Bethany Lutheran Worship, 7 PM Central StandardTime
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The Hymn #159 Go to Dark Gethsemane
The Order of Vespers p. 41
The Psalmody Psalm 23 p. 128
The Lections The Passion History
The Sermon Hymn #149 Come to Calvary's Holy Mountain
The Sermon – I AM the Door
The Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer
The Collect for Grace p. 45
The Hymns #552 Abide with Me
Prayers and Announcements
· Greater knowledge of Luther’s works and faithful translations; i.e., the KJV is the English (Tyndale) version of Luther’s German Bible. They established their modern languages in England and Germany by virtue of the power of their work. Nobody ever admits this about the KJV, that it comes from Luther via Tyndale who died for translating the Scriptures from Hebrew and Greek into English.
- The KJV book has arrived, and so has the camera.
- Prayers for Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Callie and her mother Peggy, C., those with long-term illnesses.
I AM the Door
John 10 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
So many love the next I AM sermon, about the Good Shepherd, that it is relatively easy to overlook this one. This is quite powerful, but offends the wealthy, lazy, global elite who want one world, one “faith”, one ruler. This I AM the Door is repulsive to the ecumenical movement, which was the beginning of the National (Federal) Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches (left-wing) which absorbed and digested the more conservative World Missionary Council, so the latter no longer exists.
John 10 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
This comparison is based upon the common knowledge of raising sheep at that time, which also connects to the Passover Lamb from the Exodus. We have very little of this in our culture now, but it was a major part of Biblical Judaism. Sheep from various flocks or one flock were kept in pens for safety. They were a valuable commodity (part of Australia’s “Waltzing Matilda” national song) and objects of predators, human and lupine.
We think of modern doors, but this door was an opening in the pen guarded by the so that only the shepherd could enter. This is the foundation for the shepherd section that follows. The one who climbs over the fence is clearly a thief, a robber. The shepherd comes in the one door.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
The typical shepherd, which they all knew about, was recognized by the guard at the door or opening and allowed in. The sheep all know the voice of their shepherd. He goes out before them and leads them, very much like Psalm 23. This chapter is central to the entire Bible, which is recognized today in stained glass windows and art.
When I have to go to an appointment, Sassy stays home and is quiet, but when I arrive, she barks sharply from the inside and comes to the door to complete her guard duties for the moment. Sassy is very willful on our walks, but she follows me and responds to my voice, especially when I get firm. She asks permission to meet people and to go a different way (sometimes tricking me into another route as she pivots and grins).
As everyone knows, pastor is Latin for shepherd, and it is a good title since all ordained ministers are men who are subordinate to the Good Shepherd. Just as sheep follow the voice and the walk of the shepherd, so believers follow only the voice of the
Good Shepherd.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
This verse is especially important, because there is a direct relationship between the true believers and the true pastor. When the leader is false, the believers flee instead of compromising. They know the voice of the Shepherd and run from strangers. We see this carried out in reverse where Joel Osteen refused, years ago, to say that Jesus is the only way of salvation (hint – Gospel of John and everywhere else). He admitted he was an evil shepherd, with no consequences. Likewise, Rev. Andy Stanley (a favorite in the Wisconsin Synod – Ski, Glende, Parlow and 5 more of them going to one expensive conference and worshiping with Stanley – so cool.) Stanley denounced the “Jesus of ancient documents” in favor of his “Jesus for today.”
This is the argument used by false prophets, who make it possible to invent a new Messiah according to their wishes. It is certainly a pity that people flock – or rather bleet – rushing to such heretics. But it was predicted in letters to Timothy, that people will pile up false teachers to teach what their itching ears want to hear.
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Although they did not understand this parable at first, it was remembered via the Holy
Spirit to be recorded in the Fourth Gospel, passed down to us through the Majority or Traditional/Byzantine Text. Jesus is the One Entrance to salvation, which we see vividly described in Romans 5:2 – faith in Christ is access to God’s grace. There is one way – faith – not access to universal grace without even knowing there is a door (WELS-LCMS-ELCA position).
Jesus is the door of salvation, the only way to enter. So strange that people try to teach otherwise, but do not listen to His voice. This shows how resisting the truth makes us unable to see and hear the truth, no matter how smart we appear to be. The great and wise of today do not know how to view Jesus as a child does. No, they are sophisticated and highly education experts.
Jesus came that we might have life in abundance, the lead to I AM the Good Shepherd.
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