Behold a Stranger - Trinity 3

 

Trinity  - Previously Trinity 3, 2026

 

Trinity 3 2026. Luke 15 and the Gracious Mercy of God

9 AM Sunday, 

 

Bethany Lutheran Church

The Third Sunday after Trinity, 2026

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Bethany Lutheran Church

The Hymn #650                Behold a Stranger 

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Turn Thee unto me and have mercy upon me: 

for I am desolate and afflicted.

Look upon mine affliction and my pain: 

and forgive all my sins.

Psalm. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul: 

O my God, I trust in Thee, let me not be ashamed.

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

Collect

O God, the Protector of all that trust in Thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, increase and multiply upon us Thy mercy that, Thou being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

Cast thy burden upon the Lord: 

and He shall sustain thee.

V. I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me: 

He hath delivered my soul in peace. 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. I will love Thee, O Lord my Strength: 

the Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer. Hallelujah!

     

The Gospel              

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

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

       

God And Angels Rejoice

The Communion Hymn #179                     On My Heart

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 #49                 Almighty God Thy Word Is Cast

In Our Prayers and Announcements

• Medical treatment -those with emotional issues and those with metabolic disorders. Tom Fisher - very tough year with the sheep.

 By Norma A. Boeckler

KJV 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

KJV Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.  3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Third Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father, we all like sheep have gone astray, having suffered ourselves to be led away from the right path by Satan and our own sinful flesh: We beseech Thee graciously to forgive us all our sins for the sake of Thy Son, Jesus Christ; and quicken our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may abide in Thy word, and in true repentance and a steadfast faith continue in Thy Church unto the end, and obtain eternal salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end Amen.

God And Angels Rejoice

KJV Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth [welcomes!] sinners, and eateth with them.

Luke 15 is often called Luke's Great Passage - the Loving Mercy of Jesus.

1. The Lost Sheep - Luke 15:1-7

2. The Lost Coin - Luke 15:8-10

3. The Lost Son - Luke 15:11-32.

These three passages are distinctive in dealing with one particular theme, Jesus' gracious love - comparing that to the self-righteous or works-righteous Pharisees and scribes.

The Lost Sheep is not so much about the animal but God. 

3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

This is painfully clear. The works-righteous have their feet to the fire, as people say. Someone could have 100 sheep and still go after that one sheep until it is found. How about seeing people as God does? Sheep are timid, easily frightened, hard to control. The owner cares about them and their suffering. So this part alone is easy to see - the scribes and Pharisees are placed in the position of God. Jesus is saying, "Wouldn't you go out and look for that sheep, dying in the wilderness, growing weaker by the hour?" Our emotions would respond - we have to try. We can't let the little guy suffer. We will find him! But that is not all! The owner will search until he finds the lost sheep.

1. Searches
2. Finds
3. Lays it on the shoulders - 
4. Rejoices
5. Calls friends and neighbors - 
6. Rejoices
7. The lost one is found!
8. More joy in Heaven than the 99 almost perfect ones - a jibe from Jesus - for those who think they are without sin.

I often hear from people who have reached the bottom of life from alcohol and drug abuse. The Savior has rescued them from almost complete destruction and have experienced the long passage back from the wilderness, which very difficult. But it also means someone can be a good counselor after coming back. 

Most importantly - This is a parable about the graciousness of God. He delights in mercy.

When graduate students write about how tough Jeremiah is, I remind them of the name that came from the prophet's long, angry speeches. The denunciations are called jeremiads, in honor of Jeremiah. But I respond to Jeremiah 31

31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

This is a great follow-up, which can make anyone sweat bullets - as they say - go bats trying to find lost items - tickets, glasses, maps, etc. Once again, the emphasis is about rejoicing over the lost coin. Just as the angels rejoice in this parable, so does the individual have joy in telling the friends and neighbors. 

The joy is over repentance, not coin collecting. Just as we find a thrill in the object of value lost and then found, even more significant are the angels rejoicing over one repentant sinner.

Doubting Thomas - Broadcast Earlier in 2025

 

Doubting Thomas, 2026, Broadcast Earlier in 2025.

 Doubting Thomas, 2026, Broadcast Earlier in 2025.This Broadcast Begins Sunday, September 13, 2026, 9 AM.

 

The Hymn #206        Jesus Christ My Sure Defense

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

As newborn babes: desire the sincere milk of the Word.

Hear, O My people, and I will testify unto thee: 

O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto Me.

Psalm. Sing aloud unto God, our Strength: 

make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17

The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19 

Collect

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who have celebrated the solemnities of the Lord’s resurrection may, by the help of Thy grace, bring forth the fruits thereof in our life and conversation; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed for us. Hallelujah!

