+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 19:17
Theme: Carrying His Own Cross
Dear followers to the cross,
The nails were driven, the cross was lifted, and His followers held their breath. Humanity was perched on the precipice of a dark abyss. But even in a state of shock one must exhale before breathing in again. The magnitude of the event at the time could have only been recognized by a select few. This scene, after all, had played out many times before. Crucifixion was a Roman tradition. But Jesus was no ordinary condemned criminal. Pilate was uneasy. His own wife had put him on edge. Herod, always one for theatrics, was probably hoping for some dramatic spectacle. The onlookers were ambivalent, agitated; full of scorn and doubt. His followers were dumbfounded; the closest ones were stunned and on the edge of despair. A large crowd followed Him up the incline of the hill called the Skull but only John and the Marys stayed near the cross.
Naked, bleeding, and broken the Son of God was driven through with nails securing him to that Roman instrument of torture known as a crucifix. The cross was lifted and the ensuing hours were gut-wrenching. The soldiers were familiar with the routine; so far, nothing was too much different. Jesus wasn’t even important enough to get His own show. Two criminals shared the macabre place of prominence. Sometimes crucifixions took many days. That suited the Roman ideal of public spectacles just fine. Today it was all over in a few hours. Jesus cried out to the Father from the cross. Around 3:00PM He breathed His last. It was finished. The sacrifice was completed. The earth shook. The sun had already gone black. The centurion suddenly took notice and made confession, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”1 Was, still is, and always shall be!
The crucifixion was not a tragedy of exploitation but a triumph of determination. Jesus did not cave in to humanly unimaginable pressure and thus compromise our salvation. He drank the cup of divine wrath destined to be poured out on the human race. He drank it down to the dregs. The deepest mystery of God’s intention is contained here. He gives up His holy, beloved Son that He might keep us sinners as His treasured possessions. The blessed exchange works out completely in our favour; our sins for His righteousness. He receives our punishment. We are freed to live in His forgiveness.
The darkness that descended on the land while Jesus hung from the cross was more than symbolic. The creation itself convulsed. The Scriptures themselves were in jeopardy of being falsified. What if God’s plan of salvation came to a tragic end? The enormity of that failure would dwarf all others. Humans would be left to their own resources. In complete spiritual darkness there is no light; no compass pointing the way. Think of the implications for a society where God is absent. Humans fumble around for answers and solutions which evade them because they desire to be blind. Rantings and ravings about bigotry and intolerance; confusing immorality with inequality; equivocating compassion for others with love of self; substituting recklessness for responsibility-such realities often characterize the public discourse in society. These problems are inevitable when human intellect is made the measure of all things.
When the highest authority to appeal to is human consensus, conflict will be the result. A black hole of understanding the very reason for existence begins to pull in all those artificial sources of light that twinkle in our self-constructed worlds. We may have more creature comforts than any period in history but we have no firmer grasp on our purpose or our future than any previous age did. Our technologies which facilitate social interaction are blessings which are easily used for evil too. They are windows into the human psyche. Technology is no substitute for significance. It does not fill the emptiness of the soul.
We’re well on our way to making idols of self-determination and skepticism. There’s nothing more foolish than believing that all propositions and opinions are equally valid. Black and white, sweet and sour, good and evil are not interchangeable. Apathy, uncertainty, and instability will be the inevitable consequences in our culture. Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder but truth is the lifeblood of conviction. Even the most skilled driver must have directions to reach the destination. Truth locates the destination in Jesus and nowhere else.
The cross topples all towers of human arrogance. It demolishes all fortresses of human pride. It does so through humility, not through coercion. People are not the measure of all things. Christians know we have a more reliable authority. The Scripture says, “He who sits in heaven laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.”2 The Almighty is not threatened. His grace will not be thwarted. The most hardened sinner finds forgiveness in Him. Calvary opens the door to Paradise.
Dear friends, we cannot go to the cross. A pilgrimage to Jerusalem (as meaningful as it might be) will not bring us any closer to the accomplishment that took place there. The benefits of the crucifixion come to us. God breaches time and space with His word. The Holy Spirit extends to us the blessings of His once-for-all sacrifice. The resurrection gives Jesus’ death on the cross unlimited relevance. It never becomes a relic of the past. It always remains the source of forgiveness. The baptized are freed from sin’s grip because the light of the resurrection floods over Satan’s dark dominion. Yes, we are still in the fray. We are not yet glorified. We battle. We struggle. We straggle. Sin’s influence doesn’t vanish as if it could be dispelled by waving a magic wand. But our God is the God of battlers, strugglers, and stragglers.
So, lent ends the way it began. The owner of your ashes is coming back to claim them. The infant of Bethlehem- the One sacrificed in Jerusalem- He is coming again in glory. He promises to clothe your flesh and blood with immortality. Our annual Lenten pilgrimage is nearly over but the Emmaus road lies ahead. The crucified Jesus continues to meet us here as the living Lord. We can breathe freely. We can breathe peacefully the pure air of Christ’s presence. In His most holy name, Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Good Friday
25 March, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Mark 16:39
2 Psalm 2:4
Friday, March 25, 2016
Maundy Thursday 2016
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Exodus 13:12
Theme: “The Blood Will Be A Sign”
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The entire witness of Holy Scripture could be understood to be the last will and testament Jesus. Yet, it was necessary on this night of betrayal for the Lord to bless His disciples (and through them the church throughout the ages) with a particular sacred treasure. It was more than just a way to remember His sacrifice. It was a means to participate in His life. “Take, eat; this is my body…drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant.”1
Holy Communion- a sacrament for sinners- extends to believers the fruits of His crucifixion and the power of His resurrection.
How many lambs were needed to provide the blood to mark the doorframes of Israelite homes so that the avenging angel would pass over? How many beasts were slaughtered across the centuries to provide the blood for the altar of atonement! And now here we have the one, sufficient sacrifice; the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.2 “The blood of Jesus…purifies us from all sin.”3 He is present for us in the breaking of this bread.
The Spirit offers us treasure beyond calculation. If you’re trying to market gold there is little need to extol its qualities; they are self-evident. Only the purity and price are points of contention. If you’re trying to sell automobiles however, you have a different challenge on your hands. Quality and reliability differ greatly. You might not get what you think you’ve paid for. Buyer beware!
The Lord’s Supper is like pure gold. Properly administered Holy Communion NEVER varies in its quality or effectiveness because the word of God is never subject to corruption. It is vital and powerful every time it is spoken. The Holy Spirit does not age or become frail. The enthroned Lord Jesus does not suffer loss of strength. We are dealing with realities here that have divine potency. We always get what He has paid for.
If I must coerce the poor, hungry man to partake of a free and healthy meal before he is willing to eat the game is already lost. I will not stimulate his appetite by putting more of the same in front of him and pressing him further. Either he’s not really hungry, or he’s deceived, or he’s too proud. His appetite is governed by His motive. Peter was initially too proud to have his feet washed by Jesus. His motive was wrong. If I must convince the bride-to-be to show up for her own wedding I won’t be successful by chiding her about the loveable qualities of the groom. Her apprehension must be alleviated by genuine trust that her groom will be faithful to her.
To be clear, we do need prodding in our life of Christian obedience, but faith is never a consequence of coercion. Discipline is necessary for good habits and the old sinful nature always needs rebuke and correction. But the correct motive belongs to faith alone. The person with godly motive needs encouragement, strength and support for their faith. But they don’t need a dressing down. Vulnerable faith can be destroyed in this way. Of Jesus the Bible says, “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.”4 In other words, for faith, the benefit is “self-evident.” The motive proceeds accordingly. Faith advances in this certainty. God is faithful in Christ. He is true to His word.
