Easter 1, 2023.

  

The Hymn #206:1-5        Jesus Christ My Sure Defense

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

As newborn babes: desire the sincere milk of the Word.

Hear, O My people, and I will testify unto thee: 

O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto Me.

Psalm. Sing aloud unto God, our Strength: 

make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17

The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who 

have celebrated the solemnities of the Lord’s resurrection may, by the help of Thy grace, bring forth the fruits thereof 

in our life and conversation; through the same Jesus Christ, 

Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Gradual

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed for us. Hallelujah!

V. The angel of the Lord descended from heaven: 

and came and rolled back the stone from the door 

and sat upon it. Hallelujah!

The Gospel               

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22     
The Sermon Hymn #206:6-10     Jesus Christ My Sure Defense

       

 The Apostles - Mirrors

Communion Hymn #207     Like the Golden Sun Ascending - Kingo

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #199       Jesus Christ Is Risen Today 

Prayers and Announcements

• Medical care - Kermit Way, Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Callie and her mother Peggy.
• Pray for our country as the major trials continue. And help all those suffering from economic difficulties and emotional distress.
• The Bethany Lutheran Hymnal Blog was finishing up three years ago, with many enhancements and Norma Boeckler's art since. 43,700+ views. 
• In our memories - Walter Boeckler, Carl Roper, Gary Meyer, Christina Jackson, Gladys Meyer, Lorie Howell's mother, Bethany Joan Marie, Erin Joy, and many others.

Caravaggio

KJV 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

KJV John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

First Sunday After Easter

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee, that of Thine ineffable grace, for the sake of Thy Son, Thou hast given us the holy gospel, and hast instituted the holy sacraments, that through the same we may have comfort and forgiveness of sin: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that we may heartily believe Thy word; and through the holy sacraments day by day establish our faith, until we at last obtain salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

The Apostles - Mirrors

KJV John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

When you see a King James Version of the Bible, think of the 50 scholars who went over every word as individuals and in groups, so the best Bible could be read from the pulpits in England - eventually the world. The man who translated roughly 75% of the Old and New Testaments - William Tyndale - was burned at the stake for his heinous sin - translating the Bible into English. It was against King Henry VIII's law, and carried a death penalty.

There are two parts to the majestic simplicity of this verse. First of all, the Holy Spirit has kept the original Greek so simple that it is used to start beginning Greek lessons, easy to translate in the first week or so. The Spirit spoke through the Apostle John and drew the elements of Matthew, Mark, and Luke together with additional sermons, like the I AM sermons, and miracles like the Wedding at Canna. And yet, John is far easier to grasp in Greek and in translations than the first three Gospels.

Second, this King James Version is the product of the Age of Shakespeare (Earl of Oxford) -- the peak of the English language, not the most difficult but the clearest and most elegant. 

But we should think of this every time we look at and open a KJV, 

"William Tyndale died an excruciating death to give us this Bible. We should honor the man who gave his life for the Word of God. His name is not on Bibles - his faith is embedded in every KJV." 

Very few people could read or write at that time, so Tyndale worked to make the Bible memorable for people to remember and repeat.

This is the Day of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the same day after one week is sometimes called the Octave (counting each day). This should be remembered with awe - not with scorn - the disciples were still in hiding after the first appearance. The disciples are not objects of scorn - they are mirrors of our frailties.

The disciples used the locked room because of their fear of the Jews, even though they had already seen the risen Christ.

Luther explained this well in his sermon on this day. The disciples had enjoyed the company of Jesus, His teaching and miracles, for three years. He warned them of the cross, but their hearts were set on their future, reigning with Christ Jesus, not hearing that they would follow the Way of the Cross with Him.

All of this glory with their Teacher seemed to be taken away. How could it be any worse than arrest, beating, mocking, carrying His own cross, and additional scorn and abandonment? Jesus said Himself, quoting the Scriptures (Old Testament) - "I will strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered." Zechariah 13:7.

