Maundy Thursday Audio Service

Maundy Thursday

Exodus 24:3-11

The prophet Moses tells us that he told "all the words of the Lord and all the just decrees" to the people of God.

We know about that, don't we?

After Jesus died and rose again, He sent out His disciples, saying, "Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to hold to ALL that I have commanded you."

As the people of the Old Covenant heard all the words of the Lord, so we've been going over the words of the New Testament in Christ's Blood!

And you've been saying "Amen" to them.

When Moses had finished telling all the people all the words of the Lord, "all the people answered with one voice and said, 'All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.'"

We spoke like that at our confirmations, didn’t we - the way that PETER did and all the rest the night when Jesus was betrayed - arrested - abandoned - denied by Peter.

Learn repentance, Dearly Beloved of God!

Israel wasn't lying when they said that they'd do all the Lord had spoken. Yet, they didn't.

Do you know what the word PASSION means? As in the PASSION of the Christ?

Passion comes from a language foreign to us meaning SUFFERING. Young married couples easily commit to doing all the Lord requires of them, when they are consumed by romance.

Then, when God wants to teach them how to die to self and live for one another, how to consider the other person better - when the Lord would teach a husband how to stoop in service to his wife, as Jesus loved the Church and gave His life up for her … then love starts feeling like a lot of suffering.  Like a cross

When the Lord would teach a wife to be like Israel, saying, "I will do all that the Lord requires," love starts feeling like a lot of suffering, too. Like a cross.

Israel promised. Peter vowed. We were confirmed and truly meant it that we renounce the devil, and all his works and all his ways, and hold fast to ALL the Lord commanded, preferring even to die than to be separated from His Word and Sacraments.

Then Israel faltered. Peter denied the Lord three times.

You and me? We, too, have faltered.  We, too, have denied the Lord at times.

That should make us tremble! ...

Only, remember that you have a Savior Who was not afraid to love you, even when it meant a Bitter Cup of Suffering.

Tonight, we hear how oxen were sacrificed for Israel.

In the New Covenant, the Lamb of God was sacrificed for all. The Lord laid down His life for you, and took it up again.

We heard that Moses took the blood of oxen. Half he threw against the altar. The rest he threw on the people, saying, "Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you."

Then, Moses, Aaron, Nadab and Abihu - who would later forget the Lord's Words and die - these and 70 elders of Israel went up on the mountain. And the Lord did NOT destroy them!

THAT is amazing!

The Lord knew Moses would strike the rock. He knew Aaron would grumble. But the Lord did not lay His hands on them THAT day. Instead, they saw God and they ate and drank. Amazing!

God covered the sins of His people with the blood that pointed to an even BETTER blood than bulls and goats and oxen. It pointed to the blood of Jesus. With that Blood, God covers you!

Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. But they already had been baptized.

Christ has already done more than take some dirty feet into His hands. He has taken your SINS into His hands and died for them. He has done more than wash your feet. He has bathed you in Holy Baptism for the forgiveness of your sins.

Now, as you come with your sins, your faults and failings, your secret lusts and fleeting love, repent and trust that Jesus forgives you.

Then, through God's forgiveness in Christ Jesus - do the amazing thing. Come before the Lord on His Most Gracious Throne, His Altar, this Table, and eat and drink!

This bread is the very Body of Jesus, given into death for you. This cup is the very Blood of the New Testament, poured out on a cross for your salvation.

Jesus stooped beneath the weight of all God's wrath against you and your sin, so now, God never has to lay a hand on YOU because He's laid His hand on Jesus.

Instead, He lays the Blood of Jesus in your mouth with wine, and His Body on your tongue in bread.

He calls you washed and clean, and with one voice, you say "Amen" to the ALL the Words of His New Testament.

Put away your fears, your anger, your sin. Lay it all into His hands as Jesus lays Himself into your mouth. And from HIS service to you, rise and serve each other - in Love.

