 |
| By Norma Boeckler |
Easter Sunday, 2020
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
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 #192 Gerhardt Awake My Soul with Gladness
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #192 Gerhardt Awake My Soul with Gladness
That Delicate Word Faith
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 Easter lilies are in memory of our members, friends, and family who have passed into everlasting life, donated by Alicia Meyer in memory of Gary Meyer.
- Treatment and recovery - Rush Limbaugh, Kermit Way, Christina Jackson. Recovery - John Hicks.
- In the last stage of cancer and heart disease - Tom Fulcher, Diane Popp's brother-in-law.
- Diagnosis and treatment - Randy Anderson, Andrea's father.
- Someone's brother has health issues.
- Pray for our country as the major trials continue. And help all those suffering from economic difficulties.
- Greek Class - Wednesday, 7 PM.
Prayers and Announcements
KJV 1 Corinthians 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
KJV Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
Easter
Lord God, heavenly Father, who didst deliver Thy Son for our offenses, and didst raise Him again: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that He may rule and govern us according to Thy will; graciously keep us in the true faith; defend us from all sins, and after this life raise us unto eternal life, through the same, Thy beloved Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Background for the Gospel, Mark 16:1-8
The sceptics like to speak about "the Easter faith of the disciples," That means the disciples imagined the empty grave, because the sceptics have no faith - and cannot imagine faith. The answer for that problem is the Word of God. The Gospel Promises, because they have the energy and power of the Holy Spirit, generate and sustain faith. Simon Greenleaf studied the "contradictions" in the Easter narratives. When he was done, the Gospels converted him to faith. He was the leading expert on evidence at that time, and the evidence was all there on the side of God.
This is an example of the internal evidence of God's Word being infallible and inerrant. Sceptics pick on one detail, give it their interpretation, and reject the passage they have distorted as an excuse for their lack of faith. Some of the great thinkers - in their minds - are upset over the number of angels in the tomb. Two are there - one speaks. The emphasis is on the message, since angel means messengers, not on attendance. Knowing not that they know not, they pass their ignorance and prejudice onto others.
For example, they always the Gospels to agree. They demand it. They want lots of witnesses to the same detail, forgetting that one writer emphasizes some details compared to others. So what do they do with the ending of Mark? So many ancient manuscripts agree - yes, agree - that they are insulted, offended, and anxious for another solution. On the weakest of evidence and from blatant fraud, they claim Mark ends at verse 8. Proof? - too much agreement, too many thousands of Greek manuscripts - proving that the evil Church conspired to turn an ordinary man into the Son of God. There you have the collective wisdom of today's divinity schools and denominational seminaries. The LCMS, like the NT dog, has returned to its vomit - the Seminex years. They have gone whole hog for this nonsense.
More than one person has been in despair and inner conflict, turned to the Scriptures, and found "the peace that passes all understanding." That peace comes from the forgiveness of sin. It is instantaneous. When someone believes the Gospel Promises - or returns to them - faith is the entryway that opens the individual to an ocean of God's grace that drowns their sins in the cross and empty grave. The cross is Jesus' substitution for our sins. The grave is the victory of the Son of God over death and corruption.
Think of this - ye insulters of Lenski and despisers of Luther - both men wrong from the perspective of faith, not the skepticism of today's alleged scholars.
Background for the Gospel, Mark 16:1-8
The sceptics like to speak about "the Easter faith of the disciples," That means the disciples imagined the empty grave, because the sceptics have no faith - and cannot imagine faith. The answer for that problem is the Word of God. The Gospel Promises, because they have the energy and power of the Holy Spirit, generate and sustain faith. Simon Greenleaf studied the "contradictions" in the Easter narratives. When he was done, the Gospels converted him to faith. He was the leading expert on evidence at that time, and the evidence was all there on the side of God.
This is an example of the internal evidence of God's Word being infallible and inerrant. Sceptics pick on one detail, give it their interpretation, and reject the passage they have distorted as an excuse for their lack of faith. Some of the great thinkers - in their minds - are upset over the number of angels in the tomb. Two are there - one speaks. The emphasis is on the message, since angel means messengers, not on attendance. Knowing not that they know not, they pass their ignorance and prejudice onto others.
