Isaiah 50:5-10/1 Peter 2:21-24/St John 12:1-43
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
His bond with the siblings from Bethany, that suburb of Jerusalem, is unlike any other. He had raised Lazarus, whom He loved, from the dead. It is likely that the sisters, Mary and Martha, financially supported Him and His disciples. The Christian charity and hospitality of this family cannot be disregarded. They typify the fellowship that exists among believers united by the Cross and Passion, the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And so, in common confession, they celebrate the Sabbath together with a meal. Martha once again serves. This time not in expectation of approval, but in understanding of vocation. Lazarus reclines at table. And Mary, that faithful catechumen, anoints the feet of Jesus with expensive ointment. Those blessed feet that bring the good news of the Father’s love for her in Christ the Word made flesh. Those beautiful feet that shall in a few day’s time be pierced through and nailed to the Tree of the Cross; shedding the precious blood of the eternal Son of God for the sin of the whole world.
But her extravagance is maligned. Judas, who for St John serves as the anti-type of Mary, accuses her of wastefulness; throwing social epithets in her face: “Don’t you care for the poor?” So it shall be for those who serve Christ, who follow Him; they are honored by the Father, but persecuted by the world in a veneered attempt at self-righteousness which simply masks a self-serving greed. St John tells us bluntly: Judas cared not for the poor; he was a thief.
Our Lord Christ, however, who was rich, for your sake became poor. He came not to be served, but to serve. He is your pauper King, borrowing donkeys, enduring slander, shamefully dying for those who as of yet did not understand any of these things. The crowds and the disciples continued to observe the signs. But in seeing they did not see. They beheld a miracle worker, a bread king, a raiser of the dead. Perhaps in faith Mary saw. Maybe the Greeks did. Judas didn’t.
In any case Isaiah did. Did you hear it? Tightly nestled in the end of the chapter, St John records, Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke of Him. Isaiah beheld the glory of the Suffering Servant, the Pauper King of Israel, who gave His back to those who strike, and His cheeks to those who pull out the beard. It is a glory revealed in suffering, a victory won in defeat, a life obtained in death. This is the scandal of the Cross, the foolishness of the Gospel. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
And He did not love His life. He loved you, even more than He loved His own life. This is why He prays, saying, What shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify Your Name. The Father’s Name is glorified in the humility of the Son, who came down from heaven, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made Man. He is given the Name Jesus for He will save His people from their sins.
And the Father’s Name is glorified again when this self-same Jesus is lifted up from the earth, drawing all men to Himself and casting out the ruler of this world. This is the wasteful extravagance of the Gospel and the purpose for which He came: the innocent Son of God dies for poor, miserable sinners, the Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep; the “Lamb of God, pure and holy, who on the cross didst suffer, ever patient and lowly, Himself to scorn didst offer. All sins He borest for you, else despair reigned o’er you” (LSB 434:1).
Beloved, learn from Mary, that faithful catechumen; bask in the light of His Word, even as the darkness begins to fall fast around us. And learn from Christ, as St Peter writes - one of the only places in the New Testament where Christ is referred to as an example; but take note, of His example - in the art of Christian suffering and noble death! By His incarnation, nativity, and baptism; in His obedience to the Father and perfection under the Law, by His fasting and temptation, by His death and burial, in His resurrection and ascension, Christ Jesus is first and foremost your Substitute; your Savior and Redeemer.
Yet as the apostle says, He is also your example; in patient endurance, in torment and ridicule, in suffering and steadfast faith in the Just Judge. For the Lord God helps Him. He has not been disgraced; but the Father has vindicated Him by raising Him from the dead.
Beloved, the Lenten season is nearly over, by now you’ve learned is not about you, not about your mortification of the flesh and triumph over sin. It is about Christ, who bore your sins in His body on the Tree, that you might die to sin and live to righteousness. You have been healed by His wounds. This is the sign of His steadfast love, as the Psalmist says, in which the children of mankind take refuge (Ps 36:7).
As you prepare for the feast of the Resurrection, would you see Jesus? Come then, for you have been made children of your heavenly Father, siblings and heirs with Christ Jesus His Son. He has anointed you with the oil of His Word and Spirit in Holy Baptism. You have become sons of light. His fellowship with you in akin to that of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus; yea, it is even closer, again as the Psalmist sang: They feast on the abundance of Your house, and you give them drink from the river of Your delights. With You is the fountain of life (Ps 36:8-9).
