Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

Click play to listen to the audio version of this sermon.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

To download the mp3 file, right click the image below and "save as."

This is now the 5th stop that we are making in our journey with Jesus on His way to the cross. Each step along the way has brought a little closer to the terrible destination that awaits Him. Tonight we will finally come right to that destination.

Last week followed Jesus through the chief priest of Israel – Caiaphas. Tonight we follow Him through the governor of Judea – Pontius Pilate. Put these two together and what we see is that both the Church, represented by Caiaphas, and State, represented by Pilate, reject Jesus.

And as we will see, both reject Him for exactly the same reason. Jesus threatens their position among men. To follow Jesus would require them to forsake their reputation and position in society that they have worked so hard to attain. This is something that neither Caiaphas nor, as we will see, Pilate is willing to do.

This is the question that we must deal with as we continue this journey to the cross. Continue reading →

Click play to listen to the audio version of this sermon.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

To download the mp3 file, right click the image below and "save as."

Moving to a new town and a new home can be exciting, and frightening. When you’re young, it’s mostly exciting. The older you get the more frightening it becomes. Young or old, once moving day finally comes and you make the final break from where you have lived, you are anxious to get to your new home where you will live.

Just imagine then that you’ve set out for your new home, and a month later you’re still driving around the country looking for it. And two months later you’re still on the road. And a year later you’re still living out of a suitcase and your destination isn’t any closer than when you first left. And by this time you’ve eaten at every McDonald’s and Burger King there is and had so many Big Macs and Whoppers that you swear you’d rather starve than eat another one. And two years later you’re still on the road and still living out of the same suitcase and still eating burgers and fries, burgers and fries, burgers and fries.

When we get to Numbers, chapter 21, Israel has been on the road, moving to their new home for 38 years. They left Egypt and set out to a new home in a “Promised Land” that was said to be flowing with milk and honey. But 38 years later, they’re still moving. Everyday, eating the same manna and quail, manna and quail, manna and quail. They’ve had it every way you can make it. Quaildogs, quailburgers, quail-nuggets for the children. Mana-bagels, mana-pancakes and bamana-muffins and bamana-bread.

“From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom.” We can’t appreciate what comes next until we appreciate the geographical details that Moses includes right here.

They had gotten as far as the outskirts of Palestine, the Promised Land. And Moses sent the spies to check it out and bring back a report. And some of them said, ‘as nice as it is, there are big people living there and we doubt that they’ll leave without a fight and we don’t think we will be able to take them.’ And against the objections of Joshua, all the people said, ‘let’s go back.’ All of this, while the Lord God Almighty was standing right in front of them in the pillar of cloud with His hand raised saying, ‘pardon me, but I AM WITH YOU.’ Continue reading →

Click play to listen to the audio version of this sermon.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

To download the mp3 file, right click the image below and "save as."

So far in these mid-week Lenten meditations, we have followed those who were a part of Jesus’ inner circle in order to get close to Jesus during the time that we call ‘holy week.’ Mary of Bethany was a close friend. Judas Isacariot, although he betrayed Jesus was one of the 12 disciples. Peter was not only one of the 12 but also one of the inner three.

There comes a point however when the inner circle can take us no further, and we have reached that point. Now, we must follow Jesus’ through His enemies because only they are close to Him. We have come to that point where our Lord is truly all-alone.

Tonight we will use Caiaphas the High Priest to get close to Jesus. A bit of background about the High Priesthood, the Sanhedrin and Caiaphas might be a helpful way to begin. Continue reading →

Click play to listen to the audio version of this sermon.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

To download the mp3 file, right click the image below and "save as."

Jesus went to church one day and He didn’t like what He found one bit. One of you gave me an article to read about a couple of congregations in upstate New York that bear the name of Luther that celebrated “Dr. Seuss Sunday.” The sanctuaries were decorated with Dr. Seuss books, the pastors were dressed up like cats in a hat, the liturgy was written in rhyme, they celebrated the “Seussacharist,” and of course the after service fellowship featured green eggs and ham. What would Jesus have done had He walked into that church? “Do not make my Father’s house into the house of Whoville.”

