A Brief Meditation in a Time of Uncertainty Jerod texted me yesterday, "Remember God is still in control, not corona virus." Indeed! And the very important point is that when we are not in control, and when we are very uncertain about what the next days, weeks, and months will bring; there is still someone who holds the future in His hands. He is the Lamb of God. He gave a promise, "and behold, I am with you to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20) That means we are not alone. And we are with someone who has already charted out the course. (It is like an unfailing GPS that, unlike one of our older ones wanted us to park the car in the river we were driving along.) The path might go through strange and unfamiliar times, but we know our Friend Jesus knows the way and is able to bring us through. It's like the Bible bookmark that says: "I read the last chapter -- God wins." There is a picture in the Book of Revelation. In Chapter 5 we hear, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals." This is a picture of Jesus opening up the glorious future for His Church, that is for each one of His people. He knows the future because He is God, He sees it already, and He is able to bring us safely there. He has conquered, because He is the incarnate Christ, He was born to be one of us and He has mingled together His future and our future. And with that very human body He has conquered, by taking and sharing the dying that was coming our way; and then on the third day bringing eternal life into the human flesh He shares with us. He makes His future mine. So, yes, I have read the last chapter -- God wins, so I win, and you win. Lord Jesus Christ, lead us by Your wisdom and power that we may find our courage in Your promises, and be bold in our daily following, not knowing what the day will bring but only that we are walking with our eternal and almighty and merciful Friend. Amen.
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God’s plan is to give man & woman to each other. This means one man & one woman for their whole life. It means we ask for God’s help and guidance in finding a husband or wife who will share in the Lord’s Work together with us. The giving is by vows and promises that they will be and remain husband & wife for all their life. God’s plan is that husband and wife devote themselves to each other. Paul quoted the verse from Genesis, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh,” and then he said, “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” Husband & wife loving, devoting themselves to each other and sacrificing for each other is a part of the preaching of Jesus’ birth and His Cross. (Read Philippians 2:3-11 and read the 1st verse of “The Church’s One Foundation”) In addition, from the roots of human beginnings – the Love, Devotion, and Faithfulness within marriage is part of how God shows His image in us. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” The love and devotion of husband & wife to each other teaches us something of the relationships within the Trinity. God’s plan is that marriage should create a place of safety for bringing children into the world and caring for them as they grow up. The greatest duty of parents is not to provide material blessings, food & shelter, but to raise their children to know God, and to live their lives before God in faith, prayer, worship, love and mercy. Moses said, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV) Paul said that we are to “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:5) The reason for these things is because of who we are; that we are created in the image of God. There is a value here. It’s called modesty. It is the understanding that we live our moral life, our inner life, and our love life in the presence of God. All these things are part of God’s call to you to walk with Him in eternal life. HIS OFFICE – THE THREEFOLD OFFICE OF CHRIST Jesus was anointed. Both “Christ” (in the New Testament) and “Messiah” (in the Old Testament) mean “anointed.” Anointing was done in the Old Testament using oil that was poured over the head, and not just a little dab. “It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.” Psalm 133:2-3 Anointing was for those entering one of three offices in the Old Testament: Prophet, Priest, and King. It was always so that the person anointed could serve others. A Symbolic Part: the oil used in anointing represents the Holy Spirit. Oil was used for light. Oil lamps had a wick that would burn and give light like a candle. Think of the tongues of fire that appeared over the disciples’ heads on the day of Pentecost. In the Old Testament when the oil was poured over the head of one to be anointed the Spirit also was poured out so that person could serve God’s people. Prophets, priests and kings each served in specific ways. Jesus was anointed without measure, to serve as our Prophet, Priest and King. THE CALENDAR
We read in Exodus that the people of Israel were to bring the Passover Lamb into town on the 10th day of the Hebrew month of Nissan. They were to wait until the 14th day of the month and then at sundown (the Hebrew day changed at sundown) they were to slaughter the lambs and eat the Passover. (Exodus 12:3-7) Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on the 10th day of the month (Palm Sunday). On the 14th (Maundy Thursday) the disciples prepared to eat the Passover. That evening after sundown (the 15th by Jewish figuring) Jesus and the disciples ate the Passover. As the next day came Jesus went to the cross. Both the eating on Thursday evening and the events of Good Friday would be the 15th of the month, the day of Passover. So Jesus is our Passover Lamb. And like the Passover Lamb in Exodus His blood marks our door and protects us from death and hell. HE WASHED THEIR FEET (John 13:2-15) We read how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. He took the place of a servant, and cared for them. He said, “I am among you as one who serves.”