Liturgical Date: Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 8B)

Calendar Date: June 27, 2021

Location: Our Savior, Milford, IL

Order of Service: Matins

Hymns:

#461, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives"

#738, "Lord of All Hopefulness"

WHM #323, "God Be with You 'Til We Meet Again"

Sermon Theme: Abundance and Need

Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 13-15

Other Lectionary Readings: 

Lamentations 3:22-33

Psalm 30

Mark 5:21-43

''Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered (Matthew 26:57).''

After the disciples fled, Jesus '''ALLOWS''' Himself to be led away to Caiaphas the high priest. Jesus '''ALLOWS''' Himself to face the great blasphemy that would unfold over the next few hours.

The Cornerstone would be rejected. The sinless Son of God was called a sinful son of Satan. The One blasphemed against was convicted of blasphemy.

Jesus '''ALLOWS''' everything to be turned upside down. After all, He came into the world because it was upside down. He came to turn it right side up.

He allowed Himself to be put to death so you may be made alive. He allowed Himself to be spat upon so that you may be exalted. He allowed Himself to be put on trial to prove your faith.

The soldiers may have physically led Jesus away. But Jesus was, in reality, leading them to fulfill God's plan of salvation. Jesus led them so that you might be saved. Amen.

''Then all the disciples left him and fled (Matthew 26:56).''

After all the brave boasting and posturing among the disciples, everyone ran for the hills when the soldiers arrested Jesus. The soldiers didn't care about the disciples. They were after Jesus. No one else mattered. '''HE''' was public enemy number one.

Of the twelve disciples in Gethsemane, we see that three went back into Jerusalem. The others might have gone to Bethany. They went wherever they thought they could hide.

The three who stayed somewhat near Jesus were John, Peter and Judas. John's family was well-known and established in Jerusalem. Peter was curious of what would happen. Judas wanted to see the fireworks.

John walks in with the crowd because he knows the high priest. He brings Peter into the courtyard by speaking to the doorman. Peter denies knowing Jesus. Judas hangs himself because the fireworks never happened. Jesus was going to be condemned to death. And it was all Judas' fault. So Judas flees to the one place he deems worthy of himself. The grave.

Judas is the only one who fled who was not forgiven. He wouldn't stick around to receive forgiveness. He thought he had no other choice. But the other eleven were forgiven on Easter evening. Forgiven by the resurrected Jesus. Just like you. Amen.

It is wonderful to know that the YHWH Sabaoth ("The LORD of Hosts") is also your Shepherd.

''[Jesus said:] "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me" (Matthew 26:55).''

Why did you have to sneak around at night to find Me? I've been right in front of you, but you wouldn't touch me. But this was done to fulfill the Scriptures.

The chief priests and the elders of the Jews did not want to start a riot among the common people. They were afraid of the common person's devotion to this Galilean teacher. He wasn't even a trained rabbi, but His following kept growing. At the beginning of Holy Week, the Pharisees said, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him" (John 12:19).

The chief priests and the elders had confronted Jesus before, but they always lost the war of words. They were always put to shame because Jesus put them in their place. They had to find a way to put Him in His place. To do that, they had to sneak around in the dark. They had to come out with swords and clubs, like they were chasing a hardened criminal.

But Jesus came to be numbered with the criminals (Isaiah 53:12). Criminals like you and me. He hung on the cross for you. To bring robbers and criminals to Him. To forgive all your sins. Amen.

Pro Wrestling America

Fargodome

Fargo, ND

~~~~~

Released: Jushin Liger, Great Kabuki

Signed: Brad Armstrong, Bart Gunn

~~~~~

Savannah Jack vs Rasta the Voodoo Mon

Jerry Lawler vs Curt Hennig

Rick Rude vs Great Kabuki

Honky Tonk Man & 'Gentleman' Chris Adams vs 'Hot Stuff' Eddie Gilbert & Raven

Bobo Brazil vs Chris Candido

PG-13 vs Jesse James Armstrong & Eric Embry

Billy Gunn & Jimmy Golden vs Nightmares

Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Terry Funk

American Heavyweight Title Match: Great Muta (c) vs Goldust

World Tag Team Titles & Television Title Match: Iceman King Parsons & Brickhouse Brown (TV) (C) vs David von Erich & 'Dirty' Dutch Mantell

~~~~~

PWA is removing the house shows from the circuit of the territory. There will only be the Wednesday cards beginning next week.

''[Jesus says:] "Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53).''

This morning's verse lends itself to one of the great mysteries of the Bible: How many angels did God create? This leads to the idle speculation like, "How many angels can fit on the head of a pin?"

But this verse has nothing to do with the number of angels. While Jesus says that He could call down 64,800 angels with a single command, this has nothing to do with the number of angels. It has everything to do with Jesus' divine power.

Peter had already declared Jesus to be the "Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). But do they get it? Of course not. Peter wouldn't strike Malchus' ear defending Jesus if He understood what it meant for Jesus to be God incarnate.

Jesus tells the disciples that He needs '''NO''' defending. God's plan of salvation is Jesus' willing, uncomplaining submission to death by crucifixion. Submission to being forsaken by God (Psalm 22:1). If He wanted to be defended, if He wanted to show off His divine power, He could have.

But He was on His way to Calvary. There was no stopping the world's salvation now. It would all be finished within the next day. Finished for you. Amen.

Liturgical Date: Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 7B)

Calendar Date: June 20, 2021

Location: Our Savior, Milford, IL

Order of Service: Divine Service 4

Hymns:

WHM #295, "Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart"

#717, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save"

#728, "How Firm a Foundation"

#395, "O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright"

#620, "Jesus Comes Today with Healing"

#722, "Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me"

Sermon Theme: The LORD--Our Help

Sermon Text: Psalm 124

Other Lectionary Readings: 

Job 38:1-11

2 Corinthians 6:1-13

Mark 4:35-41

''Then Jesus said to [Peter], "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:53).''

For my periodic Star Trek reference, the warrior race of the Klingons have a warrior's creed: "Today is a good day to die!" Warriors want to fall in battle.

And Christians are no different. While we abide by Jesus' chastisement, we are warriors in spiritual battle "against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). In the following verses to the Ephesians, St. Paul outlines the Christian's armor. Only one piece is offensive: "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).

As Christians, we live and die by the sword of the Spirit. While Jesus chastises the use of a physical sword, He prophesies that the Apostles and all those who follow after them--you and me--will live and die by the sword of God's Word. You and I might not be called by God to die, but you and I are called to be martyrs. Witnesses. We witness to Jesus and His Word. If that makes us unpopular, we take comfort that people didn't like Jesus either. They crucified Him. But by His death, we live. And we can die in peace.

The Klingon creed can be the Christian's as well: "Today is a good day to die" in Christ. Amen.

"They do not find peace of conscience in these works. In true terrors, heaping up works upon works, they eventually despair because they find no work pure enough." -- Ap V 83