Jesus went to church one Sunday and He found that the “Father’s House” had been turned into a “house of trade,” literally, an ‘emporium.’

I remember from when I toured the Holy Lands that once a day, the tour bus would stop at a house and we would all be invited inside. The house was full of crafts and souvenirs for sale. I’m sure the guide got some kickback for bringing a busload of tourists into their ‘house of trade.’ What the heck. They’ve got to make a living too.

It’s one thing for a family to decide that they are going to turn their house into an emporium. It’s another thing altogether to decide that you’re going to turn someone else’s house into an emporium, especially if it’s “The Father’s house.

When worshipers came to the Temple, the primary purpose for their coming was to offer to God a sacrifice for their sins, a sheep, a goat, a bull, a pigeon if your were poor. The Priests in charge of the Temple had dedicated a certain portion of the Temple for the sale of these animals. It probably wasn’t like this all of the time, but during the three great feasts, Passover being the big one, men and women from all over the world would come to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple and offer a sacrifice for their sins.

The moneychangers exchanged foreign currency, for a commission. There was also the ‘temple coin’ which was the only coin accepted for an offering. Roman currency had the image of Caesar impressed upon it. In strict obedience to the 10 Commandments, graven images were forbidden. Special ‘temple coins’ were minted and sold, for a commission. What the heck. They’ve got to make a living too. Continue reading →

Click play to listen to the audio version of this sermon.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

To download the mp3 file, right click the image below and "save as."

Of the six men and women whose lives bring us close to Jesus, Peter brings us the closest. There’s far more data in the New Testament about Peter than we can possibly cover in one night, but that isn’t our purpose. We want Peter to lead us to Jesus. In this brief survey of Peter’s life with Jesus, I hope that we will see something of ourselves, because Peter is very much a person like us. And in working with the data on Peter from the four gospels, it strikes me that there is a remarkable circle to Peter’s life as a disciple; a circle in which the grace and the love of God is clearly at work. And our goal is to also see how that same hand is at work in our life of discipleship as well.

I. Peter Recruited The curtain opens with Jesus calling to Peter who is fishing and inviting him to “Follow me.”

St. Matthew writes, “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew 4:18-20)

As we discussed last week, Matthew places a future event into the record here, before it actually happens. ‘Simon’ is his name, but by the time Matthew writes his gospel, everyone knows him as Peter. St. John, in his gospel, tells us that Peter and Andrew had been disciples of John the Baptist and had followed Jesus at John's urging. John reports that right off the bat, Jesus gives Simon a new name – “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas.” (John 1:42) “Cephas” is an Aramaic word that means 'rock.' As we heard this past Sunday, when God gives men and women names in the Bible, this always means that this person is to play an important role in God's plan of salvation. Continue reading →

Click play to listen to the audio version of this sermon.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

To download the mp3 file, right click the image below and "save as."

St. Mark begins his gospel with a bold proclamation – “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (1:1). After that, “immediately” goes to work. He’s baptized and tempted by Satan. He heals the multitudes; preaches great sermons; cleanses lepers; exposes false teachers; and tells earthly stories with heavenly meanings. He calms the stormy sea; exorcises the demon possessed, multiplies bread in his hands, walks on the water, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the blind see. He even raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead. And all of that is just the first half of Mark’s gospel.

Mark’s gospel is 16 chapters long. Today we come to the exact middle, the end of the 8th chapter, and Jesus asks the big question, “Who do people say that I am?” With the kind of groundwork that Mark has carefully laid out, what would you expect people would be saying about Jesus?

Mark has carefully recorded what people have been saying about Him up to this point. They say, “what is this?”(Question mark.) “Who then is this that even wind and sea obey him?” (Question mark) “He is possessed by Beelzebul.” (No question mark, but we wish there where one.) “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?” “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead.” “He is Elijah.” No one gets it! No one sees. How blinded by our sin we are.