(Luke 22:27) In the same way He serves us, meeting every spiritual need and hearing every prayer. As we commune together we come to a meal where Jesus serves. He invites us to His table, and comes to serve us. Then Jesus calls us to serve one another and care for each other. THE SOP (John 13:21-26) Jesus showed care and love even for the disciple who would betray Him. It is a custom that the host of the Passover meal makes, dips, and gives a special morsel to one of the guests that he wants to show special favor and friendship to. When Jesus gave “the sop” to Judas He was telling Judas of the love of God. THE BREAD The rabbis were very particular about the bread to be used for the Passover. It was to be unleavened, made without yeast. It was also supposed to be pierced – having holes through it. And it was to be baked in such a way that it was to have brown stripes from the baking. They based this on Isaiah 53:5, “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed.” To a Christian this verse obviously refers to Jesus. The Rabbis insisted on this because of the prophecy – without knowing why. THE AFIKOMEN The Afikomen became a part of the Passover celebration before New Testament times. What happened was that three pieces of the Passover Bread (Matzahs) were placed in a fabric container before the meal. During the meal the middle one was taken out, wrapped in a special cloth and hidden somewhere. Later in the meal the children were to search for the hidden bread, the Afikomen. When they found it they brought it out and everyone celebrated. Then it was broken and shared with everyone there. The practice looks an awful lot like a picture, acting out how Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, was hidden in the tomb for three days, wrapped in the burial cloth, was searched for by the disciples, and when they saw Him risen on Easter they celebrated. THE FOUR CUPS In the Passover there were traditionally four cups of wine: 1. The cup of Sanctification (or separation because that is part of the meaning of the Hebrew word) 2. The cup of Praise 3. The cup of Blessing 4. The cup of Elijah Paul identifies the cup of Blessing as the one Jesus used to institute the Lord’s Supper. We could say that we are still at that point in the Passover, and the meal continues on. It is a part of Jewish tradition at the time of the 4th cup to have a child look outside to see if Elijah is coming. The coming of Elijah is an end of the world event. He will be coming back with Jesus. So the Supper points to the end of the world and will continue on until the end. Jesus said, “I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”(Matthew 26:29) We wait for the fulfilling of the promises and the completion of the meal, when Jesus returns. THE THANKSGIVING In the TLH P. 15 service and in LSB Divine Service Setting Three (P. 184 ff), after communion has been distributed and received the Pastor says, “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good” and the congregation responds, “and His mercy endureth forever.” This is a verse taken from the ends of two sections of the Psalms known as the Greater Hallel (Psalms 119-136) and Lesser Hallel (Psalms 113-118). Those were psalms used for the Passover meal and were to be sung. So when Matthew and Mark report “When they had sung a hymn they went out to the Mount of Olives” this is what they were doing. The last thing Jesus and the disciples did before going out was to finish the singing of the Hallel. Psalm 118 begins and ends with the verse, “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; and His mercy endureth forever.” Psalm 136 begins with that verse and continues with each verse ending “His mercy endureth forever.” When we sing this verse, we are remembering how Jesus went from the Lord’s Supper to Gethsemane and then to the cross. CONVERSATION (John 13:31-17:26) Part of the Passover meal went on after the eating was all done. Those gathered would share the words and promises of God from the Old Testament. The Gospel of John records long discussions between Jesus and the disciples. John 13:31-14:31 was part of that discussion – apparently this part happened in the Upper Room. It ends with Jesus saying that it was time to leave the room where they had eaten the Passover. As Jesus went out with His disciples they continued to talk about the Words and promises of God. Read John 15-17 to discover what they may have discussed as they walked along. And then read Jesus’ great High Priestly Prayer for us in John 17. UNTIL THE LAST PERSON FALLS ASLEEP It is a part of the Passover tradition that the meal is not finished until the last person falls asleep. Talking about God and about faith can continue all night and into the next day. It is still counted as being part of the supper. When Jesus and His disciples went out to the Garden of Gethsemane and the disciples fell asleep, but it was still part of the Passover because Jesus had not. So the Passover continued on into the next day, all the way through Jesus’ arrest; through the trials before the Sanhedron, Pilate, Herod, and Pilate again. It continued through the scourging; through carrying the cross to Calvary; through Jesus suffering on the cross; and on until Jesus said, “It is finished,” and “Father into Your hands I commend My spirit.” Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit and the Passover was complete. From the beginning of the meal until the end of the crucifixion it is all one event – the Passover of Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. I wrote this during Christmas season a few years ago. I thought I would share it again.. Merry Christmas. He is God with us.
