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Invocation
In the Name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Scripture Luke 24:13–35 13That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. Devotion based on Lord Jesus Christ, with Us Abide (585) This devotion is from Dr. Cameron MacKenzie's commentary on this hymn in Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns Volume 1. Both the hymn and Dr. MacKenzie's commentary are quite relevant and helpful for us in these strange and uncertain days. The hymn begins with lines that evoke the prayer of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, when it looked as though Jesus was going to leave them, applying these words to the situation of the Church at the end of time. The "eventide" and "night" of stanza 1 become "these last days of great distress" in stanza 2. But what is it that so plagues the Church as it heads toward Judgment Day? From all the ills to which one could point in answering this question, the hymn selects the gravest temptation of them all, apostasy or surrendering the faith, so stanza 3 speaks of "hope grown dim" and hearts turned cold." According to stanza 5, this manifests itself in by departing from the Word of God. "Human pride" rejects God's truth and substitutes "man-made thoughts or things" for the words that the Holy Spirit uses to create and sustain faith. Against such evils, the Church must pray to its Lord for His continued presence in order to "spurn Satan" and to remain "strong, bold, [and] unified" (stanza 4). But how does Jesus "abide" with the Church? The hymn answers simply, explicitly, and in every stanza: God's Word. Although in stanza 2 the Word is joined to the Sacrament (the visible Word), the emphasis is upon the Word that is preached ("speak tongues of fire"; "may glorious truths that ewe have heard"; and "the words your Your Spirit sings"). This is, of course, the Word of the Gospel that whatever God's people experience by way of sin, trials, and temptations, He nevertheless loves them unconditionally for the sake of Christ. Therefore, believers pray not only that Christ would make His Word available to them, but also that they would keep it "pure" (stanza 2) and would resist the temptation to replace it with religions of their own devising (stanza 5). They ask God for faithfulness to the Word (stanzas 2 and 6) and for boldness to use it (stanza 3). In order to reinforce its theme, the hymn employs two metaphors for the Word: a light (stanzas 1 and 3) and a sword (stanza 4). In stanza 3, the faithful pray "speak tongues of fire and make us bold." With just a few words, the hymn writer takes the hearers back to Pentecost, when the tongues of fire symbolized the disciples' bold preaching of "the might works of God" (Acts 2:11). In stanza 5, the hymn explicitly connects the Word to the work of the Holy Spirit and alludes to Christian hymnody (the words Your Spirit sings". The final stanza brings the hymn back to the petition if stanza 1, "Stay with us, Lord," and reiterates the means by which He does just that: "Your Word alone our heart's defense, the Church's glorious confidence." 1. Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide, For round us falls the eventide. O let Your Word, that saving light, Shine forth undimmed into the night. 2. In those last days of great distress Grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness That we keep pure till life is spent Your holy Word and Sacrament. 3. To hope grown dim, to hearts turned cold Speak tongues of fire and make us bold To shine Your Word of saving grace Into each dark and loveless place. 4. May glorious truths that we have heard, The bright sword of Your mighty Word, Spurn Satan that Your Church be strong, Bold, unified in act and song. 5. Restrain, O Lord, the human pride That seeks to thrust Your truth aside Or with some man-made thoughts or things Would dim the words Your Spirit sings. 6. Stay with us, Lord, and keep us true; Preserve our faith our whole life through – Your Word alone our heart’s defense, The Church’s glorious confidence. Text: Philipp Melanchthon, 1497-1560 © 1982 Concordia Publishing House Tune: Public Domain Collect O God, in the paschal feast You restore all creation. Continue to send Your heavenly gifts upon Your people that they may walk in perfect freedom and receive eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
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Invocation