For example, they always the Gospels to agree. They demand it. They want lots of witnesses to the same detail, forgetting that one writer emphasizes some details compared to others. So what do they do with the ending of Mark? So many ancient manuscripts agree - yes, agree - that they are insulted, offended, and anxious for another solution. On the weakest of evidence and from blatant fraud, they claim Mark ends at verse 8. Proof? - too much agreement, too many thousands of Greek manuscripts - proving that the evil Church conspired to turn an ordinary man into the Son of God. There you have the collective wisdom of today's divinity schools and denominational seminaries. The LCMS, like the NT dog, has returned to its vomit - the Seminex years. They have gone whole hog for this nonsense.
More than one person has been in despair and inner conflict, turned to the Scriptures, and found "the peace that passes all understanding." That peace comes from the forgiveness of sin. It is instantaneous. When someone believes the Gospel Promises - or returns to them - faith is the entryway that opens the individual to an ocean of God's grace that drowns their sins in the cross and empty grave. The cross is Jesus' substitution for our sins. The grave is the victory of the Son of God over death and corruption.
Think of this - ye insulters of Lenski and despisers of Luther - both men wrong from the perspective of faith, not the skepticism of today's alleged scholars.
That Delicate Word Faith
KJV Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Sometimes I look at this lesson for Easter Sunday and wonder why we have Easter Sunday without the risen Christ in the passage. Of course, we no longer have a cycle of celebrations connected with Easter, a holy day, which we have turned into a holiday. Even the service itself - among Lutherans copying others - reaches out for gimmicks like advertizing bunnies to pet and holding the service in a graveyard.
But Luther has the answer - it is the first evidence of the resurrection of Christ. It is good to dwell on that and the mirror held up to see ourselves in the company.
1. This Gospel lesson is part of the general account and the first announcement of the resurrection of Christ, which was made by the angel to the women who went early to the tomb to anoint the dead body of the Lord, before Christ showed himself to them and talked with them; inasmuch as he wanted to reveal his resurrection through the Word, even before they should see him and experience the power of his resurrection.
2. And as we said there are two ways of considering Christ’s passion and death and the other doctrines of Christ, so there are also two things concerning the Lord’s resurrection that we ought to know and understand.
First, the history which relates the events as they occurred, together with the different circumstances and how he revealed himself alive in various manifestations; so that we might have a sure record and testimony of everything as a foundation and support of our faith, inasmuch as this article of faith on the resurrection is the chief one upon which our salvation is finally based, and without which all others would be useless and altogether fruitless.
Now, what a person ought to know about the historical events, namely in what order these two events, the appearance of the angel — which is reported in part in this Gospel — and the manifestation of the Lord occurred, that should be discussed in connection with the full account, compiled and arranged in order from all the Evangelists; therefore, we will treat the part mentioned in this Gospel in connection with that account.
II. THE BENEFIT AND COMFORT OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION.
3. The second point, that is more important and necessary, and on account of which the narrative has been recorded and is preached, is the power, benefit and comfort of the joyous resurrection of the Lord; and the use we are to make of the same faith. Concerning this Paul and all the apostles and the entire Scriptures teach and preach gloriously and richly; but most gloriously of all did Christ the Lord himself preach, when he manifested himself first of all to the women.
2. And as we said there are two ways of considering Christ’s passion and death and the other doctrines of Christ, so there are also two things concerning the Lord’s resurrection that we ought to know and understand.
First, the history which relates the events as they occurred, together with the different circumstances and how he revealed himself alive in various manifestations; so that we might have a sure record and testimony of everything as a foundation and support of our faith, inasmuch as this article of faith on the resurrection is the chief one upon which our salvation is finally based, and without which all others would be useless and altogether fruitless.
Now, what a person ought to know about the historical events, namely in what order these two events, the appearance of the angel — which is reported in part in this Gospel — and the manifestation of the Lord occurred, that should be discussed in connection with the full account, compiled and arranged in order from all the Evangelists; therefore, we will treat the part mentioned in this Gospel in connection with that account.
