Matins Service - Commemoration of Kathryn von Bora Luther
Matins Service - Commemoration of Kathryn von Bora Luther
Isaiah Study Notes - Chapter 60
Isaiah Study Notes - Chapter 60
Isaiah Study Notes - Chapter 60
Verses 15-22
December 20, 2017
15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
Forsaken - Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34. My God, My God why have you forsaken Me.
Hated - John 15:18. The world hated Me before it hated you.
Isaiah is describing the church during the time he worked with the Word. The church was forsaken by God. The name Christian was hated or whatever name the faithful went by such as Israel or Hebrew.
so that no man went through thee - This word picture of a ruined city also describes the church.
I will make thee an eternal excellency - The church struggles and looks like it is crushed but it will not be destroyed. The gates of hell...
a joy of many generations - Everyone in this city will have joy even though there be martyrs. A time will come when people will say, I wish I could have listened to Isaiah. At the time, no one wanted to hear Isaiah. Note: joy is a gift from God. You start with no joy. You receive a little bit of joy at a time. This joy never goes away. Happiness is different. You start with a lot of happiness. This happiness is slowly lost. Eventually it is gone.
16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
This is not worldly wealth that the kings will give the church. It is food and clothing. Some kings will be moved by the plight of the Christians and provide some care for their basic needs. Paul says (Rom. 8:36), “We are being killed all the day long,” and (1 Cor. 4:9), “God has exhibited us apostles as last of all.” As the Word spread and the Christians were dispersed throughout the New Testament, the kings were also humbled. They could not stop the spread of Christianity. The emphasis is the description of the LORD as Savior and Redeemer.
17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.
This is a general saying. The Lord will change sadness into joy. He will make good things more precious. It is like a political candidate promising to make things better during a campaign. This is the LORD speaking. thy officers (bishops/pastors) peace (KJV). your overseers peace (ESV). Luther: Visitation means episcopate. Thus the word ἐπισκοπεῖν is used in the psalm concerning Judas, “May another take his episcopate” (cf. Ps. 109:8). A bishop is an overseer, a caretaker of his office. Thus Peter says that a bishop must not be a busybody in other men’s affairs (1 Peter 4:15), that is, be hindered by alien cares and tasks. But his own office is to look around and to visit with the Word and sacraments...Your visitation, that is, “your episcopate.” I (the Lord) will furnish the pastors.
18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
Luther: “I want to take care that there shall be no injury, devastation, and destruction where this Word has been.” Just as above, every calamity will cease when the Word is present. For the godly, instructed in the Word, have peace with God, and they will also have peace with the brother and will harm no one. They will live peaceably with all (Rom. 12:18). Hearts will not be torn and disquieted, but all will be in peace. Injury and disturbance of the peace will be reduced internally and externally.
19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. 21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time. (Isa. 60:15-22 KJV)
Children's Christmas Program Video
Children's Christmas Program Video
Children's Christmas Program Video
Study Notes - The Death of Lazarus
Study Notes - The Death of Lazarus
Study Notes - The Death of Lazarus
John 11:1-16
December 17, 2017
1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
This is the first mention of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. It is assumed we know who they are from the synoptic Gospels. This is a long chapter; 57 verses. At the end of this chapter, Lazarus is risen from the dead and joins Jesus’ procession into Jerusalem. That is the account of Jesus riding on the foal of a donkey and children shouting Hosanna, etc. which is what we call Palm Sunday of Holy Week.
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
That anointing made Judas furious. The oil was expensive. Judas said it could have been used to care for the poor. Jesus responded that the poor will always be with us but not He.
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
This is a prayer. The intention is that Jesus do something but they don’t specify what He should do. This is similar to Mary at the wedding feast in chapter 2. They have no wine. The intention is that Jesus do something but Mary leaves it to Jesus as to what should be done.
4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
Jesus heard the prayer. Faith has to do with promises that can’t be seen. Glory has to do with what is seen. Jesus is going to do something that people will see with their eyes. In response to what they see, God will receive the praise of the folks. The glory of the Son of God will be His crucifixion. Jesus keeps pointing to that as His glory. So the raising of Lazarus will cause people to praise God and get Jesus killed.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. 7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
Lazarus needs to die before He can be raised. Jesus is about to do a great miracle that will cause many to believe He is God.
8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
His disciple are afraid. Perfect love drives out fear.
9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
This is the common way of speaking of a work day. Jesus still has work to do. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world (Jn. 9:4-5 KJV). Jesus sees the dangers clearly as one who can see obstacles clearly in the light of day. The obstacles won’t get Him killed until He decides the time is right. We do not see clearly because of our sin. Let us trust that Jesus clearly sees the end of our trials and hardships even when we cannot.
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
This is an example of what Jesus said in the previous lines. The New Testament often refers to the death of a Christian as sleep. It does not mean that the Christian is not dead. It means that a resurrection to life will happen for the person like a sleeping person will awake in the morning.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
This fits the purpose of the entire book of John. 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. (Jn. 20:31 KJV)
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
He is known as doubting Thomas. We should call him unbelieving Thomas. However, even unbelieving Thomas will believe in Jesus when resurrected Jesus meets Thomas in the locked upper room. 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. (Jn. 20:27-29 KJV)
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