In Jesus' Name, Amen

Matins Service - March 28

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday - Palmarum

March 24, 2018

John 12:12-99 The Triumphant Entry

Pastor Pautz

Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The Holy Scripture for this morning's sermon is from today's Gospel according to John.  Let us hear a portion of that Scripture again. It is written in John 12:17-18.

17The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this miracle.

Thus far the text.  Let us pray:

Creator Father, Your Son raised Lazarus from the dead and then entered Your holy city Jerusalem to die Lazarus' death and become the atoning sacrifice to save all sinners from death.  Save us, O Father, by sending Your blessed Son, who comes in Your name, to give us His resurrected body and blood to us to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of our sins and so that our bodies may rise on the last day too, never to die again; in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem is connected to the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

Many people saw the resurrection of Lazarus.  Four days after Lazarus died, Jesus showed up and wept for His friend.  "Move the stone," Jesus said. Martha calmly but sincerely suggested otherwise, "It will stink."   Jesus replied, "Did I, Jesus, not tell you that if you believe you would see the glory of God." So, they rolled away the stone.  Jesus prayed. Then Jesus said, "Lazarus, come out."

And Lazarus come out of the grave.

And many witnessed Lazarus' resurrection.

And every eye-witness was talking and more than a few were plotting Jesus' death.

And then it was Palm Sunday.  Six days before the Lord's Passover.

Jesus left Bethany to enter Jerusalem and Lazarus was with Jesus.  The large crowd broke into two groups. One group walked with Jesus.  The other group ran ahead to tell people that Jesus resurrected Lazarus from the dead and that both Jesus and Lazarus were coming to Jerusalem, so a third group formed and was waiting Jesus' arrival.

Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem is connected to the raising of Lazarus from the dead.   But for the wrong reasons.

For Jesus knows the week that he is about to face. Jesus knows that is not riding in a king's triumph, but rather in a convicts final procession to the crucifixion. The crowds don't know it, the disciples don't know, but Jesus knows it: he is riding to his death.

But Lazarus is there.  Jesus has power over death.  And when someone has that much power...people want a peace of it.  One group wants a king. Another group wants Jerusalem's glory years to return.  Another group wants to see the mighty Romans paraded out of town. Other groups want Jesus dead.

You want something too.  Something different than a dead and bloodied Jesus, I suppose.  One group wants confirmation over with so they don't have to study the Holy Scriptures anymore.   Another group wants more programs so more people can get involved so they can feel better about their unbelief.  

And yet it is your unbelief that does not want to hear that faith in a dead and bloodied Jesus is your hope for the life of your soul and body.

So, repent.  Repent by the Law and believe by the Gospel.  Repent by studying the Holy Scriptures and believe by asking God for mercy.  Repent of attaching strings and demands to your offerings and believe that our Father is taking care of you.  Repent of your plan to spend the congregation's offerings and believe that their use is for distributing Jesus by His means of Word and Sacrament.  

Repent and believe that Jesus loves you without any strings attached or for any other purpose that to save your from your sins and give you life, without any merit or worthiness in you.

This Thursday, Jesus will tell you again how changed the Lord's Passover to the Lord's Supper so that death will pass over you and you will be freed from bondage to your sin.  This gift will be received by faith.

This Friday, Jesus will tell you again how He suffered and died as your sin, so that you will never experience the horror of death even though one day you will die.  This gift is received by faith.

This Saturday, too, is a special service.  Jesus will tell you of His descent into Hell and how you are now already mostly resurrected from the dead.  Your soul already experiences eternal life. Only your skin and bones need the renewal. This gift is received by faith.

Faith, not in crowds or selfish desires, but in the Annointed One who has power over death because He is the True God who took on your humanity into Himself and died as your sin.  This is the week Jesus accomplished the atoning sacrifice for your sin. That atonement is finished.

Now, the delivery of that Good Friday atonement by the Holy Spirit's tools.  Holy Baptism, Absolution, Holy Communion, Holy Gospel for the forgiveness of your sins.  And where there is the forgiveness of sins, there is also salvation and eternal life; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Fifth Midweek in Lent

Fifth Midweek in Lent