Maundy Thursday 2022

 

Vimeo link

Bethany Lutheran Church

Maundy Thursday Holy Communion 

7 PM Central

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Link after the service

The melodies are linked in the hymn name. 

The lyrics are linked in the hymn number.

• The melody site is linked here.

 Norma A. Boeckler

The Hymn #342             Chief of Sinners

The Confession of Sins

The Absolution

The Introit p. 16

The Gloria Patri

The Kyrie p. 17

The Gloria in Excelsis

The Salutation and Collect p. 19

The Epistle and Gradual

The Gospel

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!

Praise be to Thee, O Christ!

The Nicene Creed p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #371      Jesus Thy Blood           
        

Faith Based on God's Actions

Communion Hymn #305   Soul Adorn Thyself - vss. 1-5

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 #657             Beautiful Savior

Prayers and Announcements

• Ongoing Treatment -  Kermit and Maria Way, Pastor Shrader and his wife Chris, Callie and her mother Peggy, C., and many others
• Pray for our country as the major trials continue. And help all those suffering from economic difficulties.
• Good Friday Vespers, 7 PM
• Easter Sunday Holy Communion, 10 AM

1 Corinthians 11

23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

John 13

Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Faith Based on God's Actions

1 Corinthians 11:23

So many people want to turn Christianity into a philosophy, borrowing from various intellectuals of the past, down to Aristotle and Plato. The trouble with that foundation is the need to agree with the ancient or modern wise person rather than basing everything on the Word of God itself.

St. Paul, following the four Evangelists, did not start with a philosophy but with an action, one with a specific date and place. When did this happen - On the night in which He was betrayed. Where? - In the upper room. Who was there as witnesses? - The disciples.

How did Paul know all this - because the disciples were witnesses and participants. When? - During Passover, which is by itself a major holy day.

The Old Testament is based upon everything God did, from the Creation to that time between Testaments. The Exodus is the pivotal point, often elaborated upon in the Gospel of John.

Before that, Abraham's faith was shown in his trust in God to give him a son, and his faith in a kingdom that would never stop growing - the Kingdom of God, with members as numerous as the stars in the sky. These were all actions by God for humanity, for those who would listen to what the Almighty has done in the past and proof for the future.

One writer about the KJV pointed out that hardly anyone can read the Old Testament in its original language, so God gave the foundation of the Bible to a world where that language would be overwhelmed by the Scriptures in many other languages. That proved to be even more overwhelming with Greek, a language very few people know or read - especially the pastors, professors, and synodical presidents.

Britain's conquest of the world brought Christianity to every corner and the KJV with it. The British were not angels in how they conducted themselves, but they gave the entire world a path to freedom.

Rome's conquests played a part in spreading Christianity, too. They paved 50,000 miles of road, some of it still be used. They had modest sea journeys. Both were significant in making the world open up to Rome and to Christianity.

The sincere believers always created and translated Bibles to be used, studied, and preserved in every language. The heretic Bibles were very scarce, so much that people invented fake ones, like Vaticanus and Sinaiticus to fill the void.

So we can see here that Jesus' actions were something to be repeated far into the future. He blessed the elements, similar to the  Feeding of the Multitudes, which by itself teaches us that God can infinitely provide the Body of Christ and His blood. The miracles go together and go back the the Bread of Life from heaven, the manna.

These are all things we can visualize, which is why Christian art is so powerful. They may have attracted symbols, but they are primarily the actions of God.

This is what the Son of God did, and we have certainty, because the miracles and teachings and actions go together of one purpose - to plant faith in us, growing in that faith, and bearing fruit because of that faith.

Romans 5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Palm Sunday, The Sixth Sunday in Lent, 2022

Link for the saved service on Vimeo box

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

 

Live service on Vimeo - below

 

The Hymn #160         All Glory, Laud             

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution

The Introit p. 16

Be not Thou far from me, O Lord: O my Strength, haste Thee to help me.

Save me from the lion’s mouth: and deliver me from the horns of the unicorns.

Psalm. My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? Why art Thou so far from helping Me?

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation                                       

The Collect p. 19

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast sent Thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross that all mankind should follow the example of His great humility, mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of His patience and also be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual 

Thou hast holden me by my right hand: Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory.

V. Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart: but as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well-nigh slipped; for I was grieved at the ungodly.

Tract. My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?

