lessons (often from Jesus, but also from others) are cried out in a loud voice for all to hear.
So everyone around heard him cry out. And we all know what happens when there is tension like this. The crowd stops to listen and pay attention. Now everything is quiet.
40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
Now there is a big scene for everyone to view and remember. The blind man is commanded to be brought to the Savior. Once the man is situated, Jesus asked, "What do you want?" Of course, He already knows, but this is the blind man's prayer, lest anyone be confused in the future. "Lord" (his confession of faith), "that I may see."
He confessed Jesus as the Messiah - Son of David - and Lord, that is, as God. Now we find out if Jesus of Nazareth, a precise name without titles, is the Messiah and God.
42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
Jesus granted the blind man's prayer, and immediately man could see. How could this man not be joyful at receiving his sight? He followed after Jesus, "glorifying God", and the people witnessed this miracle and praised God too.
This is a good example of irony, because the blind man perceived the Messiah near him, not just a celebrity named "Jesus of Nazareth." The blind man "saw" the Son of David, and the crowd of people with sight tried to silence him.
However, the blind man was so trusting in his perception that he became even louder in his confession, so that Jesus stopped.
This means that the crowd following was helped by the miracle in seeing Jesus as more than a great teacher, but as the Messiah and as God.
This is a warning that many people are sighted - that is - highly trained in theology. Some have even studied Greek! But they cannot see what a blind man (someone with faith) can see. They silence the man of faith so they can make noise in the blindness and not see or hear what the Gospel really shows us and tells us.
So our confession of faith must be shouted, not in the 100 decibel range, but clearly and repeatedly. For some, it is their unique chance to hear the Gospel spoken or defended. Do not worry about the spiritually blind - they are always rebuking and silencing the believers. That is a good sign and a great comfort, to enjoy such opposition.
This blog is banned on "Steadfast Lutherans." That should make them all laugh at themselves. No one is allowed to post a link to anything on this blog. No response from all those "Steadfast Lutherans." One of them rebuked me for quoting Knapp's translator and making it seem (to him) that I was crediting Knapp and not Woods. See how they split hairs and dance on the heads of needles.
In the 500th year of the Reformation, no clergy wrote to say, "Thanks for publishing Luther's Sermons for a tuppence. I will get a bunch for my congregation." Several clergy out of thousands were thankful.
The "Intrepid Lutherans" were threatened by their bosses, so they disbanded, but no one laughed.
Etc.
The Promises of God are proven over and over, so we trust in the greatest miracles of all:
- God hearing and answering our prayers in the Name of Jesus.
- God forgiving our sins through faith in His Son.