Luther was keen to remind us of the challenge we face and the benefits of this gift. “The devil is a furious enemy; when he sees that we resist him and attack the old man, and when he cannot rout us by force, he sneaks and skulks about everywhere, trying all kinds of tricks, and does not stop until he has finally worn us out so that we either renounce our faith or yield hand and foot and become indifferent or impatient. For such times, when our heart feels too sorely pressed, this comfort of the Lord’s Supper is given to bring us new strength and refreshment.”5
Oh how much could be said about indifference or impatience! They are often clear indicators of impenitence. Large portions of the church today are a veritable society of indifference. And on this sacred occasion, we too, are called on to repent of our apathy. Yet, the zeal of the Saviour cannot be quenched. Satan can’t wear Him out. Luther says again, “Here in the sacrament you receive from Christ’s lips the forgiveness of sins, which contains and conveys God’s grace and the Spirit with all His gifts, protections, defence, and power against death and the devil and all evils.”6
The blood is a sign. But not in the way we often conjecture about signs today; seeking phenomena that seem to verify our conjecture. It is the emblem of God’s sacrificial love. But it is more than a reminder of Jesus’ sacrificial death. It is more than a spiritual symbol to focus your faith. It is the very means the Almighty God uses to bring you into contact with His Son. Through it you enter into the holy of holies. Because of it the angel of death passes you by.7
The disciples left the Upper Room knowing the critical hour was at hand. Yet, not until after the resurrection and ascension would they understand what it all meant. Jesus washed their feet but what was important was the cleansing of the soul. Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”8 We have been washed by Him in baptism and through this meal we share in His life. No one’s part in Him is greater or lesser than that of another. There is absolute parity when it comes to the value of this treasure. None claims priority over the other.
You may have fame and fortune, recognition and accomplishment heaped on you during your life. You may be blessed with good health, a stable family, and a great career. You may receive a generous inheritance. These are all gifts from the hand and heart of the Almighty. Yet none of these compares with the only antidote for mortality.
Conversely, your life might be marked by a long history of tragedy, failure, and victimhood. Perhaps you have struggled to really find your place and purpose in life. Maybe you’ve perpetrated more than your fair share of ungodliness? Most peoples’ lives are a blend of prosperity and adversity. We are saints and sinners. Even a person who has endured disastrous circumstances is a beneficiary of God’s kindness. He is too magnanimous to withhold it. But He is also too wise to withhold adversity from us, knowing that if we don’t endure it we’re prone to unreasonable expectations and unrighteousness.
Dear friends, the bleeding Jesus is the same Lord who still has blood coursing through His veins. Holy Communion is always a preview of the heavenly banquet. Our host at this table also desires to host us at the celestial celebration. The Scripture says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”9 You are invited, come! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Maundy Thursday
24 March, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 26:26, 28
2 See John 1:29
3 1 John 1:7
4 Matthew 12:20
5 Large Catechism
6Large Catechism
7 See Exodus 12:13
8 John 13:8
9 Revelation 19:9
Text: Exodus 13:12
Theme: “The Blood Will Be A Sign”
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The entire witness of Holy Scripture could be understood to be the last will and testament Jesus. Yet, it was necessary on this night of betrayal for the Lord to bless His disciples (and through them the church throughout the ages) with a particular sacred treasure. It was more than just a way to remember His sacrifice. It was a means to participate in His life. “Take, eat; this is my body…drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant.”1
Holy Communion- a sacrament for sinners- extends to believers the fruits of His crucifixion and the power of His resurrection.
How many lambs were needed to provide the blood to mark the doorframes of Israelite homes so that the avenging angel would pass over? How many beasts were slaughtered across the centuries to provide the blood for the altar of atonement! And now here we have the one, sufficient sacrifice; the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.2 “The blood of Jesus…purifies us from all sin.”3 He is present for us in the breaking of this bread.
The Spirit offers us treasure beyond calculation. If you’re trying to market gold there is little need to extol its qualities; they are self-evident. Only the purity and price are points of contention. If you’re trying to sell automobiles however, you have a different challenge on your hands. Quality and reliability differ greatly. You might not get what you think you’ve paid for. Buyer beware!
The Lord’s Supper is like pure gold. Properly administered Holy Communion NEVER varies in its quality or effectiveness because the word of God is never subject to corruption. It is vital and powerful every time it is spoken. The Holy Spirit does not age or become frail. The enthroned Lord Jesus does not suffer loss of strength. We are dealing with realities here that have divine potency. We always get what He has paid for.
If I must coerce the poor, hungry man to partake of a free and healthy meal before he is willing to eat the game is already lost. I will not stimulate his appetite by putting more of the same in front of him and pressing him further. Either he’s not really hungry, or he’s deceived, or he’s too proud. His appetite is governed by His motive. Peter was initially too proud to have his feet washed by Jesus. His motive was wrong. If I must convince the bride-to-be to show up for her own wedding I won’t be successful by chiding her about the loveable qualities of the groom. Her apprehension must be alleviated by genuine trust that her groom will be faithful to her.
To be clear, we do need prodding in our life of Christian obedience, but faith is never a consequence of coercion. Discipline is necessary for good habits and the old sinful nature always needs rebuke and correction. But the correct motive belongs to faith alone. The person with godly motive needs encouragement, strength and support for their faith. But they don’t need a dressing down. Vulnerable faith can be destroyed in this way. Of Jesus the Bible says, “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.”4 In other words, for faith, the benefit is “self-evident.” The motive proceeds accordingly. Faith advances in this certainty. God is faithful in Christ. He is true to His word.
Luther was keen to remind us of the challenge we face and the benefits of this gift. “The devil is a furious enemy; when he sees that we resist him and attack the old man, and when he cannot rout us by force, he sneaks and skulks about everywhere, trying all kinds of tricks, and does not stop until he has finally worn us out so that we either renounce our faith or yield hand and foot and become indifferent or impatient. For such times, when our heart feels too sorely pressed, this comfort of the Lord’s Supper is given to bring us new strength and refreshment.”5
Oh how much could be said about indifference or impatience! They are often clear indicators of impenitence. Large portions of the church today are a veritable society of indifference. And on this sacred occasion, we too, are called on to repent of our apathy. Yet, the zeal of the Saviour cannot be quenched. Satan can’t wear Him out. Luther says again, “Here in the sacrament you receive from Christ’s lips the forgiveness of sins, which contains and conveys God’s grace and the Spirit with all His gifts, protections, defence, and power against death and the devil and all evils.”6
The blood is a sign. But not in the way we often conjecture about signs today; seeking phenomena that seem to verify our conjecture. It is the emblem of God’s sacrificial love. But it is more than a reminder of Jesus’ sacrificial death. It is more than a spiritual symbol to focus your faith. It is the very means the Almighty God uses to bring you into contact with His Son. Through it you enter into the holy of holies. Because of it the angel of death passes you by.7
The disciples left the Upper Room knowing the critical hour was at hand. Yet, not until after the resurrection and ascension would they understand what it all meant. Jesus washed their feet but what was important was the cleansing of the soul. Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”8 We have been washed by Him in baptism and through this meal we share in His life. No one’s part in Him is greater or lesser than that of another. There is absolute parity when it comes to the value of this treasure. None claims priority over the other.
You may have fame and fortune, recognition and accomplishment heaped on you during your life. You may be blessed with good health, a stable family, and a great career. You may receive a generous inheritance. These are all gifts from the hand and heart of the Almighty. Yet none of these compares with the only antidote for mortality.
Conversely, your life might be marked by a long history of tragedy, failure, and victimhood. Perhaps you have struggled to really find your place and purpose in life. Maybe you’ve perpetrated more than your fair share of ungodliness? Most peoples’ lives are a blend of prosperity and adversity. We are saints and sinners. Even a person who has endured disastrous circumstances is a beneficiary of God’s kindness. He is too magnanimous to withhold it. But He is also too wise to withhold adversity from us, knowing that if we don’t endure it we’re prone to unreasonable expectations and unrighteousness.
