Quasimodogeniti, The First Sunday after Easter, 2018
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 Gospel
The Risen Lord and 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 #187 Christ Is Arisen
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.
The Risen Lord and Faith
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.
The first and most important message of the Scriptures is to see and apply this standard - this is the actual Word of God, His own revelation, not a book by man about his opinions and feelings about God.
If we stick to the first and most important message, we are truly listening to the voice of God, the Holy Spirit, and being changed by that experience.
Otherwise, we are simply getting a good look in a mirror and saying, "Look at what I have discovered." Most of those commenting on the Bible belong to the second group. That is why so many of them deeply care about what their peers think of them and remain oblivious to their false direction and bad conclusions.
The first verse of this text reveals the victory of Christ over sin, death, and Satan. The disciples were carefully locked inside, where they felt safe from the Roman Empire and Jewish opponents. They were still weak from mourning their loss. And in their midst, without warning or explanation, the risen Lord appeared in bodily form - not a spirit or vision - and spoke to them.
Calvin let human reason and experience triumph over the revelation of the Word, so he concluded that Jesus came in a secret entrance. Calvin imagined that the human nature of Christ limited His divine nature. And when men draws such conclusions about God, from God's Word, against God's Word, many other foul errors will surface in time.
That is why so many false dogmas arise from Calvin's influence, even though people are loathe to admit they are following Calvin rather than the Word of God. Fuller Seminary, after its takeover by the new Barthian faculty, based everything on the Calvinistic radicalism of Karl Barth and his devoted assistant Charlotte Kirschbaum. Since all the Lutherans (ELCA down to the fading CLC (sic) are loyal to Fuller Seminary, they are all Calvinists, with Barth and Kirschbaum as the midwives of this new birth.
Locked for fear of the Jews...
The disciples were so downhearted because they forgot the Promises of Jesus, that He would die but rise again. Emotions are easily driven by events, by fears, and they drive away faith. The appearance of Jesus in the locked room attacked their fears at the root. "We must stay locked up to be safe." Jesus, by appearing says, "Nothing is impossible for God. Have faith and do not be afraid."
came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you
Peace is a significant greeting. The disciples were in turmoil, so their emotions were in charge of their thoughts and muddled their actions. The women were out and unafraid, so they saw the empty tomb.
Peace is the great message of the Gospel. The battle with Satan was won by Christ, the Victor. Since He overcame the greatest fear and the most powerful opponent, everything is now subordinate to Jesus rather than to Satan, power, and material gain.
I know a number of people who have come to their senses about the Word of God and faith in Christ. The Word is completely clear about these topics, so once the fog has lifted, the terrain is also clear and and obvious. It is natural to regret living in that fog and drawing bad conclusions when seeing everything in a false and deceptive way.
Regret is one response, because the difference between a foggy landscape and a clear one is dramatic. I would much rather drive on snow and ice than through fog, which is even worse than the smoke from a fire.
We should not spend time in regret, which is an emotional response. The old meaning of metanoia was regret - the thoughts we have afterwards (meta - after; noia - thoughts). The New Testament meaning is contrition and faith.
Instead, we should rejoice that difficult and painful times have lifted the fog, showing us the truth in God's Word. Better to have peace later in life than never at all. Those who stick to accepted ways of thinking and worn paths will find themselves rewarded now, but ending life in turmoil and fear, no longer knowing the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
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.
The disciples needed actual proof because it was only natural for them to think, "This is a vision." Sadness and heaviness of heart distort clear thinking. The wounds proved Jesus was there, both Natures in Him, human and divine. That made them glad again, so faith and hope rose in their hearts.
As miserable as they were, now they were doubly joyous, because the contrast was so great. We awoke yesterday to snow on the roses and cold winds. Later, when the sun came out and melted the snow, it seemed like such a cheerful day, even though the air was still cold and another freeze was on the way.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Why a second greeting? John repeats so much. The book is not very long, only about 35 pages in 12 point Arial. The first greeting awoke them from their grieving. Proof of His Two Natures cleared up their foggy fears and thoughts. Now they could listen to what He is going to teach them. He is not there to accuse and condemn, but to wish them Peace, which is always associated with forgiveness and salvation.
How do we know that unbelievers are not forgiven and saved (though the great minds of WELS and ELS and CLC imagine this to be so and make that their official dogma)? Unbelievers have no peace. Apostates lose the peace they have from faith and salvation, so they are always agitated to prove to people that everyone has this peace and salvation - they only need to be told!
The second part - the teaching - should receive our careful attention. As My Father hath sent Me...This repeats a major theme of John's Gospel, that the gracious nature of the Son is exactly the same as the gracious nature of the Father. They are in complete harmony in their will, their grace and mercy, their love for all those who believe in Him.
The heart weighed down by anger, bitterness, sin, or pain from the past and present will tend to accuse God the Father. But to be resentful toward God the Father is the same as accusing Jesus. The universal appeal of Jesus is that we have so many stories of His gracious will and His forgiving nature, a Person who drew all people to Himself. So that is exactly the same as the nature of the Father. If we attribute the characteristics of Jesus to the Father, that changes our attitudes and we start seeing in those difficult moments, events, years - the gracious will of the Father.