II. THE BENEFIT AND COMFORT OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION.
3. The second point, that is more important and necessary, and on account of which the narrative has been recorded and is preached, is the power, benefit and comfort of the joyous resurrection of the Lord; and the use we are to make of the same faith. Concerning this Paul and all the apostles and the entire Scriptures teach and preach gloriously and richly; but most gloriously of all did Christ the Lord himself preach, when he manifested himself first of all to the women.
The facts are not entirely flattering for the group. Jesus taught His resurrection, but the first to arrive at the tomb were there to finish preparing His dead body.
The change was so startling to them that they ran back, saying nothing to anyone. The women were devout, risking their lives, but they did not have complete faith in the teaching of Jesus. That is how the Scriptures tell us honestly what was going on and thereby showing us our own nature.
So we have heard the truth of His resurrection and the purpose of His atoning death. Yet we are prone trudge alone, our eyes on the ground, only looking at the physical, or like the professor who locked himself in a cage by clinging to his opinions (both from Pilgrim's Progress).
Faith is a delicate word for us, because faith easily turns into fear and dismay. But that depends on where our trust is placed. As Luther observed, when we are afraid, faith goes out the window. We can imagine 10 times more evil than good, even though the wisdom and mercy of God is a thousand times more powerful than evil.
There is a delicate balance in the women going to the tomb, which might as well have been guarded by soldiers (but no longer). Women do not roll stones away or pull them down. They did not cancel the trip for lack of help or based on worries about the dangers of consorting with a criminal (to Rome) and apostate (to Judaism). Their love moved them to finish the task of honoring the dead.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
They did not waste any time. When we do not want to do something, we can find 100 ways to delay before starting. When students are anxious about a test to study for, they find a sudden craving to clean the desk, to check the keyboard, to read messages, even to clean the room. But the women organized and set out before the sun was rising.
3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
This seems foolish and impetuous. They wanted to honor the life and death of Jesus, and prepared to do that, and left early, no worrying about danger to themselves. But they never considered the weight of the stone doorway, more like a lid that rolled in a groove in the rock. But when we seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, God intervenes.
The angels did not "let Jesus out" by opening the grave. His humanity never hampered His divinity in any way. The angels flattened the stone door to show that no corpse was there. That empty tomb became an immediate and silent but terrible witness to all who knew and feared the divinity of Christ.
In the same way, the open grave was soon a marvel and the ultimate miracle for all of His followers. The stone was very large - if any has had experience with moving a small boulder, that can mean four men working together.
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
The Scripture does not say "only one" young man, but features what one angel said to them. Simply seeing him made them afraid. This was not expected in any way, so the moved stone door meant strangeness was compounded by the messenger (angel is Greek for messenger). The message is poetic -
- Be not affrighted:
- Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth,
- which was crucified:
- he is risen; he is not here:
- behold the place where they laid him.
- But go your way,
- tell his disciples and Peter
- that he goeth before you into Galilee:
- there shall ye see him,
- as he said unto you.
This is such a simple declaration, such simple words but filled with meaning. Fear begins to turn their jangled nerves into calm, but not yet.
8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
No matter what, much of life is like this - sudden changes that leave us in midair, like the trapeze artist with no one to catch, no net below.
We can all name people who have gone before us. They include my best friends from school, most of my teachers, parents, many church members, and both of our daughters.
The day we took Bethany Joan Marie to the Cleveland Clinic was not our first trip there. It was the one where she was definitely diagnosed - on Palm Sunday. I remember that part - the week after was a blank. Then I had the Easter Sunday service in German and English. The hymns, prayers, and liturgy were entirely based upon life, death, forgiveness, and eternal life.
That was an instant transport into reality. The so-called normal things did not matter much. What seemed to be substantial was not. What was taught before became everything.
I never caught onto the spider reference which is used in Pilgrim's Progress, but it finally came to me. And this is what the Scriptures teach. The spider is overlooked in many ways, there are thousands more than we suspect. But even a spider can live in a king's house and cling to the wall.
Believers are already there, in that giant room.
