At Jesus' crucifixion, some observed with hatred, others with curiosity, and some with love and sorrow. Jesus bore not only physical torment but also the immense burden of humanity's sins. Through His sacrifice, God's profound love and forgiveness were revealed. Let us contemplate the impact of Jesus' sacrifice on our lives, recognizing the truth of God's love and the transformative nature of Christ's death and resurrection.

A cycle of dust begins with God creating man from dust in the Garden of Eden. Sin subsequently enters the world, causing mankind to accumulate the "dust of sin" from birth to death. Jesus washes the disciples' feet in the Upper Room to demonstrate Christ's love, spiritual cleansing, and forgiveness of sin. Believers are to acknowledge their sins, seek forgiveness, and embrace and acknowledge Christ's mercy and sacrifice for all on the cross. On the Last Day, when Christ returns, believers will receive new, resurrected bodies and walk upon the "dust" of the New Heavens and New Earth in an eternal life without sin.

The events of Holy Week, including, Christ's betrayal, crucifixion, and death, serve as reason to meditate on His humility and readiness to endure suffering for the sake of humanity's salvation. These events are not isolated occurrences but are deeply rooted in all Scripture, including Old Testament prophecies and sacrificial practices. All Scripture converges on Christ's sacrificial act on the cross to atone for humanity's sins. May we take time to engage in reflection and internalize the deep significance of our Lord's passion.

Jeremiah emphasizes trust in God's wisdom over human wisdom.

The Edomites serve as an example of relying on human understanding and their own fortifications.

The world's wisdom often contradicts God's truth, but God's judgment will reveal the folly of human wisdom.

Believers in Jesus are loved by God and protected from shame on the Last Day through Christ's righteousness.

We are urged to remain steadfast in faith, avoid seeking worldly wisdom, and find strength in God's promises.

This sermon elucidates the relationship between Abraham, the Jewish community, and Christianity. It draws a distinction between the Jews' biological lineage to Abraham and the deeper spiritual connection that faith in Jesus Christ brings. True descendants of Abraham are those who embrace Christ. Whoever rejects Jesus Christ is not Abraham's spiritual descendent. Historical heresies, such as Nimrod's rebellion and Abraham's moments of weakness, are given to showcase God's forgiveness and the pivotal role of Christ's sacrifice made on the cross. Despite facing errors and heresies, we are to persevere in an unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, akin to Abraham's faith.

"The Remnant in the Rubble" reflects on the fall of Jerusalem as a historically significant event with deep spiritual meaning. It highlights how God's warnings through prophets were ignored, leading to the city's downfall. The sermon emphasizes the importance of repentance and recognizing God's sovereignty, drawing parallels between Jeremiah's choice to stay with the poor and Jesus's presence among humanity. The New Covenant, symbolized by Jesus's blood, brings forgiveness and renewal to believers, offering hope and assurance of God's healing presence despite destruction and sin. KEY WORDS AND THEMES: Fall of Jerusalem, God's judgment warnings, Prophets' messages, Ignored warnings, Exile, Importance of repentance, New Covenant, God's presence in destruction.

This sermon focuses on Jesus's role as the Passover Lamb and provider for His people, using the feeding of the 5000 as a central illustration. Jesus's awareness of the crowd's needs before they are voiced emphasizes His divine knowledge and care. The miracle itself highlights Jesus's ability to provide abundantly even in seemingly impossible situations, reinforcing the importance of trust in Him. The crowd's misunderstanding of Jesus's kingship serves as a caution against misinterpreting His ultimate sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. The sermon concludes with a call to find rest and strength in Jesus, emphasizing the spiritual nourishment He offers amidst life's challenges.

Christians are to boldly proclaim God's truth, even in the face of opposition and persecution. Drawing from the story of Jeremiah, it highlights two battles: one against external forces seeking to silence the prophet, and another within Jeremiah's own heart, prompting him to choose between silence and speaking God's Word. Christians need to resist the temptation to remain silent in a Godless world. We are urged to stand firm in our faith and boldly proclaim the truth, regardless of the consequences. A Christian's commitment to Christ must be unwavering, even unto death, trusting in His promise of eternal life. Vicar encourages believers to put on the full armor of God and engage in spiritual warfare, wielding the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.

Key search words: Jeremiah, Proclaim, Boldness, Truth, Opposition, Persecution, Faithfulness, Stand firm, Spiritual warfare, Sword of the Spirit, Full armor of God, Eternal life, Steadfastness, LCMS sermon, Faithcapo

Spiritual warfare is a reality in Christian life. There are parallels between Jesus confronting evil spirits and the ongoing battles believers face. The victory believers have through Christ's sacrifice encourages us to stand firm in our faith, resisting the devil and proclaiming Jesus' triumph over evil. KEY PHRASES: Spiritual warfare, Lent, Jesus' confrontation with evil spirits, demonic influence, victory through Christ, power in the blood of Jesus, standing firm in faith, resisting the devil, and triumph over evil.

Jeremiah's solution to political turmoil in his day emphasized worshiping God and observing the Sabbath. In our day, this means going to church. We are reminded that God reigns over all nations [3:20]. Race and ethnicity differences should be embraced as part of God's design. Radical egalitarianism that seeks to minimize these differences should be rejected. Unity in the New Jerusalem will celebrate the diversity of God's creation. KEY SEARCH PHRASES: Prophet Jeremiah, political turmoil, spiritual solutions, going to church [00:39], God's sovereignty, nation definition [7:45], separation of church and state [3:20], race and ethnicity [9:50], radical egalitarianism [12:55], New Jerusalem, diversity in God's creation