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.
Here we see that the primary work of the apostles and those who followed was - teaching faith, so that believers were forgiven and unbelievers not forgiven. This is often seen as dealing with carnal sin, almost exclusively. However Jesus taught the foundational sin was unbelief. They were to teach everyone to believe in Jesus and to condemn (not recommend and praise) unbelief.
The emphasis is upon forgiveness (first) and not condemnation. Forgiveness does not through perfection but through faith in the Savior. Faith in Him gives us continuous forgiveness, which is the pruning (John 15) that makes us fruitful.
2. Faith, as we have often said, is of the nature, that every one appropriates to himself the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, of which we have already said enough; namely, that it is not sufficient simply to believe Christ rose from the dead, for this produces neither peace nor joy, neither power nor authority; but you must believe that he rose for your sake, for your benefit, and was not glorified for his own sake; but that he might help you and all who believe in him, and that through his resurrection sin, death and hell are vanquished and the victory given to you.
3. This is signified by Christ entering through closed doors, and standing in the midst of his disciples. For this standing denotes nothing else than that he is standing in our hearts; there he is in the midst of us, so that he is ours, as he stands there and they have him among them. And when he thus stands within our hearts, we at once hear his loving voice saying to the troubled consciences: Peace, there is no danger; your sins are forgiven and blotted out, and they shall harm you no more.
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.
Doubting Thomas is given that nickname for being such a Puddleglum. He suggested they would all die together when they headed toward Lazarus. His doubts caused fears, and those doubts energized the fears of the disciples. His doubt was so great that he refused the witness of his fellow apostles and made this gross class.
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.
A week later, Jesus appeared again - the doors were still locked - and commanded Thomas to do what Thomas demanded. I agree with those who say, "This was a divine command that Thomas had to obey." Thomas did as ordered and made his own witness, which has been preserved for all time, "My Lord and My God." Thus the divinity of Christ is clearly confessed, so there is no quibbling.
But wait a minute - there is a lot of quibbling. No one can deny the content of John, so they claim it was written centuries after Jesus and the apostles and clearly influenced by Hellenistic philosophy and language. Therefore, they imagine, all the content is reduced to insignificance, because John's Gospel does not agree with their secular doubting.
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.
Here is a blessing for all of us who believe, one of several in the Fourth Gospel. There were even more miracles that Jesus performed and the apostles witnessed them. These particular instructive miracles are written so that people would believe in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God - and that in believing we might have eternal life in His Name.
20. Therefore we must rightly understand Christ when he says: “Whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained ;” that this does not establish the power of him who speaks but of those who believe. Now the power of him who speaks and of him who believes are as far apart as heaven and earth.
God has given us the Word and the authority to speak; but it does not therefore follow from this that it must so be done, as Christ also preached and taught the Word, and yet not all who heard it believed, and it was not everywhere done as he spake the Word, although it was God’s Word.
Therefore Christ’s meaning is: Ye shall have the power to speak the Word, and to preach the Gospel, saying, Whosoever believeth, has the remission of his sins; but whosoever believeth not, has no remission of sin. But ye have not the power to create faith. For there is a great difference between planting and giving the growth; as Paul says to the Corinthians: “I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:6. Hence we have no authority to rule as lords; but to be servants and ministers who shall preach the Word, by means of which we incite people to believe.
Therefore, if you believe the Word, you gain this power; but if you believe not, then what I speak or preach will avail nothing even though it be God’s Word; and if you believe not these words you are not treating me but God himself with dishonor and contempt.
21. Therefore, unbelief is nothing but blasphemy, which makes God a liar.
For if I say, your sins are forgiven you in God’s name, and you believe it not, it is the same as if you said: who knows whether it be true, and whether he be in earnest? by this you charge God and his Word with lying.
Therefore you better be far from the Word, if you believe it not. For when a man preaches his Word, God would have it as highly esteemed as if he himself had preached it. This then is the power given by God. which every Christian has, and of which we have already spoken much and often; hence this is enough for the present.
Why be far from the Word if you do not believe? For one, it has the power to convert, which unbelievers resist and make up all kinds of excuses for that avoidance - against hypocrites, against clergy, against the institution, against organizations, etc. But the Word will have its effect.
I listed the three religious leaders together (3 denominations) who dealt with the Word all the time, were hopeless addicts, and would not accept responsibility for killing an innocent person - in each case - for their reckless behavior. Therefore, the more a doubting religious leader deals with the Word, not believing it, the harder his heart will be, the blinder he will become. And the Prince of This World will hail him as a great modern leader until that time he rips the blinders away and lets him suffer in despair for his/her horrible crimes.
Jesus offers terrible warnings for unbelievers and disbelievers (apostates). But He gives great hope, love, and mercy for those who trust in Him and know He is all graciousness.
He even said in the Gospel of John. I do not condemn you if you do not believe in Me. The Word has already condemned you. That is another example of the message of faith and the warnings attached to it.