Dear friends, the bleeding Jesus is the same Lord who still has blood coursing through His veins. Holy Communion is always a preview of the heavenly banquet. Our host at this table also desires to host us at the celestial celebration. The Scripture says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”9 You are invited, come! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Maundy Thursday
24 March, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 26:26, 28
2 See John 1:29
3 1 John 1:7
4 Matthew 12:20
5 Large Catechism
6Large Catechism
7 See Exodus 12:13
8 John 13:8
9 Revelation 19:9
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Palm Sunday (C) 2016
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 19:38
Theme: Blessed Is The King
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Was it a parody or a paradigm? Here He comes- the King of the universe- riding on a lowly beast of burden, processing to His pending death. He enters to acclamations of hosanna that will soon be superseded by cries of “Crucify Him!” Palm Sunday has arrived and it indicates that we are now near the pointy end of the Church Year; the ‘business’ end. Holy Week has begun and supporters and skeptics alike will witness the consummation of the Messiah’s kingdom. It’s a regal show but not of human construction. The Divine Majesty has His own parameters of accomplishment. The royal palace for His Son will be a cross planted on top of a rubbish heap. There salvation will be on display for the whole world to see. The truth of it all will be revolting to human wisdom and deemed pathetic by human arrogance. “But to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”1
The Mount of Olives was the particular point to precipitate the procession. In joyous celebration Jesus would transverse the place of His pending betrayal. But for now, cheering crowds with high hopes typified the hour. He was their deliverer. The yoke of Roman oppression was soon to be thrown off- at least that’s what many hoped. They welcomed Him heartily, yearning to be freed by this Son of David. Could it be that in Him the dynasty would be restored?
And so, He comes. And in the complexity of cheerfulness and confusion among the people He presses on with His consistent effort to shoulder the weight of sin. The burden is getting heavy. Yet, He comes. He comes to save a world infected by sin; a human race with a terminal disease. But He doesn’t come in an anonymous, aloof manner. He comes for you. He comes to you. He comes to be present with you. He comes to live in you. And for Him to live in us sin must be cast down from its seat of power. He does not share the throne.
He knows your addictions. He knows your habits which flirt with addiction. He knows your tendencies which approximate habits. He knows your mindsets which influence your tendencies. He knows the context that shapes your mindset. He knows your temptations. He knows your sins of weakness, your sins of ignorance, your sins of callousness, your sins of consciousness. But His knowing them doesn’t justify them or you. Our sinful nature can never be vindicated. It must be put to death by the power of His crucifixion.
Confess your sins to Him openly. Pour out your hearts. Nothing can surprise Him. Nothing will cause Him to withdraw His grace. He will not prove to be unreliable. His mercy is steadfast and rock solid. He does not change. He will not be moved from His promise to rescue us from every evil of body and soul. We have His oath. The baptismal promise is His and He will not renege. The Holy Spirit never turns away a repentant soul.
Don’t fret that you continue to struggle and find yourself failing again and again. Humans will never be fully transparent or consistent. The duplicity of sin warps our entire being. Nothing can be said so clearly that it cannot be misconstrued. No gesture can be performed so carefully that it cannot be misunderstood. Even our own motives are often hopelessly conflicted. But God is not burdened with such frailties. He speaks with clarity. He decrees with consistency. He acts with transparency. He never tires or gives up. Encourage others who struggle in a similar manner and may be on the verge of losing hope. With Christ hope is never lost.
The Palm Sunday cries of “Hosanna”, or “Save us!” would be answered. The appeals, supplications, and laments of sinners and saints across the ages will crescendo to a breaking point in the ears of this Messiah whose voice fell silent on the cross. Cain said, “My punishment is more than I can bear.”2 Isaiah said, “The punishment that brought us peace was upon [Christ]”3 Moses said, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”4 The Spirit says, “Christ…entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”5 The Psalmist says, “Deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.”6 The apostle says, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”7The Scripture says, “No matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.”8
You are among His chosen. You are one of His elect. He puts a ring on your finger and a crown on your head. He hides us away; safely tucked into His wounds until the storms of life have passed. The cherubim who blocked entry to the Garden are turned into escorts that usher us back to Paradise. The flaming arrows of Satan are extinguished. The Son has risen and casts His light over the land of the shadow of death. “Though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant…He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”9
He feeds us with immortal food from the regrown tree of life. Appearances can be deceiving. In the Supper we have these small portions that are hardly sufficient to sustain us even an hour in regards to our bodily needs. But in regards to our spiritual requirements- our cup runneth over! The power in this meal is not found in its quantity but its quality. It’s not a matter of portion size but potency. Truly contained in these forms of bread and wine are the body and the blood of the Redeemer. Through these means the Holy Spirit offers and executes the forgiveness of sins.
Today we join our voices with the crowds who said, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”10 These acclamations of praise should sound familiar. We heard them at the announcement of His birth. They also form the content of heavenly language where the saints are depicted waving palm branches and saying, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb…Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”11 His coming was no parody; it was the paradigm of salvation. He is true to His word. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Palm Sunday
20 March, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 1 Corinthians 1:18
2 Genesis 4:13
3 Isaiah 53:3
4 Exodus 33:15
5 Hebrews 9:24
6 Psalm 79:9
7 Romans 4:25
8 2 Corinthians 1:20
9 Philippians 2:6-8
10 Luke 19:38
11 Revelation 7:10, 12
Text: Luke 19:38
Theme: Blessed Is The King
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Was it a parody or a paradigm? Here He comes- the King of the universe- riding on a lowly beast of burden, processing to His pending death. He enters to acclamations of hosanna that will soon be superseded by cries of “Crucify Him!” Palm Sunday has arrived and it indicates that we are now near the pointy end of the Church Year; the ‘business’ end. Holy Week has begun and supporters and skeptics alike will witness the consummation of the Messiah’s kingdom. It’s a regal show but not of human construction. The Divine Majesty has His own parameters of accomplishment. The royal palace for His Son will be a cross planted on top of a rubbish heap. There salvation will be on display for the whole world to see. The truth of it all will be revolting to human wisdom and deemed pathetic by human arrogance. “But to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”1
The Mount of Olives was the particular point to precipitate the procession. In joyous celebration Jesus would transverse the place of His pending betrayal. But for now, cheering crowds with high hopes typified the hour. He was their deliverer. The yoke of Roman oppression was soon to be thrown off- at least that’s what many hoped. They welcomed Him heartily, yearning to be freed by this Son of David. Could it be that in Him the dynasty would be restored?
And so, He comes. And in the complexity of cheerfulness and confusion among the people He presses on with His consistent effort to shoulder the weight of sin. The burden is getting heavy. Yet, He comes. He comes to save a world infected by sin; a human race with a terminal disease. But He doesn’t come in an anonymous, aloof manner. He comes for you. He comes to you. He comes to be present with you. He comes to live in you. And for Him to live in us sin must be cast down from its seat of power. He does not share the throne.
He knows your addictions. He knows your habits which flirt with addiction. He knows your tendencies which approximate habits. He knows your mindsets which influence your tendencies. He knows the context that shapes your mindset. He knows your temptations. He knows your sins of weakness, your sins of ignorance, your sins of callousness, your sins of consciousness. But His knowing them doesn’t justify them or you. Our sinful nature can never be vindicated. It must be put to death by the power of His crucifixion.
Confess your sins to Him openly. Pour out your hearts. Nothing can surprise Him. Nothing will cause Him to withdraw His grace. He will not prove to be unreliable. His mercy is steadfast and rock solid. He does not change. He will not be moved from His promise to rescue us from every evil of body and soul. We have His oath. The baptismal promise is His and He will not renege. The Holy Spirit never turns away a repentant soul.
Don’t fret that you continue to struggle and find yourself failing again and again. Humans will never be fully transparent or consistent. The duplicity of sin warps our entire being. Nothing can be said so clearly that it cannot be misconstrued. No gesture can be performed so carefully that it cannot be misunderstood. Even our own motives are often hopelessly conflicted. But God is not burdened with such frailties. He speaks with clarity. He decrees with consistency. He acts with transparency. He never tires or gives up. Encourage others who struggle in a similar manner and may be on the verge of losing hope. With Christ hope is never lost.
The Palm Sunday cries of “Hosanna”, or “Save us!” would be answered. The appeals, supplications, and laments of sinners and saints across the ages will crescendo to a breaking point in the ears of this Messiah whose voice fell silent on the cross. Cain said, “My punishment is more than I can bear.”2 Isaiah said, “The punishment that brought us peace was upon [Christ]”3 Moses said, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”4 The Spirit says, “Christ…entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”5 The Psalmist says, “Deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.”6 The apostle says, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”7The Scripture says, “No matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.”8
You are among His chosen. You are one of His elect. He puts a ring on your finger and a crown on your head. He hides us away; safely tucked into His wounds until the storms of life have passed. The cherubim who blocked entry to the Garden are turned into escorts that usher us back to Paradise. The flaming arrows of Satan are extinguished. The Son has risen and casts His light over the land of the shadow of death. “Though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant…He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”9
He feeds us with immortal food from the regrown tree of life. Appearances can be deceiving. In the Supper we have these small portions that are hardly sufficient to sustain us even an hour in regards to our bodily needs. But in regards to our spiritual requirements- our cup runneth over! The power in this meal is not found in its quantity but its quality. It’s not a matter of portion size but potency. Truly contained in these forms of bread and wine are the body and the blood of the Redeemer. Through these means the Holy Spirit offers and executes the forgiveness of sins.