In the Name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Scripture Luke 23:18-25 18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. Devotion - Based on O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken (439) 1. O dearest Jesus, what law hast thou broken That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken? Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession, -- What dark transgression? I think these words by a fellow pastor beautifully summarize this stanza: "These words written in 1630 by German pastor Johann Heermann epitomize the astonishment of anyone who has heard of the abuse borne by Jesus as recorded in Scripture. From reading Heermann’s words, one gets the sense that Heermann actually witnessed the very crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus bore unbelievable abuse. Soldiers shoved a crown of thorns into his scalp, piercing skin until blood streamed down his face. They struck Jesus both with fists and objects. They scourged him! What does that mean? Scourging was a form of punishment carried out by the Romans, where the victim is beaten with a multi-lashed whip with pieces of bone or metal embedded, intended to rip and tear skin and flesh. Everyone around Jesus mocked him as soldiers mercilessly urged him to the top of Golgotha to be crucified. Even in his last moments of breath they gave him nothing but vinegar to quench his thirst. This is punishment. Cruel punishment! One must be guilty of a horrific crime to warrant such severe punishment. “What law hast thou broken?” the hymnist cries. The answer? None! Jesus broke no law. He never did anything wrong. Even the heathen governor Pilate proclaimed to those demanding Jesus’ crucifixion: “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death.” (Luke 23:22) This is an understatement! Jesus has no guilt deserving death! He has no guilt at all! Yet here he is being punished as if he were the worst kind of criminal, a thief, molester, and murderer." The Bible makes it absolutely clear - Jesus is without spot or blemish, perfectly pure, without sin: 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15) And yet, when one looks at the cross, you can't help but think that for someone to suffer in that way then they must have committed some dark transgression, some wickedness that they DESERVE to be punished for. There Jesus hangs, suffering not what He deserved, but for us and our transgressions. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. - Isa. 53:4-6 This opening stanza wants us to consider horrific travesty of the scene and wants to lead us to understand why He would hang there and suffer such things. 2.They crown Thy head with thorns, they smite, they scourge Thee; With cruel mockings to the cross they urge Thee; They give Thee gall to drink, they still decry Thee; They crucify Thee. 3. Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish? It is my sins for which Thou, Lord, must languish; Yea, all the wrath, the woe, Thou dost inherit, This I do merit. Stanza 2 picks up where stanza 1 left off (see previous post), but rather than asking why, it simply explains in summary the details of Christ's passion. It's stanza 3 that moves things along. The question is asked: Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish? And the answer is deafening: It is my sins! My sins are the reason for his sorrows and anguish. My sins put him on the cross. It is for my sins that the only truly innocent man suffered and died. All the wrath of God that I have merited, he inherits. All the wrath that should have been poured out on me for all eternity was poured out on him. What is the cause of all of this? My sins. I love the way that Gerhard explains this: He was pierced with thorns, that He might heal our sin-pierced hearts. He bore the burden of the cross, so that He might remove from us the awful burden of eternal punishment. He exclaimed that He was forsaken by God, that He might prepare for us an everlasting habitation with God. He thirsted upon the cross, that He might meritoriously earn for us the dews of divine grace, and prevent our dying of an eternal soul-thirst. He was willing to be scorched by the flames of divine wrath, that He might deliver us from the flames of hell. Thy sins must be punished, but God has already punished them in the person of His own Son. Great are the wounds of thy sins, but precious is the balm of Christ’s blood. Moses, in the law, pronounces a curse upon thee (Deut. 27:26) because thou hast not observed all things written in the book of the law, to do them; but Christ was made a curse for thee when He hung upon the tree (Gal. 3:13). The handwriting was written against thee in the heavenly court; but that has been erased by the blood of Christ (Col. 2:14). Thy passion, then, O holy and gracious Christ, is my last and only refuge! "O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken" By Johann Heermann, 1585-1647 1. O dearest Jesus, what law hast thou broken That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken? Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession, -- What dark transgression? 2. They crown Thy head with thorns, they smite, they scourge Thee; With cruel mockings to the cross they urge Thee; They give Thee gall to drink, they still decry Thee; They crucify Thee. 3. Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish? It is my sins for which Thou, Lord, must languish; Yea, all the wrath, the woe, Thou dost inherit, This I do merit. 4. What punishment so strange is suffered yonder! The Shepherd dies for sheep that loved to wander; The Master pays the debt His servants owe Him, Who would not know Him. 5. The sinless Son of God must die in sadness; The sinful child of man may live in gladness; Man forfeited his life and is acquitted, -- God is committed. 