Isaiah 50:5-10; 1 Peter 2:21-24; St John 12:1-43
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
It is the Saturday before Palm Sunday. Six days before the Passover. And Jesus is visiting the home of His good friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Martha is serving, for that is what she does. That is her custom and domain.
Earlier, when Jesus gently chastised her over her anxiety concerning Mary’s unwillingness to help, He didn’t instruct her to give up her vocation. The Word of the Lord can never be an excuse to abandon our God-given vocations. But, His Word has something to say about priorities and contentment and piety.
Thus, some will be here these additional days of Holy Week and others won’t. That’s fine. Pray for those who cannot be here tonight. Pray that they would be gathered around the Table of the Lord later this week, joined together by His Word and promise, to partake of the meal of His Sacrifice. And in eating the Bread and drinking the Cup, they, together with you, would continually proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
In the meantime, recline here at Table with Him, where He is both Host and Meal. For the feet anointed by Mary are the feet that shall be nailed to the Tree of Life for you. Those beautiful feet that bring the great good news of peace with the Father, of reconciliation between God and man, of a way back to the Garden.
And it is St Peter, sitting there at table with Jesus and Lazarus and the others, watching, listening, learning, getting lost in his own thoughts and ambitions, but who later, by the work of the Holy Spirit, sees with clarity, this is the purpose of Christ’s coming. And to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. This is the way of the disciple, who is not greater than the Master, but follows after Him in the Way of the Cross. The accounts of the Passion of our Lord Jesus prepare you for your death and burial.
That is ultimately why you are here, beloved. This night, each night this week, every night and every Sunday. Here to see Jesus, your Lord and Savior, your Advocate and Defender, your Atoning Sacrifice for sins. To receive His death-defying life in Word and Supper. The passion accounts are not merely the narrative of His last days, recounting history; they are the living, breathing, active Word of God into which you are immersed and partake. In them you receive exactly what they say. The Word of the Lord does what it says.
Do you wish to see Jesus? He is here, in His living Word, lifted up through preaching and His Supper, glorifying the Father by having mercy on poor sinners. Here He is, the Grain of Wheat that has fallen into the earth and died, producing a bountiful harvest in the souls of His dear ones gathered to Himself. Here He casts out the ruler of this world, the Prince of Darkness is expelled from the domain of Light by He who is Himself the Light of the world. For Christ loved not His own life in this world, but loved you to the end. In loving service to you He lays down His life in order that you may have eternal life; in order that you may become sons of light.
Do you wish to see Jesus? Behold, beloved, the curtain is pulled back and the sliver of the eternal light that is the Divine Logos, the Word who is the light of men, shines forth in His holy Word. Do you see it? Here in the Divine Liturgy, where the written Word of the Holy Spirit is read and preached and enacted in the Sacraments, here is Jesus, who hid Himself from the people, but is now visible to the eyes of faith. This is not some production of historical events like a Passion Play. This is salvation history playing out here in time for you; with you. Here you participate in your justification; in what makes for peace.
Not sure? Listen to the words of St John the Evangelist: Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke of Him. Isaiah the prophet saw the glory of Christ Jesus! When? In the year that King Uzziah died, when Isaiah saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of His robe filled the Temple! (Is 6:1).
You, dear ones, are brought into that throne room. Where the six-winged angels encircle the throne and chant the Sanctus. Where the House of the Lord is filled with the incense of your repentant prayer. We ought to be lost, for we are a people of unclean lips and lying hearts and betraying consciences. Too often we find ourselves like Judas at the table.
But fear not, daughter of Zion, for the burning coal of Christ’s sacrifice has touched your lips. He has taken away your guilt. He has atoned for your sin. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. You shall not die, but live and recount the deeds of the Lord.
Therefore approach Him on bended knee, here, at His Table, where Christ is both Host and Meal. Where He who anointed you with the oil of gladness in Holy Baptism comes again to serve you with the fruit of the Tree of Life, His very Body and Blood from the Cross. This is the medicine of immortality. For not only does the Son of Man remain forever, victorious from the dead, but He gives this victory to His children, even as He did early this morning to our dear brother Jack Jenkins.
For gathered at this Table with you are all your Lazaruses; those who have died, but are alive in Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly places. The crowds came not only to see Jesus, but also Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. So too here. Your brothers and fathers and husbands, mothers and wives and daughters, all; those who have departed this life in the faith, alive together with Christ Jesus, reclining with you at the eternal Table of the Lord.
They are among the great cloud of witnesses which surrounds you, ever singing praises at all times and in all places to your holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, though Jesus Christ our Lord, who rode in on borrowed donkey to die for the sins of the whole world and who now rides in under bread and wine, His Body and Blood, bringing salvation with Him.
Fear not, beloved. The Cross of Jesus is His glory. The Cross of Jesus is your glory. Soon you shall behold Him face to face and be fully known. For now, recline at Table with Him, eat and drink of His hand. Follow Him up to Jerusalem. Follow Him through the crowds and the Temple, to the Upper Room and the Garden. Follow Him through the trial, the scourging, the mocking, the torture and the death. Follow Him in the Way of the Cross unto the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
It is the Saturday before Palm Sunday. Six days before the Passover. And Jesus is visiting the home of His good friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Martha is serving, for that is what she does. That is her custom and domain.