Dear people loved by God, it is here that Christ your Servant King bids you recline at His Table, where He serves you. It is not the Sabbath meal of old, nor the ancient Passover lamb, but the fullness of these: His own true Body and precious Blood, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Here He has fellowship with you and you with Him and with one another. This is the beautiful extravagance of His love; the highest charity of the blessed Holy Trinity Fear not, daughter of Zion, Your King is coming.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
His bond with the siblings from Bethany, that suburb of Jerusalem, is unlike any other. He had raised Lazarus, whom He loved, from the dead. It is likely that the sisters, Mary and Martha, financially supported Him and His disciples. The Christian charity and hospitality of this family cannot be disregarded. They typify the fellowship that exists among believers united by the Cross and Passion, the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And so, in common confession, they celebrate the Sabbath together with a meal. Martha once again serves. This time not in expectation of approval, but in understanding of vocation. Lazarus reclines at table. And Mary, that faithful catechumen, anoints the feet of Jesus with expensive ointment. Those blessed feet that bring the good news of the Father’s love for her in Christ the Word made flesh. Those beautiful feet that shall in a few day’s time be pierced through and nailed to the Tree of the Cross; shedding the precious blood of the eternal Son of God for the sin of the whole world.
But her extravagance is maligned. Judas, who for St John serves as the anti-type of Mary, accuses her of wastefulness; throwing social epithets in her face: “Don’t you care for the poor?” So it shall be for those who serve Christ, who follow Him; they are honored by the Father, but persecuted by the world in a veneered attempt at self-righteousness which simply masks a self-serving greed. St John tells us bluntly: Judas cared not for the poor; he was a thief.
Our Lord Christ, however, who was rich, for your sake became poor. He came not to be served, but to serve. He is your pauper King, borrowing donkeys, enduring slander, shamefully dying for those who as of yet did not understand any of these things. The crowds and the disciples continued to observe the signs. But in seeing they did not see. They beheld a miracle worker, a bread king, a raiser of the dead. Perhaps in faith Mary saw. Maybe the Greeks did. Judas didn’t.
In any case Isaiah did. Did you hear it? Tightly nestled in the end of the chapter, St John records, Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke of Him. Isaiah beheld the glory of the Suffering Servant, the Pauper King of Israel, who gave His back to those who strike, and His cheeks to those who pull out the beard. It is a glory revealed in suffering, a victory won in defeat, a life obtained in death. This is the scandal of the Cross, the foolishness of the Gospel. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
And He did not love His life. He loved you, even more than He loved His own life. This is why He prays, saying, What shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify Your Name. The Father’s Name is glorified in the humility of the Son, who came down from heaven, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made Man. He is given the Name Jesus for He will save His people from their sins.
And the Father’s Name is glorified again when this self-same Jesus is lifted up from the earth, drawing all men to Himself and casting out the ruler of this world. This is the wasteful extravagance of the Gospel and the purpose for which He came: the innocent Son of God dies for poor, miserable sinners, the Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep; the “Lamb of God, pure and holy, who on the cross didst suffer, ever patient and lowly, Himself to scorn didst offer. All sins He borest for you, else despair reigned o’er you” (LSB 434:1).
Beloved, learn from Mary, that faithful catechumen; bask in the light of His Word, even as the darkness begins to fall fast around us. And learn from Christ, as St Peter writes - one of the only places in the New Testament where Christ is referred to as an example; but take note, of His example - in the art of Christian suffering and noble death! By His incarnation, nativity, and baptism; in His obedience to the Father and perfection under the Law, by His fasting and temptation, by His death and burial, in His resurrection and ascension, Christ Jesus is first and foremost your Substitute; your Savior and Redeemer.
Yet as the apostle says, He is also your example; in patient endurance, in torment and ridicule, in suffering and steadfast faith in the Just Judge. For the Lord God helps Him. He has not been disgraced; but the Father has vindicated Him by raising Him from the dead.
Beloved, the Lenten season is nearly over, by now you’ve learned is not about you, not about your mortification of the flesh and triumph over sin. It is about Christ, who bore your sins in His body on the Tree, that you might die to sin and live to righteousness. You have been healed by His wounds. This is the sign of His steadfast love, as the Psalmist says, in which the children of mankind take refuge (Ps 36:7).
As you prepare for the feast of the Resurrection, would you see Jesus? Come then, for you have been made children of your heavenly Father, siblings and heirs with Christ Jesus His Son. He has anointed you with the oil of His Word and Spirit in Holy Baptism. You have become sons of light. His fellowship with you in akin to that of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus; yea, it is even closer, again as the Psalmist sang: They feast on the abundance of Your house, and you give them drink from the river of Your delights. With You is the fountain of life (Ps 36:8-9).
Dear people loved by God, it is here that Christ your Servant King bids you recline at His Table, where He serves you. It is not the Sabbath meal of old, nor the ancient Passover lamb, but the fullness of these: His own true Body and precious Blood, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Here He has fellowship with you and you with Him and with one another. This is the beautiful extravagance of His love; the highest charity of the blessed Holy Trinity Fear not, daughter of Zion, Your King is coming.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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