V. Why art Thou so far from helping Me: and from the words of My roaring?

V. I am a worm and no man: a reproach of men and despised of the people.

V. Be not Thou far from Me, O Lord; O My Strength, haste Thee to help Me.

V. I will declare Thy name unto My brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee. 

V. They shall come and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born: that He hath done this. 

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22

The Sermon Hymn # 162                 Ride On                 

Promises Fulfilled

The Communion Hymn #339            All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

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 #341              Crown Him with Many Crowns                          

Prayers and Announcements

• Medical care - Kermit and Maria Way, Pastor James Shrader and Chris Shrader, Callie and her mother Peggy, C.
• Maundy Thursday Holy Communion, 7 PM Central Daylight Time.
• Good Friday Vespers, 7 PM.
• Easter Sunday Holy Communion.

KJV Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

KJV Matthew 21:1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes t hat went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Palm Sunday

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast caused Thy beloved Son to take our nature upon Himself, that He might give all mankind the example of humility and suffer death upon the cross for our sins: Mercifully grant us a believing knowledge of this, and that, following the example of His patience, we may be made partakers of the benefits of His sacred passion and death, through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Promises Fulfilled

KJV Matthew 21:1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 

Background

The setting is described in the Gospel of John, which gives us so many details associated with all that Jesus did. It is very important to see how the Gospels together give us the entire drama of Holy Week, as if four people were telling the story and each one had details to add.

For example, one verse is easily overlooked, the details about crowds coming out to greet Jesus and following after him -

9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

This engulfing crowd was stirred up by the raising of Lazarus, dead in his tomb for days. The crowds came out of the city because Jesus and Lazarus were together. They heard about the raising of Lazarus and came out to see this wealthy and influential man and the Lord who raised him from the dead. Naturally, the Bethany residents followed Jesus from their nearby city and hailed Him as well. Lenski is very good at showing how much is in the tiniest details of the New Testament. 

We must always remember that the raising of Lazarus, found only in John's Gospel, was the trigger point for the arrest and execution of Jesus. Everything had to be done in order, as the Father commanded and promised in the Old Testament. 

Jesus did not merely walk into Jerusalem, but rode on a donkey, symbolizing His return as the Son of David. This has been done before with Judas Maccabeus entering as conqueror, palms before his feet, but there can only be one Son of David, which was soon proven by Jesus. 

2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

By the way, several clergy on the ALPB discussion page told how they did not preach sermons during various parts of Holy Week, but "let the Scriptures speak for themselves." How noble! How gracious! They boasted ignoring the cornerstone of the true Church - preaching faith in Jesus Christ and explaining the meaning of so many unique events. But alas! that is the problem with liberal preaching, whether it is marketing theories from Pasadena, or explaining how everything is mythical because they do not believe the very texts they read to their members. This very common today, because the apostate clergy do not want to expose their lack of faith to the same people who come to Church because they do have faith or want that faith strengthened and supported. Many feel they are themselves dimming burning wicks and resent having that bit of faith, like a mustard seed, snuffed out.

Lenski has a funny, rational statement about Jesus knowing the owner beforehand, though the text says nothing about this guess by Lenski. ("We draw the obvious conclusion that these owners were very good friends of Jesus and of his disciples. Matthew, Lenski p. 801)The Son of God did not need to use friendship or advance training for the owner. The will of Jesus was carried out on both sides, by his two disciples and by the owner or even the bystanders. This is an example of God making the most unlikely things happen, and those divine interventions or commands giving people hope and greater faith.

God gives us these talents and drives to accomplish His will, often providing the very people who will help carry out the plan, the circumstances that will save the day.

4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

This is a double message for Palm Sunday: one is Jesus riding into Jerusalem as the Son of David, Messiah, Lord and Savior. The other is His humility, carrying out the role of Servant. Those are the Two Natures of Jesus, united in One Person.

KJV Zechariah 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

The crowds saw a great religious leader with power over life and death. The Roman leaders feared the opposition of a king. The Jewish leaders, as recorded by John, feared they would lose everything - which is fact happened 40 years later. They plotted against Jesus and Lazarus, the well known man raised from the dead and proof of the divinity of Jesus. 

6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

The disciples obeyed the cryptic commands of Jesus and brought the two animals to Him. All the Promises were being fulfilled, 

1. from the Star of Bethlehem, 
2. to His presentation at the Temple 
3. and later His astonishing talk with the scholars there, 
4. to His public ministry of preaching and miracles.

There were several attempts to make Jesus the King earlier, 

and attempts to kill Him. This event was so powerful for the people that no one dared to question it, but that did motivate the leaders to use someone to turn against Jesus.

8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

KJV John 12: 13 - “Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

The crowds were hailing Jesus for fulfilling the Promises of the Old Testament. Many already believed without seeing Him. 