Today we join our voices with the crowds who said, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”10 These acclamations of praise should sound familiar. We heard them at the announcement of His birth. They also form the content of heavenly language where the saints are depicted waving palm branches and saying, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb…Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”11 His coming was no parody; it was the paradigm of salvation. He is true to His word. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Palm Sunday
20 March, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 1 Corinthians 1:18
2 Genesis 4:13
3 Isaiah 53:3
4 Exodus 33:15
5 Hebrews 9:24
6 Psalm 79:9
7 Romans 4:25
8 2 Corinthians 1:20
9 Philippians 2:6-8
10 Luke 19:38
11 Revelation 7:10, 12
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Midweek Lent 2016
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 22:54-71
Theme: Truth On Trial
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Dear Followers to the Cross,
Tonight we continue our Lenten series called ‘Places of the Passion’. We are focusing on the events that happened in key places during the last week of Jesus’ life. Our venue tonight is the palace of the high priest. There Jesus was essentially on religious trial, so tonight we consider the nature and import of the accusations leveled against Him in His final hours. Though it was a miscarriage of justice driven by jealousy and fear, it was nevertheless part of the divine plan.
We live in an age when accusations alone can be as damaging as if they panned out to be true. Any person in the public eye is understandably fearful of accusations. Studies, show, not surprisingly, that a large percentage of lawsuits filed in Western nations are frivolous; that is, they are filed just to annoy or harass, they have no real merit. Here are a couple of stellar examples. A woman in Israel sued over a TV station’s weather forecast. They said it would be sunny, but it rained. The woman claimed she dressed lightly, only to get rained on and cause her to catch the flu, miss a week of work, and spend money on medications. The woman filed a lawsuit and won $1,000. A Romanian prisoner by the name of Pavel decided to sue the Romanian Orthodox Church. The reason? He’s been convicted of murder, serving his 20-year term and blames God for ‘failing to keep him away from the influence of the devil’.
The Lord Jesus Christ was no stranger to allegations. He was accused of everything from blasphemy to being in allegiance with Satan. These accusations eventually spelled Jesus’ final demise. The crux of the matter is relayed to us in this way by Matthew, “The high priest said to h im, ‘I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.’ ‘Yes, it is as you say,’ Jesus replied. ‘But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses?’”1 Credit must be given to the high priest for asking the right theological question. Though Jesus was ultimately sentenced under Roman law for not giving allegiance to Caesar; He was condemned by the Jews for blasphemy.
Blasphemy involves the claim of equality with God. Though their motives were more than suspect, they had hit on the watershed issue. The Jews had already decided to condemn Jesus, so it mattered little how He responded. Yet it had to be recorded for history, that here, just before His crucifixion, Jesus confesses to be the Son of God. He did not mean He was a son of God in the sense of being a believer, a child of God. He did not mean He was a son of God because He too was a descendent of Adam who was created by God. Jesus meant this in the absolute and divine sense: He is “God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God.”2
The whole scene as pictured was a contradiction. Caiaphas, the earthly high priest, stands accusing and condemning the heavenly High Priest. The earthly high priest is a disgrace to his office. The heavenly High Priest bears the disgrace of all humanity. The earthly high priest protects the interests of a chosen few; the heavenly High Priest protects the interests of countless souls. The earthly high priest intercedes to the detriment of his people; the heavenly High Priest makes intercession for the sins of all. The greatest paradox of all is seen in the fact that God the Father chooses to let His beloved Son be scorned and shamed. He does not intervene to prevent false accusations, all so that we could see the obedience and sacrifice of His Son rather than a manifestation of His glory.
Dear friends, Jesus was accused and condemned falsely because and ONLY BECAUSE we stand accused and condemned justly. The Scripture says, “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.”3 Though our conscience strive to excuse us, let there be no doubt we are rightly accused of failing to properly love God and our neighbor as our self. All acquittals in the human realm combined cannot change the divine verdict.
But the verdict is one thing and the sentence another. You and I are justly accused, but Jesus Christ has been punished. Only His death was worthy to atone for others. Only the payment of His life cancelled our debt for eternity. We are all convicted felons who have been set free and had the slate washed clean. We live in Christ and through Christ and to Christ because Christ died and now lives for us. We now live baptismally in the power of His resurrection.
During Lent we focus on repentance. Repentance means our actions show fidelity to our beliefs. Accusation can be seen in a different light. When it comes to witnessing to what we believe to be the truth, accusation is not always a bad thing. Christians must be willing to be accused of guilt by association; association with the name of Christ. If you were accused of being a follower of Jesus Christ, what evidence could be gathered to convict you? Would family, friends and neighbors testify to your participation in worship and church-related activities? Does your everyday speech reveal your knowledge of the faith and your devotion to it? Would you swear under oath that you are a worshipper of the triune God? Would you endure being ostracized, ridiculed and persecuted for your faith? These are difficult but serious questions. An answer is always given one way or another.
Jesus said to the Father, “Your word is truth.”4 Christ is the embodiment of that truth. All the opinions, proposals, ideas, and convictions of people across the generations are only as enduring as the foundations on which they stand. All lies and falsehoods- even those deeply entrenched in the psyche of humanity- will eventually be shown for what they are. All false accusations and frivolous lawsuits will be condemned. But the word of the Lord endures forever. A particular crucifixion and resurrection is proof of that truth.
Do not be afraid to stand accused on account of His name, for you have a Defender who has already stood trial for you. He is your Advocate, your Redeemer; your Good Shepherd. He has set you free from the power of sin, Satan, and death itself. He ran the gauntlet- all the places of the passion- so that you might have a place in heaven. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Midweek Lenten Sermon #3
17 February- 16 March, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 26:63-65
2 The Nicene Creed
3 Romans 3:19
4 John 17:17
Text: Luke 22:54-71
Theme: Truth On Trial
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Dear Followers to the Cross,
Tonight we continue our Lenten series called ‘Places of the Passion’. We are focusing on the events that happened in key places during the last week of Jesus’ life. Our venue tonight is the palace of the high priest. There Jesus was essentially on religious trial, so tonight we consider the nature and import of the accusations leveled against Him in His final hours. Though it was a miscarriage of justice driven by jealousy and fear, it was nevertheless part of the divine plan.
We live in an age when accusations alone can be as damaging as if they panned out to be true. Any person in the public eye is understandably fearful of accusations. Studies, show, not surprisingly, that a large percentage of lawsuits filed in Western nations are frivolous; that is, they are filed just to annoy or harass, they have no real merit. Here are a couple of stellar examples. A woman in Israel sued over a TV station’s weather forecast. They said it would be sunny, but it rained. The woman claimed she dressed lightly, only to get rained on and cause her to catch the flu, miss a week of work, and spend money on medications. The woman filed a lawsuit and won $1,000. A Romanian prisoner by the name of Pavel decided to sue the Romanian Orthodox Church. The reason? He’s been convicted of murder, serving his 20-year term and blames God for ‘failing to keep him away from the influence of the devil’.
The Lord Jesus Christ was no stranger to allegations. He was accused of everything from blasphemy to being in allegiance with Satan. These accusations eventually spelled Jesus’ final demise. The crux of the matter is relayed to us in this way by Matthew, “The high priest said to h im, ‘I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.’ ‘Yes, it is as you say,’ Jesus replied. ‘But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses?’”1 Credit must be given to the high priest for asking the right theological question. Though Jesus was ultimately sentenced under Roman law for not giving allegiance to Caesar; He was condemned by the Jews for blasphemy.