6. There was no spot in me by sin untainted; Sick with sin's poison, all my heart had fainted; My heavy guilt to hell had well-nigh brought me, Such woe it wrought me. 7. O wondrous love, whose depth no heart hath sounded, That brought Thee here, by foes and thieves surrounded! All worldly pleasures, heedless, I was trying While Thou wert dying. 8. O mighty King, no time can dim Thy glory! How shall I spread abroad Thy wondrous story? How shall I find some worthy gifts to proffer? What dare I offer? 9. For vainly doth our human wisdom ponder, -- Thy woes, Thy mercy, still transcend our wonder. Oh, how should I do aught that could delight Thee! Can I requite Thee? 10. Yet unrequited, Lord, I would not leave Thee; I will renounce whate'er doth vex or grieve Thee And quench with thoughts of Thee and prayers most lowly All fires unholy. 11. But since my strength will nevermore suffice me To crucify desires that still entice me, To all good deeds, oh, let Thy Spirit win me And reign within me! 12. I'll think upon Thy mercy without ceasing, That earth's vain joys to me no more be pleasing; To do Thy will shall be my sole endeavor Henceforth forever. 13. Whate'er of earthly good this life may grant me, I'll risk for Thee; no shame, no cross, shall daunt me; I shall not fear what man can do to harm me Nor death alarm me. 14. But worthless is my sacrifice, I own it; Yet, Lord, for love's sake Thou wilt not disown it; Thou wilt accept my gift in Thy great meekness Nor shame my weakness. 15. And when, dear Lord, before Thy throne in heaven To me the crown of joy at last is given, Where sweetest hymns Thy saints forever raise Thee, I, too, shall praise Thee. Collect Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.  Invocation
In the Name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Scripture Mark 15:16-20 16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. Devotion One of the most beautiful hymns that teaches what it means for Christ to suffer and die in our place is Paul Gerhardt’s “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth” (LSB 438). (This is also the Hymn of the Day for Palm Sunday but we, sadly, weren't able to sing it this year.) You can listen to it here. It opens with these words: A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth,/The guilt of sinners bearing/And, laden with the sins of earth,/None else burden sharing;/Goes patient on, grows weak and faint,/To slaughter led without complaint,/That spotless life to offer… Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He is the spotless Lamb who bears all your guilt, all of your sin, and all of your shame. There is no one else to share the burden because there is no one else that CAN share that burden. He alone, fully God and fully Man, is able to bear the sins of every single person that will live or has lived. If you try to bear that burden, in full or in part, you are crushed by it. Yet, because he is the spotless, sinless, pure, and holy Lamb of God He can bear all your sins and offer up Himself on your behalf. And this involves great suffering. And so stanza 1 continues: He bears the stripes, the wounds, the lies,/The mockery, and yet replies,/"All this I gladly suffer.” The physical suffering – the crown of thorns, the beatings, being spit upon, the mockery, the lashes, the nails – of Christ was terrible. From these cruel wounds oozed the sacrificial and holy blood of the lamb. The physical suffering though was not the worst part of His suffering. The worst part of His suffering would be that He must drink the cup of God’s wrath. Wrath is God’s anger incited by sin, which offends God’s righteousness and holiness. This brings about God’s judgment and condemnation of sinners. Christ had prayed that if it was possible that the Father would take the cup from Him. But as we know it was the Father’s will, and so He drank the cup of God’s wrath that we deserved – down to the very last drop. He does this so that you would not suffer the wrath of God for all eternity. He does all of this willingly. He does this gladly! This Holy Week meditate upon those words, “All this I gladly suffer!” Christ your Lord willingly and gladly suffered for you out of His wondrous love for you (see Hebrews 12:1-2 and Isaiah 53). Here are the lyrics. 1. A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth, The guilt of sinners bearing And, laden with the sins of earth, None else the burden sharing; Goes patient on, grows weak and faint, To slaughter led without complaint, That spotless life to offer, He bears the stripes, the wounds, the lies, The mockery, and yet replies, “All this I gladly suffer.” 2. This Lamb is Christ, the soul’s great friend, The Lamb of God, our Savior, Whom God the Father chose to send To gain for us His favor. “Go forth, My Son,” the Father said, “And free My children from their dread Of guilt and condemnation. The wrath and stripes are hard to bear, But by Your passion they will share The fruit of Your salvation.” 3. “Yes, Father, yes, most willingly I’ll bear what You command Me. My will conforms to Your decree, I’ll do what You have asked Me.” O wondrous Love, what have You done! The Father offers up His Son, Desiring our salvation. O Love, how strong You are to save! You lay the One into the grave Who built the earth’s foundation. 4. Lord, when Your glory I shall see And taste Your kingdom’s pleasure, Your blood my royal robe shall be, My joy beyond all measure! When I appear before Your throne, Your righteousness shall be my crown; With these I need not hide me. And there, in garments richly wrought, As Your own bride shall we be brought To stand in joy beside You. Let us pray: O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, grant us Thy peace. Amen. Invocation