9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

In effect, the crowds celebrating the raising of Lazarus, right there, were also celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Much is often said about the crowds jeering Jesus and mocking Him in short order, but they did indeed celebrate. What God the Father accomplished through His Son and the disciples - all this came from the raising of Lazarus and two others before and the Old Testament Scriptures teaching them the Gospel, even before they understood large parts of it.

This gives us confidence, that the infinite majesty of God not only has the power to forgive sins, through the Son, witnessed by the Holy Spirit, but also has the power to help us in our daily lives. 

That power keeps us from despair and overwhelming sorrow, because we know the rest of the story will follow the teaching of the Gospel. Our generation is troubled because we think we know so much, and so little is credited to God. We think our wisdom and cleverness are overwhelming traits, when they are nothing compared to to infinite power, grace, and wisdom of God. My Old Testament students, when asked for their favorite passage in Proverbs, inevitably say, 

KJV Proverbs 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

MidWeek Lenten Service - I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life

 

             

Mid-Week Lenten Vespers, 2022

 

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

 

 

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 7 PM Central Standard Time

 

TLH - Online

 

 

The Hymn #377                    Salvation Unto Us Has Come   Speratus     

The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

The Psalmody 5                        p. 123

The Lections                            The Passion History

                                                

Hymn #149           Come to Calvary's Holy Mountain

 

The Sermon –   I AM - The Way, The Truth, and The Life

 

The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

Hymn #660   - Heaven Is My Home

I AM - The Way, The Truth, and The Life

John  14 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him, I AM the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

6 λεγει αυτω ο ιησους εγω ειμι η οδος και η αληθεια και η ζωη; ουδεις ερχεται προς τον πατερα ει μη δι εμου

The double negative  (no one...except) removes any chance for an except. English is Greek plus some Latin and German.

This is one of the most important passages for our Age of Apostasy. So many have been beguiled into thinking such idiocies as "All truths are God's truths. All roads lead to Him." That may seem good in an Introduction to Buddhism class, but it is contrary to the Scriptures.

The aim of false religions is to make all religions the same, and that leads to Satanism. If anyone doubts that, read a little about the connections between the the ultra-rich and the occult, that is, Satanic cults. 

The is the key verse on whether all roads lead to God, because "the way" is literally the Greek word for road. The road out of slavery was the Exodus. Some might call it a path, too. One cult called itself The Way recently, but Jesus is The Way.

This shows how the Gospel of John anticipated all kinds of error in the future and gave clear, exacting statements to preserve the truth. Just as important, this verse is clarified even more by the second part, which reinforces the first part - for our benefit. Reinforcing is very important, as we can see in cement, a very tough material. However, if it is not reinforced by steel bars, or they rust from water seepage, the same building material becomes as fragile as cookie.

There are not many truths that somehow point in the right direction. There can only be one truth in a universe created by the Logos, the Son of God, acting to execute the commands of God the Father, witnessed by the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1 and John 1).

We can easily dismiss other claims because there is only one truth and Jesus expressed it simply and powerfully.

The life is far beyond what we normally think of as life. This is not biological life, which is bios in Greek, but eternal life, by implication. People who do not believe in Jesus Christ have many notions of life, such as a Presbyterian saying she liked the concept of reincarnation. Scriptural evidence to the contrary did not persuade her at the time. Some think simply that life ends when we stop breathing. Jesus talked about life in abundance, and not filling stadiums, but receiving the blessings of faith, which are uncountable.

The second part proves that the first part of verse 6 is without contradiction or subordination to other concepts. Note that this is just as simple and plain in Greek as it is in English. The New Testament, especially John, can easily be translated and understood in any language. That is another reason why the sceptics want to bury the Fourth Gospel next to Mark, which they also abuse and misrepresent. 

No one comes to the Father, except through Me.

There is no other Gospel, no other Savior, no other salvation except through faith in the Son of God, the Savior Jesus. 

Proof of apostasy is seeing and hearing so many fake Lutheran leaders joining their Calvinistic, rationalistic mentors in teaching "universal justification" - without faith in Christ - as opposed to Justification by Faith, taught so clearly throughout the Bible, from Genesis 15:6 through the entire New Testament. 

Romans 5:1-2 disposes this false notion, foul dogma, but is never read, studied, or quoted by these slaves of their Father Below.

Judica Sunday 2022

 

Judica Sunday, The Fifth Sunday in Lent, 2021

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Standard

The Hymn #12     This Day at Thy Creating Word                                     

The Absolution

The Introit p. 16

Judge me, O God: and plead my cause against an ungodly nation.

Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man: for Thou art the God of my strength.