Blasphemy involves the claim of equality with God. Though their motives were more than suspect, they had hit on the watershed issue. The Jews had already decided to condemn Jesus, so it mattered little how He responded. Yet it had to be recorded for history, that here, just before His crucifixion, Jesus confesses to be the Son of God. He did not mean He was a son of God in the sense of being a believer, a child of God. He did not mean He was a son of God because He too was a descendent of Adam who was created by God. Jesus meant this in the absolute and divine sense: He is “God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God.”2
The whole scene as pictured was a contradiction. Caiaphas, the earthly high priest, stands accusing and condemning the heavenly High Priest. The earthly high priest is a disgrace to his office. The heavenly High Priest bears the disgrace of all humanity. The earthly high priest protects the interests of a chosen few; the heavenly High Priest protects the interests of countless souls. The earthly high priest intercedes to the detriment of his people; the heavenly High Priest makes intercession for the sins of all. The greatest paradox of all is seen in the fact that God the Father chooses to let His beloved Son be scorned and shamed. He does not intervene to prevent false accusations, all so that we could see the obedience and sacrifice of His Son rather than a manifestation of His glory.
Dear friends, Jesus was accused and condemned falsely because and ONLY BECAUSE we stand accused and condemned justly. The Scripture says, “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.”3 Though our conscience strive to excuse us, let there be no doubt we are rightly accused of failing to properly love God and our neighbor as our self. All acquittals in the human realm combined cannot change the divine verdict.
But the verdict is one thing and the sentence another. You and I are justly accused, but Jesus Christ has been punished. Only His death was worthy to atone for others. Only the payment of His life cancelled our debt for eternity. We are all convicted felons who have been set free and had the slate washed clean. We live in Christ and through Christ and to Christ because Christ died and now lives for us. We now live baptismally in the power of His resurrection.
During Lent we focus on repentance. Repentance means our actions show fidelity to our beliefs. Accusation can be seen in a different light. When it comes to witnessing to what we believe to be the truth, accusation is not always a bad thing. Christians must be willing to be accused of guilt by association; association with the name of Christ. If you were accused of being a follower of Jesus Christ, what evidence could be gathered to convict you? Would family, friends and neighbors testify to your participation in worship and church-related activities? Does your everyday speech reveal your knowledge of the faith and your devotion to it? Would you swear under oath that you are a worshipper of the triune God? Would you endure being ostracized, ridiculed and persecuted for your faith? These are difficult but serious questions. An answer is always given one way or another.
Jesus said to the Father, “Your word is truth.”4 Christ is the embodiment of that truth. All the opinions, proposals, ideas, and convictions of people across the generations are only as enduring as the foundations on which they stand. All lies and falsehoods- even those deeply entrenched in the psyche of humanity- will eventually be shown for what they are. All false accusations and frivolous lawsuits will be condemned. But the word of the Lord endures forever. A particular crucifixion and resurrection is proof of that truth.
Do not be afraid to stand accused on account of His name, for you have a Defender who has already stood trial for you. He is your Advocate, your Redeemer; your Good Shepherd. He has set you free from the power of sin, Satan, and death itself. He ran the gauntlet- all the places of the passion- so that you might have a place in heaven. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Midweek Lenten Sermon #3
17 February- 16 March, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 26:63-65
2 The Nicene Creed
3 Romans 3:19
4 John 17:17
Fifth Sunday In Lent (C) 2016
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 12:3
Theme: Covering The Smell Of Betrayal
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
It’s now the Saturday before Holy Week. Before the next Sabbath Jesus’ body will be locked in a tomb. There’s no time for respite in the coming days. Christ will be pressed to the limits of human capacity. Every hour spent in the company of companions is precious. Still, every moment is filled with intensity and purpose. The betrayal of Judas is unfolding. The denial of Peter is pending. The fleeing of the eleven lies ahead. Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away from Me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’”1
Presently though, Jesus is with His friends from Bethany. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus have received Him into their homes. Their hearts are still grappling with astonishment and joy. Only a short time earlier Jesus had stood at the tomb of Lazarus and wept. Then He spoke the command and Lazarus came forth. It caused a great stir when Lazarus was raised from the dead. Many of the Jews who were present began to believe. It was becoming clearer, even before His resurrection, that Jesus was the Messiah. The rulers couldn’t confront Him in broad daylight for fear of the crowds. The Pharisees were thrown into panic. “What are we to do? This man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”2
Mary begins to anoint Jesus’ feet with valuable ointment. The aroma filled the house. It was a smell associated with luxury. It was a smell associated with death because it was used in burial. It was probably used on Lazarus to commence his four day sojourn in the grave. The women probably took it with them on Easter morning to anoint the body of Jesus. They never had the chance. The odor of dying accompanied the Lord, but never the odor of death because His body never saw decay. Death took Him but decomposition could not consume Him. But now, Mary anoints Him in preparation. She was commended for her devotion. How surreal it must have been for Lazarus to be there in Jesus presence! Did they yet understand that their Lord would soon be fixed to a cross?
Judas had other ideas. He cloaked them with words of charitableness. But he had wicked intentions. He was the keeper of the purse. He was planning to steal the money. His window for repentance was closing though Jesus gave him every opportunity. But repentance isn’t driven by opportunity. It’s driven by the Holy Spirit’s persistence in breaking through human pride. The devil is opportunistic and lawless. The Holy Spirit is orderly and scrupulous. Yet, the heart of Judas just became more callous and hardened. He insisted on having his own way.
That quality of Judas lives in each of us. In biblical language it has been called the “old Adam”. It is that inherent selfishness that precipitates greed, jealousy, self-pity, deceitfulness, unchasteness, disobedience, and finally, idolatry and unbelief. It’s not a condition we can choose to opt out of, make plans to avoid, or successfully deny. Our entanglement with specific sins is a result of our will to sin. That’s why repentance is always the order of the day.
Today Jesus is preparing for His death. We tend to avoid preparing for the things we are fearful of. Avoidance only makes the situation worse. When denial is no longer possible people may become overwhelmed and incapacitated. That’s why facing mortality can become a crisis point for some people. This is often dressed up with fine-sounding rationale and good intentions. Do we need the rooster to crow before we remember the danger of straying from God’s will? We never like to believe we are capable of evil worthy of condemnation. We never like to think we could willfully harm others. We never like to think our desires could spiral out of our control. Yet, our sinful nature conflicts constantly with our will to honour God. The struggle is never concluded in this life.
Only through the Holy Spirit can we prevail. Christ has won the victory. The forgiveness of sins is as solid as granite and as certain as the sunrise. Christ is our Rock. He is the Son of Righteousness. His promise of absolution is not bound by time and distance. When the pastor speaks His words of truth as His representative they are as definite as if Christ were standing before us. Remember what we learned from the catechism, “I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command…this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.”3
With this certainty, our hopes can never be crushed. Christ will not fail us. We can say with the apostle Paul today, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”4 We are clothed with that righteousness in baptism. We are fed with it in Holy Communion.
Lent reminds us that Jesus welcomes sinners. The Father always receives back prodigal sons with open arms. He doesn’t need to investigate integrity. He knows what the humble heart looks like because He sees us from the inside. “The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”5 He kills the fattened calf. He opens the gate to the sheep pen. He takes us onto the ark of salvation. He crushes Satan under our feet. He clears the way back to the tree of life.
The same Christ who was crucified is coming again. His second advent will not be like the first. With irresistible force He will gather all before Him. There will be no negotiations; no second chances. Those who have sided with ungodliness will be eternally condemned. Believers will be received into everlasting peace and joy. His decrees will be final. The faithful will become heirs with Christ to the riches of his glorious kingdom.