In the Name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Scripture Psalm 139:11-14 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a] Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Now Rest Beneath Night’s Shadow (LSB 880) At the very beginning of Now Rest Beneath Night’s Shadow, what can be called “the senses of the heart” are called upon to keep vigil while the rest of the world, and even the body, is sleeping. Gerhardt shows that we are to keep watch by meditating upon the promises of God in his word. This is, in many ways, a direct application of Psalm 119:148: “My eyes are awake before each watch of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.”In each stanza of the song, Gerhardt intentionally directs the eyes of the heart to God’s promises. First, he observes the progression of day into night, and the normal, everyday transitions that take place as the sun sets, and as people prepare for bed. From these natural observations, he then directs the heart to God’s promises. As the sun sets, he directs the heart to meditate on Christ, the eternal sun, who will never fade or slumber. As the stars come out, he directs the heart to meditate on the fact that those who are in Christ will themselves stand like stars before the throne of God in heaven. In stanzas removed from the Lutheran Service Book, we see that the work clothes are taken off and bed clothes put on, as Gerhardt directs the heart to rejoice in the robe of honor and glory with which Christ himself dresses his people. As the tired body longs to rest from the day’s labors, he directs the heart to long for the freedom from sin and misery that Christ will give. As the weary body is laid upon the bed ready for sleep, he directs the heart to ponder the sleep of death, and to hold onto the sure promises of Christ who himself will raise his people to new life in the glorious, eternal morning of his resurrection.While the physical senses are sleeping soundly, the spiritual senses of the heart are only just beginning the work of meditating on God’s eternal promises in Christ, and longing for each one to be perfectly fulfilled when God’s victory is made complete; the dark night will soon be over, and the eternal day will surely come. There is a beautiful rendition of the hymn at the top of this post. 1. Now rest beneath night’s shadow The woodland, field, and meadow, The world in slumber lies; But thou, my heart, awake thee, To pray’r and song betake thee; Let praise to thy Creator rise. 2. O sun, where art thou vanished? Thy golden rays are banished By day’s old foe, the night; Farewell, for now appeareth Another Sun, and cheereth My heart—’tis Jesus Christ, my Light! 3.The day is now declining, The golden stars are shining In bluest heav’nly hall; Thus, thus shall be my splendor, When my God calls me yonder From this world’s sad and mournful vale. 4.To rest my body hasteth, Aside its garments casteth, Types of mortality; These I put off and ponder How Christ will give me yonder A robe of glorious majesty. 5. Head, hands, and feet reposing Are glad the day is closing, That work came to an end; Cheer up, my heart, with gladness! For God from all earth’s sadness And from sin’s toil relief will send. 6.Ye weary limbs! now rest you, For toil hath sore oppressed you, And quiet sleep ye crave! A sleep shall once o’ertake you From which no man can wake you, In your last narrow bed—the grave. 7. My heavy eyes are closing; When I lie deep reposing, Soul, body, where are ye? To helpless sleep I yield them, O let Thy mercy shield them, Thou sleepless Eye, their Guardian be! 8. Lord Jesus, Thou dost love me, Oh, spread Thy wings above me And shield me from alarm! Though Satan would devour me, Let angel-guards sing o’er me: “This child of God shall meet no harm!” 9.My loved ones, rest securely, For God this night will surely From peril guard your heads. Sweet slumbers may He send you, And bid His hosts attend you, And golden-armed, watch o’er your beds! Nun ruhen alle Wälder Paul Gerhardt, 1653 Tr. composite Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, 1930, No. 33, alt. Collect Almighty God, all our days and hours are in your hands. Thank you for the lovingkindness you’ve shown us all our days in this life. Please, dear Father in heaven, keep us in the one, true faith, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from us. This we ask for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Invocation