Psalm. Oh, send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation p. 19

The Collect, p. 19

We beseech Thee, Almighty God, 

mercifully to look upon Thy people, 

that by Thy great goodness 

they may be governed and preserved 

evermore both in body and soul; 

through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #67     The Bridegroom Soon Will Call Us - Loy Translation

                          

I AM - The Resurrection and the Life

The Communion Hymn #307      Draw Nigh

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 #410    Jesus Lead Thou On    

       

Prayers and Announcements

• Treatment and recovery -  Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris Shrader, Callie and Peggy, C. and others with medical issues and stress.
• Pray for our country as the major trials continue.
• Happy Birthday, Matt Howell.
• Holy Week - Maundy Thursday 7 PM. 
• Good Friday 7 PM. 
• Easter Sunday 10 AM.

       

KJV Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

KJV John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

 Norma A. Boeckler

KJV Exodus 3:2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

KJV Genesis 15:6 And he [Abraham] believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ, we thank Thee, that of Thine infinite mercy Thou hast instituted this Thy sacrament, in which we eat Thy body and drink Thy blood: Grant us, we beseech Thee, by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not receive this gift unworthily, but that we may confess our sins, remember Thine agony and death, believe the forgiveness of sin, and day by day grow in faith and love, until we obtain eternal salvation through Thee, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

                          

I AM - The Resurrection and the Life

KJV John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. 7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. 8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? 9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. 11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. 16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. 17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

KJV John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

We can conclude that the using names in the New Testament had great significance to the early Church. Many of those believers identified in the four Gospels were charter members of the Apostolic Church. This family, two sisters Mary and Martha, and a brother, Lazarus, were friends with Jesus. Mary was special in her act of adoration toward Jesus - the Lord, as the Gospel writer says. 

The anointing of Jesus by Mary in Chapter 12 followed this stupendous and miraculous raising of her brother in Chapter 11. This is also supplemented by Luke 10, where Jesus admonished Martha for worrying about household tasks when "one thing is needful," and Mary has chosen the better part.

This parenthetical statement (verse 2) gives us perspective about Jesus, Lazarus, and the two sisters, because this miracle brought down the wrath of the Jewish and Roman leaders. It was not the only raising of the dead, but it was close to Jerusalem, and Lazarus was especially prominent. The funeral audience from Jerusalem were there to witness the raising of Lazarus, so multiple prominent witnesses returned to Jerusalem, telling everyone about the raising of Lazarus. They stoked the whole population, so people from the Bethany non-funeral followed Jesus into Jerusalem and people came out of the city to greet the Messiah, singing praise to the "Son of David." 

3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 

This kind of message meant that they expected Lazarus would die. The message said "whom thou lovest" which reveals why the KJV is superior. The translators knew "thou" was out of fashion, but thou is singular only but you is singular and plural. "Whom you love" could mean the entire group loved Him or maybe Jesus especially loved Lazarus, either way. All the modern complaints about "thou" fail to see the importance of the precision in the KJV. (German 2nd singular uses "st" for the verb.) "Thou swell, thou witty, thou sweet, thou grand..." Connecticut Yankee, musical.

Jesus already knew what He would do for Lazarus, and He also knew it would start the rioting for Him, then His arrest and torture and death.

5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

An immediate but false impression is that Jesus was being difficult or withdrawn (Canaanite woman healing, another erroneous reaction by modernists). Knowing what would happen, His delay meant that the raising of Lazarus would be witnessed by more people, by more people from Jerusalem, and ultimately by Jerusalemites, because Lazarus came along. The Jewish leaders plotted to kid Jesus and Lazarus.

7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. 8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? 9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. 11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

The Gospel makes it very clear that Jesus was thinking and expressing the raising of Lazarus and the comfort this would give the disciples when Jesus was crucified. Moreover, their faith would be so shaken by Jesus' death that they only kept together by hiding in a locked room. However, as weak as that seemed to be, they were there, having the dual shocks of knowing the Tomb was empty and knowing that they took could be arrested, tortured, and executed.

16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. 17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

Doubting Thomas was a consistent pessimist. Knowing death was very likely, Thomas assumed they would all die. However, the real story was Lazarus being buried for four days in the stone cave prepared for him. That means he was well-to-do, since that was a big expense. This foreshadows Jesus' burial in a tomb carved from rock, sealed for days.

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

This is a telling moment, because Martha said, "If you had been here," so her faith was great in His healing power, but Jesus had to be there, in her eyes. And it had to come from God, as if He were not God.

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I AM the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Not only did Jesus identify Himself as God, but He also taught Martha that this meant life everlasting for those who believe in Him. These readings also teach us that the followers of Jesus and His disciples had to grow through His instructions and His miracles, including the greatest of them all - His resurrection from the dead.