Dear friends, the death of Jesus was fragrant incense to God. The smell of perfume filled the house of Lazarus today. It signaled preparation for His burial. It also covered the smell of wickedness in the heart of Judas. And so the Scripture says, “Love covers over a multitude of sins.”6 Thanks be to the Father, in the power of the Spirit that Jesus Christ, who is Perfect Love, has covered all of our transgressions. In Him, we are a pleasing aroma to God. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Fifth Sunday in Lent
13 March, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 26:31
2 John 11:47-48
3 Luther’s Small Catechism
4 Philippians 3:8-9
5 Psalm 34:18
61 Peter 4:8
Text: John 12:3
Theme: Covering The Smell Of Betrayal
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
It’s now the Saturday before Holy Week. Before the next Sabbath Jesus’ body will be locked in a tomb. There’s no time for respite in the coming days. Christ will be pressed to the limits of human capacity. Every hour spent in the company of companions is precious. Still, every moment is filled with intensity and purpose. The betrayal of Judas is unfolding. The denial of Peter is pending. The fleeing of the eleven lies ahead. Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away from Me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’”1
Presently though, Jesus is with His friends from Bethany. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus have received Him into their homes. Their hearts are still grappling with astonishment and joy. Only a short time earlier Jesus had stood at the tomb of Lazarus and wept. Then He spoke the command and Lazarus came forth. It caused a great stir when Lazarus was raised from the dead. Many of the Jews who were present began to believe. It was becoming clearer, even before His resurrection, that Jesus was the Messiah. The rulers couldn’t confront Him in broad daylight for fear of the crowds. The Pharisees were thrown into panic. “What are we to do? This man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”2
Mary begins to anoint Jesus’ feet with valuable ointment. The aroma filled the house. It was a smell associated with luxury. It was a smell associated with death because it was used in burial. It was probably used on Lazarus to commence his four day sojourn in the grave. The women probably took it with them on Easter morning to anoint the body of Jesus. They never had the chance. The odor of dying accompanied the Lord, but never the odor of death because His body never saw decay. Death took Him but decomposition could not consume Him. But now, Mary anoints Him in preparation. She was commended for her devotion. How surreal it must have been for Lazarus to be there in Jesus presence! Did they yet understand that their Lord would soon be fixed to a cross?
Judas had other ideas. He cloaked them with words of charitableness. But he had wicked intentions. He was the keeper of the purse. He was planning to steal the money. His window for repentance was closing though Jesus gave him every opportunity. But repentance isn’t driven by opportunity. It’s driven by the Holy Spirit’s persistence in breaking through human pride. The devil is opportunistic and lawless. The Holy Spirit is orderly and scrupulous. Yet, the heart of Judas just became more callous and hardened. He insisted on having his own way.
That quality of Judas lives in each of us. In biblical language it has been called the “old Adam”. It is that inherent selfishness that precipitates greed, jealousy, self-pity, deceitfulness, unchasteness, disobedience, and finally, idolatry and unbelief. It’s not a condition we can choose to opt out of, make plans to avoid, or successfully deny. Our entanglement with specific sins is a result of our will to sin. That’s why repentance is always the order of the day.
Today Jesus is preparing for His death. We tend to avoid preparing for the things we are fearful of. Avoidance only makes the situation worse. When denial is no longer possible people may become overwhelmed and incapacitated. That’s why facing mortality can become a crisis point for some people. This is often dressed up with fine-sounding rationale and good intentions. Do we need the rooster to crow before we remember the danger of straying from God’s will? We never like to believe we are capable of evil worthy of condemnation. We never like to think we could willfully harm others. We never like to think our desires could spiral out of our control. Yet, our sinful nature conflicts constantly with our will to honour God. The struggle is never concluded in this life.
Only through the Holy Spirit can we prevail. Christ has won the victory. The forgiveness of sins is as solid as granite and as certain as the sunrise. Christ is our Rock. He is the Son of Righteousness. His promise of absolution is not bound by time and distance. When the pastor speaks His words of truth as His representative they are as definite as if Christ were standing before us. Remember what we learned from the catechism, “I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command…this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.”3
With this certainty, our hopes can never be crushed. Christ will not fail us. We can say with the apostle Paul today, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”4 We are clothed with that righteousness in baptism. We are fed with it in Holy Communion.
Lent reminds us that Jesus welcomes sinners. The Father always receives back prodigal sons with open arms. He doesn’t need to investigate integrity. He knows what the humble heart looks like because He sees us from the inside. “The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”5 He kills the fattened calf. He opens the gate to the sheep pen. He takes us onto the ark of salvation. He crushes Satan under our feet. He clears the way back to the tree of life.
The same Christ who was crucified is coming again. His second advent will not be like the first. With irresistible force He will gather all before Him. There will be no negotiations; no second chances. Those who have sided with ungodliness will be eternally condemned. Believers will be received into everlasting peace and joy. His decrees will be final. The faithful will become heirs with Christ to the riches of his glorious kingdom.
Dear friends, the death of Jesus was fragrant incense to God. The smell of perfume filled the house of Lazarus today. It signaled preparation for His burial. It also covered the smell of wickedness in the heart of Judas. And so the Scripture says, “Love covers over a multitude of sins.”6 Thanks be to the Father, in the power of the Spirit that Jesus Christ, who is Perfect Love, has covered all of our transgressions. In Him, we are a pleasing aroma to God. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Fifth Sunday in Lent
13 March, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 26:31
2 John 11:47-48
3 Luther’s Small Catechism
4 Philippians 3:8-9
5 Psalm 34:18
61 Peter 4:8
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Fourth Sunday In Lent (C) 2016
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 15:20
Theme: Exuberant Love
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
God’s love is not passive. He enthusiastically attends to us; vigorously defending us, firmly prodding us, gently embracing us, as needed. Today’s parable is a supreme illustration. Commonly known as the parable of the Prodigal Son it actually involves three key figures; The father, who is an image of God, the prodigal, representing wayward sinners, and the older son, symbolizing self-righteous sinners. The parable pivots on the father’s response to the return of the younger son. God always rushes to embrace someone with a repentant heart.
The reckless actions of the younger son are easy to resonate with. He wanted to do things his way. We’re not being honest sinners if we say we can’t relate. But his way was not God’s way. A fool and his money are soon parted. So are a fool and his credibility. Some lessons have to be learned the hard way. That was the case today. The prodigal found himself in serious want. While feeding the pigs the hunger in his stomach triggered a stirring in his conscience. He began to see the foolishness of his choices.
When the word of God ruminates in our hearts the Holy Spirit is on the scene. More than simple introspection is at work here. The Holy Spirit made a breakthrough. Now, in one sense it was only common sense; the prodigal was in desperate need but the family estate had ample provision. How rash and foolish he had been to leave in the first place! In a deeper sense, we see true repentance at work. The hole in his stomach triggered recognition of emptiness in his heart. The apology was quickly formulated in his mind. The confession was waiting on his lips. We can picture him rehearsing it again and again as he hurried back to approach his father.
But, surprisingly, the father makes a preemptive strike. This is the crux of the story. Here the colours of Christ come blazing through. The preeminence of love comes to the fore. Compassion makes haste; running with adrenaline-fueled joy- ignoring custom, transgressing etiquette, foregoing dignity-the father embraces the son who was lost. The curator of the inheritance rushes to accept the undeserving heir. What matters to the father is not his legacy when he departs but the presence of his son while he lives.
Forgiveness came before the apology was spoken. What a blessed thing it is when the angst of a pending confession is slain by preemptive absolution! It is a blessed crucifixion. The bitterness of remorse is drowned in a sudden immersion of forgiveness. It doesn’t mean the act of repentance is incomplete, inadequate, or somehow unnecessary. It just means the foresight of grace has treated the intention as a completed action. This brings immediate resurrection to the penitent soul. Reconciliation is achieved. The angels rejoice. The lost is found. The love of the father is exuberant, an image of Christ’s love for us.
The pattern is there throughout the Scriptures. God says to His people, “Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.”1 Before the brothers were capable of uttering one word of remorse Joseph said, “Do not be dismayed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.”2 Before Jacob could articulate his humility to Esau, “Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his necked and kissed him, and they wept.”3 Before the cowering disciples offered a word of regret on the evening of Easter Sunday, Jesus stood among them and said, “Peace, be with you!”4 Before we can really reach God with our repentance He has already arrived with the pardon. It’s not just because He can read our minds and knows our hearts. His love is always proactive. It pursues us.