Earlier, when Jesus gently chastised her over her anxiety concerning Mary’s unwillingness to help, He didn’t instruct her to give up her vocation. The Word of the Lord can never be an excuse to abandon our God-given vocations. But, His Word has something to say about priorities and contentment and piety.
Thus, some will be here these additional days of Holy Week and others won’t. That’s fine. Pray for those who cannot be here tonight. Pray that they would be gathered around the Table of the Lord later this week, joined together by His Word and promise, to partake of the meal of His Sacrifice. And in eating the Bread and drinking the Cup, they, together with you, would continually proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
In the meantime, recline here at Table with Him, where He is both Host and Meal. For the feet anointed by Mary are the feet that shall be nailed to the Tree of Life for you. Those beautiful feet that bring the great good news of peace with the Father, of reconciliation between God and man, of a way back to the Garden.
And it is St Peter, sitting there at table with Jesus and Lazarus and the others, watching, listening, learning, getting lost in his own thoughts and ambitions, but who later, by the work of the Holy Spirit, sees with clarity, this is the purpose of Christ’s coming. And to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. This is the way of the disciple, who is not greater than the Master, but follows after Him in the Way of the Cross. The accounts of the Passion of our Lord Jesus prepare you for your death and burial.
That is ultimately why you are here, beloved. This night, each night this week, every night and every Sunday. Here to see Jesus, your Lord and Savior, your Advocate and Defender, your Atoning Sacrifice for sins. To receive His death-defying life in Word and Supper. The passion accounts are not merely the narrative of His last days, recounting history; they are the living, breathing, active Word of God into which you are immersed and partake. In them you receive exactly what they say. The Word of the Lord does what it says.
Do you wish to see Jesus? He is here, in His living Word, lifted up through preaching and His Supper, glorifying the Father by having mercy on poor sinners. Here He is, the Grain of Wheat that has fallen into the earth and died, producing a bountiful harvest in the souls of His dear ones gathered to Himself. Here He casts out the ruler of this world, the Prince of Darkness is expelled from the domain of Light by He who is Himself the Light of the world. For Christ loved not His own life in this world, but loved you to the end. In loving service to you He lays down His life in order that you may have eternal life; in order that you may become sons of light.
Do you wish to see Jesus? Behold, beloved, the curtain is pulled back and the sliver of the eternal light that is the Divine Logos, the Word who is the light of men, shines forth in His holy Word. Do you see it? Here in the Divine Liturgy, where the written Word of the Holy Spirit is read and preached and enacted in the Sacraments, here is Jesus, who hid Himself from the people, but is now visible to the eyes of faith. This is not some production of historical events like a Passion Play. This is salvation history playing out here in time for you; with you. Here you participate in your justification; in what makes for peace.
Not sure? Listen to the words of St John the Evangelist: Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke of Him. Isaiah the prophet saw the glory of Christ Jesus! When? In the year that King Uzziah died, when Isaiah saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of His robe filled the Temple! (Is 6:1).
You, dear ones, are brought into that throne room. Where the six-winged angels encircle the throne and chant the Sanctus. Where the House of the Lord is filled with the incense of your repentant prayer. We ought to be lost, for we are a people of unclean lips and lying hearts and betraying consciences. Too often we find ourselves like Judas at the table.
But fear not, daughter of Zion, for the burning coal of Christ’s sacrifice has touched your lips. He has taken away your guilt. He has atoned for your sin. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. You shall not die, but live and recount the deeds of the Lord.
Therefore approach Him on bended knee, here, at His Table, where Christ is both Host and Meal. Where He who anointed you with the oil of gladness in Holy Baptism comes again to serve you with the fruit of the Tree of Life, His very Body and Blood from the Cross. This is the medicine of immortality. For not only does the Son of Man remain forever, victorious from the dead, but He gives this victory to His children, even as He did early this morning to our dear brother Jack Jenkins.
For gathered at this Table with you are all your Lazaruses; those who have died, but are alive in Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly places. The crowds came not only to see Jesus, but also Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. So too here. Your brothers and fathers and husbands, mothers and wives and daughters, all; those who have departed this life in the faith, alive together with Christ Jesus, reclining with you at the eternal Table of the Lord.
They are among the great cloud of witnesses which surrounds you, ever singing praises at all times and in all places to your holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, though Jesus Christ our Lord, who rode in on borrowed donkey to die for the sins of the whole world and who now rides in under bread and wine, His Body and Blood, bringing salvation with Him.
Fear not, beloved. The Cross of Jesus is His glory. The Cross of Jesus is your glory. Soon you shall behold Him face to face and be fully known. For now, recline at Table with Him, eat and drink of His hand. Follow Him up to Jerusalem. Follow Him through the crowds and the Temple, to the Upper Room and the Garden. Follow Him through the trial, the scourging, the mocking, the torture and the death. Follow Him in the Way of the Cross unto the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
RSS Feed