Ironically, the only ones in the first half of Mark’s gospel that get it are the demons. “I know who you are, the Holy one of God.” “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”

So, when Jesus asks His disciples “who do you say that I am?” all of heaven is silent, listening intently to how they will answer. And when Peter answers, “You are the Christ,” the angels are dancing and the heavenly choir is resounding, the saints in glory are cheering and the confetti is flying. They get it! They see Him “as He is.” “You are the Christ.” Continue reading →

Click play to listen to the audio version of this sermon.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

To download the mp3 file, right click the image below and "save as."

What comes to your mind when you hear the name “Abraham Lincoln?” How many images and connections and associations immediately come to mind when you hear that name? And if I were to speak the name, “Adolf Hitler?” What thoughts, what emotions does that name provoke? Names are powerful. Our name is our identity, especially to those who happen to know us or our story. Our life’s story is contained in our name. The name and the story go together.

“Judas Iscariot.” Now there’s a name with a story. It is our intention this evening to enter into his story. We want to explore his story as it’s recorded in the Scriptures, not because we’re really terribly interested in Judas Iscariot per se. But he was one of those who was in direct contact with Jesus during that week we call, ‘holy week.’ And so we can use Judas to get close to Jesus.

I. Introduce Judas The first thing we notice is that “Judas Iscariot,” is listed as one of the 12 disciples of Jesus in all three places where the list appears – Matthew, Mark and Luke’s gospel.

One of the things that we sometimes forget to consider, but should keep in mind as we read the gospels, is that all four, gospel writers write their gospels after the ascension of Jesus into heaven. The gospels are not written like ‘reporters’ write their stories for the evening news or the daily paper – “reporting live from Jerusalem,” reporting the story as it develops.

The story of Jesus Christ is reported in retrospect. The writers are looking back on the events that happened. Which means that, at times, they may interject into the record details that haven’t actually happened yet according to the strict chronology of the account itself. Maybe they want to give us an understanding of how a particular event fits into the big picture. Or maybe, it’s because they themselves can’t separate what they already know and have experienced from what they report.

It’s like that with Judas. When Matthew, Mark and Luke list the 12 disciples, Judas Iscariot is listed as “Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.” Even as we meet Judas Iscariot for the first time, we already know that he is the one ‘who betrayed Him.’ Continue reading →

Click play to listen to the audio version of this sermon.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

To download the mp3 file, right click the image below and "save as."

The life of faith is really a very difficult, if not sometimes a terrible life really. Anyone who says that all of their problems went away when they became a Christian is either lying or hasn’t got a clue what it means to live by faith and follow Christ.

I think this is why some who come to church with their great problems and troubles, are often terribly discouraged and disappointed and don’t last long. They thought that Christianity was supposed to make them feel better about themselves. But then they see what it really means to live by faith, and they conclude that this is not what they thought it was and not something that they’re interested in.

Don’t ever tell someone with problems that all their troubles will go away if they come to church and hear the gospel. No. FAITH comes by hearing the gospel- not easy street or prosperity or relief from all your problems. In fact, truth be told, once the Holy Spirit works faith in your heart, your troubles have just begun.

The NEW MAN is opposed to the OLD MAN and the OLD MAN must be put to death. And the OLD MAN does die easy.

Trust in self must be replaced with trust in God ALONE. I must learn that all the big and little securities that I worship are false-securities and learn to “count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philip. 3:8)

The Lutheran pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer described the Christian life about as realistically and honestly as it can be put. “When Jesus Christ calls a man, saying ‘come, follow me,’ He calls him to come forth and die.”

So, why do we do it? Why do we strive to follow Jesus and why do we desire to be called a Christian? And why would we ever think that this would be good for our friends who do not know Jesus Christ? Not because it’s easy, not because it’ll make you feel good, not because it’ll solve your problems – please. Nothing could be further from the truth. Don’t kid yourself and don’t deceive your friends.

It is because this is the way, and there is no other way. Because this is the truth and there is no other truth. It is because this is the life, real life, life, as in, everything else is death, there is not other life.