This hymn was written for Sunday, August 20th. Verse 4 was adapted from "A Lamb Alone Bears Willingly". Feel free to use this hymn.
Jesus is alive. It is not that we are committed to an idea; or that we have bought into certain principles by which we will live our lives. It is much more that we are talking about. Many around the world will say that they follow the teachings of _______ (fill in the blank: Marx, Confucius, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther, and others). But they do not talk about a personal relationship with them, or talk to them. What would happen if I visited the tomb of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois and claimed to be having a conversation with him? I would stand a pretty good chance of having the guards take me by the arms and lead me away. The whole world knows that anyone who claims to talk with Abraham Lincoln and thinks he answers is not fully sane. We say prayer is talking with Jesus. The rest of the world may look at us as odd and old fashioned, religious fanatics and out of touch. But they do not try to tell us that it's "just as insane" as talking with Napoleon. The claim that Jesus is alive is so powerful a claim and it is right at the heart of what it means to be a Christian. Even the world around us has backed off and ridicules prayer for other reasons. Because the Commandments teach us so much about our sins, God’s people in the Old Testament were very aware of their sins. For that reason there is also a huge variety of sacrifices in the Old Testament. Just from the first 6 chapters of Leviticus there are:
Burnt Offerings Grain Offerings Fellowship Offerings Sin Offerings, and Guilt Offerings. There were the daily sacrifices, the sacrifice of the Lamb at Passover (see Exodus 12), the Scapegoat (on whom the sins of the nation were placed and who then was driven out of the camp – so the Bible says Jesus had to go outside the city to be crucified), and many more. All these sacrifices point to Jesus. They tell us how Jesus Christ has taken every kind of our sins on Himself and died in our place. The Shepherds were out in the fields watching their flocks by night.
Read Genesis 35:19-20. It tells how Rachel died "and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)" and how Jacob went on and "pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder." Then read Jeremiah 31:15-16. It tells about "Rachel weeping for her children". It is at Ramah that the people of Judah were gathered, chained and roped together, and led off to exile in Babylon. But verse 16 says, "Keep your voice from weeping . . . they shall come back from the land of the enemy." Putting those two passages together (1) God gives hope for the mothers of Bethlehem whose children were killed by Herod -- "they shall come back." But also (2) the Rabbis expected that the first announcement of the coming Messiah would be at "Migdol Eder;" the "tower of Eder." Eder means flock (as in flock of sheep), so "Migdol Eder" means "Tower of the Flock." Look up Luke 2:8-11 and see if they were right. Why were the shepherds out in the fields at night? Most sheep are brought into the sheepfold where they are safer. But Bethlehem is close to Jerusalem. Sheep that were destined to be sacrificial sheep at the Temple had to be kept outside, in nature not in buildings all the time. Shepherds built towers to more easily watch their sheep. So the angels went to shepherds watching over sacrificial sheep to tell them about the One Lamb, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is amazingly appropriate, isn't it? |
Rev. Mark WilligPastor Willig is pastor emeritus of Friends in Christ Lutheran Church. Archives
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