While we look at the picture with hope, thinking of what lies ahead, at that moment all is lost anyway. They are still so crushed by the events that they are weak and helpless. General Patton would say, "Never take counsel of your fears," but that is what we often do.

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

By showing them His wounds, Jesus proved Himself to be the risen Lord, not someone imaginary or a fake. Being glad first (KJV) the verse emphasizes the change from fear and timidity to being joyful over this event, this change of perspective.

Peace in the New Testament does not primarily mean calm or  a lack of warfare. The closest New Testament association with peace is forgiveness. Fear comes from a lack of faith or a wavering faith - how much worse can it get? The disciples could not face the future when all they saw was persecution and the removal of their Savior. 

Now the future is being laid out before the disciples. Jesus was sent as human and divine to show people the true, gracious nature of God. Now they will be sent with His teaching and the experiences they had with Jesus the Son of God. There were groups of believers here and there also, from Jesus' teaching and miracles.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

I have noticed a growing body of pseudo-Lutheran pastors who want to be in charge, buy and wear expensive costumes, and carry on just the way Chemnitz described the Church of Rome priests in his Examination of the Council of Trent. The pseudo-Lutherans want their own pomp and glory but disregard the teaching of the Scriptures. 

They covet the Apostolic Succession, which they do not have. They want  to "lord it over" everyone,  a neat phrase in Greek too, Matthew 18. The true Succession is doctrinal, not a professional certificate, a phony doctorate, and awesome robes.

Obedience to the Scriptures is not a whim, a hobby, or an elastic toy. 

Those who administer the Word emphasize the forgiveness received through repentance and faith, the non-forgiveness of those who have no contrition at all.

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

"Doubting Thomases" are in one song from the Rogers and Hammerstein musical, Carousel.

Some may reject the grace of God because they do not believe or insist on the proof being tangible. But faith means we trust in what is impossible because God carries out the impossible all the time.

Luther:

11. Finally, we have in St. Thomas an illustration of the power of Christ’s resurrection. We just heard how firm and even stiff-necked he was in unbelief, that although the other disciples unitedly testified that they had seen the risen Lord, yet he simply will not believe it. He appears to have been a fine and brave character who had thoroughly concluded that he would not so soon believe the others. For he had seen that the Lord only three days before was put to death on the cross and the nails driven through his hands and feet and the spear pierced his side. This picture was so indelibly and deeply impressed upon him that he simply could not in the least believe what the others told him, that Christ was risen. Therefore he promptly and defiantly says: “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” He thus utters a hyperbole, an exaggerated statement, that he will not believe his eyes alone, but will feel and grope about Christ’s body with his hands. As if he would say: No one shall persuade me to believe, but I will stand so firmly upon no, that I will not believe even if I see him, as you say you saw him. But should I believe it, then he must come so near to me, that, if it were possible, I may touch his soul and put my hands into his eyes.

12. That is to be steeped very firmly and deeply in unbelief. 

            Second Appearance, One Week Later, Sunday

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

As Lenski and Luther wrote, Jesus commanded Thomas to do what the apostle insisted upon. We could expand that to ourselves and say, "I never thought that was possible, but God proved me wrong, even when I gave up."

Faith in God through Jesus Christ, our example and Teacher, means asking and then leaving the outcome to God. There are so many ways in which God works, often through impossible people.

I had a very clear message this week - unsigned, as usual. Our views have gone down during an emphasis on the KJV and Justification by Faith. That comes from shadow-banning, paying the tech giants to reduce someone's work on the Net by blocking access to views. I said to one person, "I don't know if that is from Lutheran synods or the Bad-Bible-Boosters. He said, "Why not both at the same time?" It still means thousands of views each month, more individuals than we could hold in this "spare room in a rented house."

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

The beauty of this Gospel is to constantly remind the seeker, the doubter, the minister, the grieving mother and father, the minister - about faith in the Good Shepherd. The Fourth Gospel is all about believing in God the Father, God the Son, being taught by the Word through God the Holy Spirit.