V. The angel of the Lord descended from heaven: 

and came and rolled back the stone from the door 

and sat upon it. Hallelujah!

The Gospel               

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22     
The Sermon Hymn #656        Behold a Host     

       

He Knows and Guides Us

Communion Hymn # 200       I Know that My Redeemer      

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
Hymn #285        How Precious Is the Book Divine

Prayers and Announcements

• In our prayers] - Kermit Way, members and friends.
• Pray for our country, our Constitution and Bill of Rights.
  

KJV 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

KJV John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

First Sunday After Easter

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee, that of Thine ineffable grace, for the sake of Thy Son, Thou hast given us the holy gospel, and hast instituted the holy sacraments, that through the same we may have comfort and forgiveness of sin: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that we may heartily believe Thy word; and through the holy sacraments day by day establish our faith, until we at last obtain salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

He Knows and Guides Us

KJV John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Everything was darkness and fear, uniting for strength against the Jews and the stout door. Not knowing is scary. We have lights, locks, chains, extra doors, and noises - and we hope that will do the job. This is the extreme on both sides - the disciples were completely lost and afraid - Jesus was there human/divine - the Word of Creation in Genesis 1 and John 1.

The time between the tortured crucifixion of Jesus and His Resurrection were frightening and chaotic. He knew what had to happen, and everyone either read, heard, or dismissed such passages as Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. The disciples were so afraid of the Jewish leaders that they barred the door shut. Jesus appeared to them and said the most comforting Word - Peace be to all of you (plural).

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

They were mixed up, confused, and afraid, but the Good Shepherd was fearless and compassionate. There were so many episodes in the past. 

• The disciples even accused Jesus - Do you not care if we die? 
• When Jesus suggested help for a huge group of pilgrims following them, "We don't have enough money!"  Our tendency is to respond to fears and agony, pressures and confusion, often - simply the reality of the seemingly unknown future. Our response is not adequate because the Son Himself has us in His hands.

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Peace and forgiveness go together in the New Testament. That is because faith in Jesus Christ gives us access to God's grace. Jeru-salem means "a place of peace," which is ironic, only because they would not listen to God as the catastrophic battle moved to an end (70 AD). Another revolt and the city was smashed even worse (Bar Kokba Rebellion, 132-36 AD, obliteration.) The Christian believers were scattered before the Roman Army arrived, because the believers were already driven away. That war increased the Christians and saved many lives as a result. They were not counting the numbers, but the faith.

Breathing on and speaking to the disciples was not new by itself, since they were led by the Holy Spirit, but they were assured of Jesus' forgiveness through this act, carried out to the believers and among the believers. Thus the primary work of the Holy Spirit is to 

John 168 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

John 16 8 και ελθων εκεινος ελεγξει τον κοσμον περι αμαρτιας και περι δικαιοσυνης και περι κρισεως 9 περι αμαρτιας μεν οτι ου πιστευουσιν εις εμε

Thus this act in the locked room is to carry out the primary work of the Spirit - to conquer sin through faith in the Savior, whose many miracles and Resurrection give people forgiveness of sin through faith in Him.

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

If someone has never doubted the Savior, then that person should re-examine the situation. This is important because we all doubt Him in various ways. Therefore, we need a constant stream of trust in the Good Shepherd and thankfulness for that forgiveness. The Son of God is so great and we are so tiny that we tend to move in the wrong direction, which should begin in forgiveness and continue on the True Vine (John 15).

Enchanted Peace is derived from the famous WWII Peace Rose.

I looked out on the front parsonage garden this morning, after some rain.  At least 60 roses are in full bloom, all waiting to become seeds (hips) and in some cases pruned away. Jesus Christ has given us clear, simple examples to understand His ministry to us. Remaining with Him means being fruitful in His Kingdom. Cleansing (being forgiven) makes us fruitful. The rose (or grape vine) is never dormant but can become that way without the source.

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Doubting Thomas is really Believing Thomas, because he traveled to Kerala, India with the Gospel and established Christianity there. We got to know a family from Kerala and attended the wedding of the older daughter. We often talked about how the Gospel there spread in various parts of the world, truly a global network.

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

This event is unique to the Fourth Gospel and easily remembered by its drama and meaning. The mainline/apostate ministers and teachers mock this passage (and the Fourth Gospel), thus proving their inability to let the Gospel take effect and guide their lives. Nothing is more powerful than the Spirit working to teach us about Christ and His benefits. The longer we live, the more we realize that truth.