Let us consider Abraham. Continue reading →

Click play to listen to the audio version of this sermon.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

To download the mp3 file, right click the image below and "save as."

The prophet Isaiah preaches these familiar words, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” Nowhere is this contrast between the mind of God and the mind of man more pronounced than in the cross of Christ crucified.

In divine love, the holy God comes into the world that He created to reconcile fallen and rebellious man to Himself. Fallen men and women are so blinded by their sin that they do not recognize their Creator who is among them. In fact, rather than embracing Him, they deeply resent the fact that He thinks that they are not worthy of heaven and that only He can save them. They become so angry with Him that they decide that He must die. They are so deranged that they actually think that they are being faithful to God by killing Jesus. The arrangements are made and the deed is done.

If that were the end of it, this would simply be a sad commentary on the depravity of man. Look how low man has fallen. We have killed our Creator who came to save us. But this of course is not the end of the story. As it turns out, it is by His death on the cross at the hands of sinful and fallen men, that God accomplishes the very purpose for which He came into this world. By His death, God reconciles Himself to His creation and His humans through the forgiveness of their sins. Now suddenly, this is not just a story of man’s GREAT depravity but it is also the story of God’s GREATER love. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

What we have just done is to sketch out the ‘big picture’ of God’s plan for our salvation and the centrality of the cross in that plan. We know the story ‘as a whole’ and how it turned out in the end, maybe something like the way that we know about the Revolutionary war and the Civil war and how they turned out in the end.

But within this ‘big picture,’ there are hundreds and hundreds of individual participants, men and woman who were actually there and personally involved in it. Some found themselves on one side, others the other side, and some were caught in the middle.

One way to enter into the ‘big picture,’ is through those who were there, for whom the ‘big picture’ was intensely personal and immediate. I was with a friend last week who’s wife has cancer and he said, ‘you know, I always knew that cancer was there, but until Tina was diagnosed and started her treatments, I never knew how many others have gone through what we’re going through and how much of your life it becomes.’

The fact the four gospels are not simply doctrinal outlines of theological truths but the telling of the individual stories of those involved in the encounter with Christ and His cross, tells us that the Holy Spirit invites us into this encounter through their individual stories.

This will be the approach that we take through these mid-week Lenten services this year. We’ve selected six men and women who were actively involved in that six day period of time that we call “holy week.” They represent those on both sides and those caught in the middle. I pray that with each mid-week service, we may be drawn into the ‘big picture’ through them, in such a way that we too are confronted by Jesus Christ and His cross. Continue reading →

Click play to listen to the audio version of this sermon.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

To download the mp3 file, right click the image below and "save as."

Moses called Israel to follow him. He promised to lead them out of Egypt and it's dreadfully dreary and deadly dangerous, day to day existence, to the Promised Land, where the rivers flowed with milk and honey and the trees were always ripe with the luscious fruit and life was good. And they followed him.

Jesus called His disciples saying, “come, follow Me.” People were looking for another Moses who would lead them out of their world where they lived under ‘foreign occupation’ into a new and improved Promised Land. Jesus called His disciples, 12 altogether, one for each of the 12 tribes of Israel, to follow Him from their world into His world. And they followed Him.

The world is still a mess and it seems like it’s getting messier by the minute. Lot’s of people are looking for someone to lead them out of this world into a better world and they’re willing to follow whomever promises to deliver a “promised land” according to their own definition.

The disciples followed Jesus. To tell the truth, for the most part, His world didn't look a whole lot different than their world. Sickness, diseases, paralysis, demon possession. It was all there, and I don't know but it sure seemed like since He came around there was more of it than ever before. Same politics and turf wars. If anything, tensions were higher than they had been. They don't remember this kind of questioning and suspicion from the religious leaders. Still there were the poor and hungry. Still there was the dying and the dead.

It wasn't a world removed from this world that Jesus had called His disciples to follow Him to. It was a world in this world, this world of sickness and disease, of paralysis and demons, of arguments and accusations, of poverty and death. Continue reading →