Love has definition. It has concrete expression both in the orderly way in which God has created and in the compassionate way in which He has redeemed. Let us not forget that God’s law is also an expression of love. God defines the parameters of obedience to Him for our well-being. The Ten Commandments define God’s will for proper relationships. In a culture (even a religious culture) that is increasingly insistent on equating love with tolerance and allowing a self-definition within the bounds of political correctness, believers must be clear that the reality of God’s love is not open to unlimited interpretation. When He says, “Do not commit adultery,”5 for example, He’s not offering a principle or guideline. He actually means that it’s best for everyone involved to practice sexual purity within marriage. But the law can never bring comfort to our troubled consciences. Thanks be to God that in His redeeming love Christ has been perfectly obedient to the will of the Father! The crucifixion is the crowning example. The cross is greatest reminder of our sins and our greatest source of joy.
Sometimes Lent is misunderstood. It’s not a matter of self-imposed dreariness. It’s a transparent reality check. Like the profligate spender who keeps living beyond his means until outside intervention stops him, the sinner always wants to live beyond his spiritual means and keeps going until God’s divine intervention stops him. We can’t keep going on under our own steam, making our own way. Only Christ can take us past the finish line.
But it’s a marathon, not a sprint. The entire Christian life is really like an extended season of Lent. We have glimpses of the resurrection. But like the three disciples on the mount of transfiguration we can’t grasp it. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus we can’t recognize Him. That doesn’t make our spiritual resurrection in baptism any less real. We have already been raised from spiritual death. But it does mean the prosaic of Lenten realities attends us to our dying breath.
Still, even in Lent we are reminded that we worship the risen and living Lord Jesus. The father’s celebration of the son’s return is a preview of Easter. We celebrate each day not just because it’s a gift of God’s providence but because we possess the promise of eternity. We can be stripped of every creaturely comfort and even our credibility, as the prodigal was, and yet the future is still filled with hope. For his son’s return the father killed the fattened calf. For us He has spread the table with the food of His own life-giving body and blood. Holy Communion sustains us in that relationship first restored in our baptisms. From start to finish God plans and executes all that is required for our salvation. The Spirit says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”6 Both the prodigal and the older brother are reconciled through Him. And so are we. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Fourth Sunday in Lent
6 March, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Isaiah 65:24
2 Genesis 45:5
3 Genesis 33:4
4 John 20:21
5 See Exodus 20:14
62 Corinthians 5:21
Text: Luke 15:20
Theme: Exuberant Love
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
God’s love is not passive. He enthusiastically attends to us; vigorously defending us, firmly prodding us, gently embracing us, as needed. Today’s parable is a supreme illustration. Commonly known as the parable of the Prodigal Son it actually involves three key figures; The father, who is an image of God, the prodigal, representing wayward sinners, and the older son, symbolizing self-righteous sinners. The parable pivots on the father’s response to the return of the younger son. God always rushes to embrace someone with a repentant heart.
The reckless actions of the younger son are easy to resonate with. He wanted to do things his way. We’re not being honest sinners if we say we can’t relate. But his way was not God’s way. A fool and his money are soon parted. So are a fool and his credibility. Some lessons have to be learned the hard way. That was the case today. The prodigal found himself in serious want. While feeding the pigs the hunger in his stomach triggered a stirring in his conscience. He began to see the foolishness of his choices.
When the word of God ruminates in our hearts the Holy Spirit is on the scene. More than simple introspection is at work here. The Holy Spirit made a breakthrough. Now, in one sense it was only common sense; the prodigal was in desperate need but the family estate had ample provision. How rash and foolish he had been to leave in the first place! In a deeper sense, we see true repentance at work. The hole in his stomach triggered recognition of emptiness in his heart. The apology was quickly formulated in his mind. The confession was waiting on his lips. We can picture him rehearsing it again and again as he hurried back to approach his father.
But, surprisingly, the father makes a preemptive strike. This is the crux of the story. Here the colours of Christ come blazing through. The preeminence of love comes to the fore. Compassion makes haste; running with adrenaline-fueled joy- ignoring custom, transgressing etiquette, foregoing dignity-the father embraces the son who was lost. The curator of the inheritance rushes to accept the undeserving heir. What matters to the father is not his legacy when he departs but the presence of his son while he lives.
Forgiveness came before the apology was spoken. What a blessed thing it is when the angst of a pending confession is slain by preemptive absolution! It is a blessed crucifixion. The bitterness of remorse is drowned in a sudden immersion of forgiveness. It doesn’t mean the act of repentance is incomplete, inadequate, or somehow unnecessary. It just means the foresight of grace has treated the intention as a completed action. This brings immediate resurrection to the penitent soul. Reconciliation is achieved. The angels rejoice. The lost is found. The love of the father is exuberant, an image of Christ’s love for us.
The pattern is there throughout the Scriptures. God says to His people, “Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.”1 Before the brothers were capable of uttering one word of remorse Joseph said, “Do not be dismayed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.”2 Before Jacob could articulate his humility to Esau, “Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his necked and kissed him, and they wept.”3 Before the cowering disciples offered a word of regret on the evening of Easter Sunday, Jesus stood among them and said, “Peace, be with you!”4 Before we can really reach God with our repentance He has already arrived with the pardon. It’s not just because He can read our minds and knows our hearts. His love is always proactive. It pursues us.
Love has definition. It has concrete expression both in the orderly way in which God has created and in the compassionate way in which He has redeemed. Let us not forget that God’s law is also an expression of love. God defines the parameters of obedience to Him for our well-being. The Ten Commandments define God’s will for proper relationships. In a culture (even a religious culture) that is increasingly insistent on equating love with tolerance and allowing a self-definition within the bounds of political correctness, believers must be clear that the reality of God’s love is not open to unlimited interpretation. When He says, “Do not commit adultery,”5 for example, He’s not offering a principle or guideline. He actually means that it’s best for everyone involved to practice sexual purity within marriage. But the law can never bring comfort to our troubled consciences. Thanks be to God that in His redeeming love Christ has been perfectly obedient to the will of the Father! The crucifixion is the crowning example. The cross is greatest reminder of our sins and our greatest source of joy.
Sometimes Lent is misunderstood. It’s not a matter of self-imposed dreariness. It’s a transparent reality check. Like the profligate spender who keeps living beyond his means until outside intervention stops him, the sinner always wants to live beyond his spiritual means and keeps going until God’s divine intervention stops him. We can’t keep going on under our own steam, making our own way. Only Christ can take us past the finish line.
But it’s a marathon, not a sprint. The entire Christian life is really like an extended season of Lent. We have glimpses of the resurrection. But like the three disciples on the mount of transfiguration we can’t grasp it. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus we can’t recognize Him. That doesn’t make our spiritual resurrection in baptism any less real. We have already been raised from spiritual death. But it does mean the prosaic of Lenten realities attends us to our dying breath.
Still, even in Lent we are reminded that we worship the risen and living Lord Jesus. The father’s celebration of the son’s return is a preview of Easter. We celebrate each day not just because it’s a gift of God’s providence but because we possess the promise of eternity. We can be stripped of every creaturely comfort and even our credibility, as the prodigal was, and yet the future is still filled with hope. For his son’s return the father killed the fattened calf. For us He has spread the table with the food of His own life-giving body and blood. Holy Communion sustains us in that relationship first restored in our baptisms. From start to finish God plans and executes all that is required for our salvation. The Spirit says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”6 Both the prodigal and the older brother are reconciled through Him. And so are we. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Fourth Sunday in Lent
6 March, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Isaiah 65:24
2 Genesis 45:5
3 Genesis 33:4
4 John 20:21
5 See Exodus 20:14
62 Corinthians 5:21
Monday, February 29, 2016
Third Sunday In Lent (C) 2016
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Luke 13:3
Theme: Seriousness of Sin
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Strong words; very strong words from Jesus! He can read the heart. He knew exactly what they were asking. He had just been teaching them about making right judgments and approaching conflict with an attitude of reconciliation. Now He must be unmistakably clear that there is no bargaining with God. The notion of when, and in what measure repentance is necessary simply cannot be entertained. Faith is always seeking the forgiveness of God. Christians never believe the need for mercy is obsolete.
On this third Sunday in Lent our appointed Scriptures address one concern above all others. It is the concern of true reverence for who God is and what He wills. It is the concern of true repentance. The Israelites were delivered through the Red Sea and yet set their hearts on evil. The Galileans were trying to measure the sins of others, but Jesus told them bluntly, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.”1 Dear friends, God wishes us to have no confusion over the zeal of His justice or the certainty of consequences for transgressing His will. God is serious about His intentions and resolute in His judgments. We deserve His temporal and eternal punishment. God does not tolerate sin; this state of existence must be resolved.
The questioning of Jesus in today’s gospel about the Galileans who fell victim to Herod’s despotism typifies human nature. They wanted to know what great sins these other people had committed to receive such a harsh judgment. What about those who were crushed by the Tower of Siloam? People were wanting to know just what measure of punishment would be doled out for a corresponding level of sin. People always want to test the limit of what they can get away with. Can we lie and deceive? Can we gossip and slander? Can we covet and steal? Can we participate in sexual immorality? Can we sin intentionally, in a “controlled” way, and not be punished? When people believe they can they are emboldened to sin all the more.
Why did those particular people board Malaysian airline flight 370 which subsequently disappeared? Why were these certain people in the path of a cyclone or in the way of a tornado? Why did those people contract the Zika virus? Why did those people get Bird flu? Why do people suddenly die of heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents? What does the Scripture say? God is “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”2 He says, “I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live”3
True repentance does not ask which sins of commission or omission may be tolerated by God. True repentance laments the totality of our condition as poor, miserable sinners. True repentance eagerly trusts in the offer of complete and full forgiveness. Christians live God-pleasing lives always and only vicariously, that is, not of our own accord but through Christ and the Holy Spirit. The Bible says, “If Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.”4 The Christian life of humility is characterized by the example of Jesus in Luke 17, “Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty,’”5
We do not live before God in fear and trepidation, but in reverence and with joy. The cross has turned wrath into favor. The crucifixion has wrought the exchange of bondage for freedom, of exile for rapprochement, of division for reconciliation. The cross has turned darkness into light and time into eternity for all who believe. Jesus Christ rose from the grave and has turned death into life. He lives and He dispenses to us that life.
Nothing we face, even the “new” evils of the world today, is novel to Him. Christ has always attended to His people and nothing can frighten Him. Consider what we heard earlier. “I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”6 Yes, the Messiah who had not yet taken on human flesh accompanied His people through the desert. How much more so we who have Him who has been crucified, raised from death, and now intercedes before the throne of grace! They were baptized figuratively as they were delivered from physical bondage across the Red Sea. We are baptized literally and freed from the grip of sin for all eternity. They were nourished with spiritual food in anticipation of the sacred feast to come. We have the substance, the body and blood of Christ, a holy banquet overflowing with forgiveness, life and salvation.
Dear friends, we are drawing near to Holy Week and one concern must be held above all others. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”7 Imprint this on your minds, etch it on your hearts, teach it to your children, discuss it with your friends, pray it for your enemies, share it with strangers, think it in your thoughts and live it in your actions. Be faithful and diligent in handling this truth and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. Christianity is not complicated, but it is all-encompassing.
What are we to make of the concerns voiced to our Lord today? The “Why do bad things happen?” script can easily be flipped. Why should we expect care-free, smooth-sailing through life? Why does anything good happen at all? On what basis should we assume that life should generally be safe and enjoyable? There is none! Yet, the lavish generosity of God attends us every day. Good does happen and it will prevail because the conquering love of Christ overcomes all the forces of evil. The apostle says, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”8 Is it so bad if we suffer trials and tribulations, frailty of body and mind, injury to heart and will if we know a resurrection awaits us? Is it so bad if we close our eyes this very night and wake up in heaven? On the cross the eyes of Christ closed in death. But He opened them again and in His light we see light9. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Third Sunday in Lent
28 February, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 13:3
2 2 Peter 3:9
3 Ezekiel 18:32
4 Romans 8:10
5 Luke 17:7-10
61 Corinthians 10:1-4
7 John 14:6
8 1 John 3:1
9 See Psalm 36:9
Text: Luke 13:3
Theme: Seriousness of Sin
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Strong words; very strong words from Jesus! He can read the heart. He knew exactly what they were asking. He had just been teaching them about making right judgments and approaching conflict with an attitude of reconciliation. Now He must be unmistakably clear that there is no bargaining with God. The notion of when, and in what measure repentance is necessary simply cannot be entertained. Faith is always seeking the forgiveness of God. Christians never believe the need for mercy is obsolete.
On this third Sunday in Lent our appointed Scriptures address one concern above all others. It is the concern of true reverence for who God is and what He wills. It is the concern of true repentance. The Israelites were delivered through the Red Sea and yet set their hearts on evil. The Galileans were trying to measure the sins of others, but Jesus told them bluntly, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.”1 Dear friends, God wishes us to have no confusion over the zeal of His justice or the certainty of consequences for transgressing His will. God is serious about His intentions and resolute in His judgments. We deserve His temporal and eternal punishment. God does not tolerate sin; this state of existence must be resolved.
The questioning of Jesus in today’s gospel about the Galileans who fell victim to Herod’s despotism typifies human nature. They wanted to know what great sins these other people had committed to receive such a harsh judgment. What about those who were crushed by the Tower of Siloam? People were wanting to know just what measure of punishment would be doled out for a corresponding level of sin. People always want to test the limit of what they can get away with. Can we lie and deceive? Can we gossip and slander? Can we covet and steal? Can we participate in sexual immorality? Can we sin intentionally, in a “controlled” way, and not be punished? When people believe they can they are emboldened to sin all the more.
Why did those particular people board Malaysian airline flight 370 which subsequently disappeared? Why were these certain people in the path of a cyclone or in the way of a tornado? Why did those people contract the Zika virus? Why did those people get Bird flu? Why do people suddenly die of heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents? What does the Scripture say? God is “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”2 He says, “I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live”3
True repentance does not ask which sins of commission or omission may be tolerated by God. True repentance laments the totality of our condition as poor, miserable sinners. True repentance eagerly trusts in the offer of complete and full forgiveness. Christians live God-pleasing lives always and only vicariously, that is, not of our own accord but through Christ and the Holy Spirit. The Bible says, “If Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.”4 The Christian life of humility is characterized by the example of Jesus in Luke 17, “Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty,’”5
We do not live before God in fear and trepidation, but in reverence and with joy. The cross has turned wrath into favor. The crucifixion has wrought the exchange of bondage for freedom, of exile for rapprochement, of division for reconciliation. The cross has turned darkness into light and time into eternity for all who believe. Jesus Christ rose from the grave and has turned death into life. He lives and He dispenses to us that life.
Nothing we face, even the “new” evils of the world today, is novel to Him. Christ has always attended to His people and nothing can frighten Him. Consider what we heard earlier. “I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”6 Yes, the Messiah who had not yet taken on human flesh accompanied His people through the desert. How much more so we who have Him who has been crucified, raised from death, and now intercedes before the throne of grace! They were baptized figuratively as they were delivered from physical bondage across the Red Sea. We are baptized literally and freed from the grip of sin for all eternity. They were nourished with spiritual food in anticipation of the sacred feast to come. We have the substance, the body and blood of Christ, a holy banquet overflowing with forgiveness, life and salvation.
Dear friends, we are drawing near to Holy Week and one concern must be held above all others. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”7 Imprint this on your minds, etch it on your hearts, teach it to your children, discuss it with your friends, pray it for your enemies, share it with strangers, think it in your thoughts and live it in your actions. Be faithful and diligent in handling this truth and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. Christianity is not complicated, but it is all-encompassing.
What are we to make of the concerns voiced to our Lord today? The “Why do bad things happen?” script can easily be flipped. Why should we expect care-free, smooth-sailing through life? Why does anything good happen at all? On what basis should we assume that life should generally be safe and enjoyable? There is none! Yet, the lavish generosity of God attends us every day. Good does happen and it will prevail because the conquering love of Christ overcomes all the forces of evil. The apostle says, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”8 Is it so bad if we suffer trials and tribulations, frailty of body and mind, injury to heart and will if we know a resurrection awaits us? Is it so bad if we close our eyes this very night and wake up in heaven? On the cross the eyes of Christ closed in death. But He opened them again and in His light we see light9. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Third Sunday in Lent
28 February, 2016
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 13:3
2 2 Peter 3:9
3 Ezekiel 18:32
4 Romans 8:10
5 Luke 17:7-10
61 Corinthians 10:1-4
7 John 14:6
8 1 John 3:1
9 See Psalm 36:9
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