In the Name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Scripture Psalm 55:22 – Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. “If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee” - LSB 750 The video above has a beautiful rendition of this hymn. There are some who believe that once a person becomes a Christian, all problems disappear. Holy Scripture paints a much different picture. Often, it records that those called by God endured tremendous suffering. Through their trials the patriarchs, prophets, apostles and others clung to the promises of God, knowing that He would deliver them eternally. As we cling to God’s promises in Christ, we too receive strength, protection and comfort. Jesus sanctified our suffering by entering into it when He took on our flesh. Now He uses it to draw us closer to Himself. The writer of this hymn, Georg Neumark (1621–81), had gone through an extremely difficult time in his life. Not only was the bloody Thirty Years’ War in progress (1618–48), but he had personally lost everything. Nomadically walking the country with an uncertain and bleak future, he was rescued when the Lord brought Pastor Nicholas Becker into his life. Pastor Becker, who learned of his desperation, was able to arrange for Neumark to become a tutor for a local magistrate’s family in Kiel, Germany. This provided Neumark with stability and gainful employment. It was at this time that Neumark composed this hymn. This hymn is truly a hymn of great hope and encouragement. The first stanza addresses the singer with a pastoral voice, encouraging him to place his hope in the Lord and His will. “He’ll give thee strength, whate’er betide thee, / And bear thee through the evil days.” If thou but suffer God to guide thee And hope in Him through all thy ways, He'll give thee strength, whate'er betide thee, And bear thee through the evil days. Who trusts in God's unchanging love Builds on the Rock that naught can move. Stanza 2 speaks of the enormity and futility of earthly suffering. Our “never-ceasing moans and sighs” are evidence of the grave struggle that we endure, birthed by sin. Near its end, the stanza speaks of our “cross and trials.” In Christian theology, a “cross” is different from generalized suffering caused by sin. What can these anxious cares avail thee, These never-ceasing moans and sighs? What can it help if thou bewail thee O'er each dark moment as it flies? Our cross and trials do but press The heavier for our bitterness. Stanza 3 encourages us to be “patient,” for “our inmost wants are known / To Him who chose us for His own.” Be patient and await His leisure In cheerful hope, with heart content To take whate'er thy Father's pleasure And His discerning love hath sent, Nor doubt our inmost wants are known To Him who chose us for His own. Stanza 4 shows that the Lord brings gladness and allows for sadness in our lives: God knows full well when times of gladness Shall be the needful thing for thee. When He has tried thy soul with sadness And from all guile has found thee free, He comes to thee all unaware And makes thee own His loving care. Stanza 5 shows us that our suffering can be great, using the words “fiery trial” to describe it. Read 1 Peter 4:12–16: Nor think amid the fiery trial That God hath cast thee off unheard, That he whose hopes meet no denial Must surely be of God preferred. Time passes and much change doth bring And sets a bound to everything. Ponder the words of stanza 6 and ponder Mary’s words as she sings the Magnificat in the presence of Elizabeth (Luke 1:46–55): All are alike before the Highest; 'Tis easy to our God, we know, To raise thee up, though low thou liest, To make the rich man poor and low. True wonders still by Him are wrought Who setteth up and brings to naught. Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving, Perform thy duties faithfully, And trust His Word, though undeserving, Thou yet shalt find it true for thee. God never yet forsook in need The soul that trusted Him indeed. Collect Let us pray. Almighty and most merciful God, in this earthly life we endure sufferings and death before we enter into eternal glory. Grant us grace at all times to subject ourselves to Your holy will and to continue steadfast in the true faith to the end of our lives that we may know the peace and joy of the blessed hope of the resurrection of the dead and of the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen *John G. Fleischmann From Luke 23:
26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”[b] And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him,[c] “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,[d] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” This is one of my favorite hymns that is not found in our current hymnal. It is one that is definitely worth your time to pray and meditate upon. You can find the tune here. "Lord Jesus Christ, My Life, My Light" by Martin Behm, 1557-1622 Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1878| 1. Lord Jesus Christ, my Life, my Light, My Strength by day, my Trust by night, On earth I'm but a passing guest And sorely with my sins opprest. 2. Far off I see my fatherland, Where through Thy blood I hope to stand. But ere I reach that Paradise, A weary way before me lies. 3. My heart sulks at the journey's length, My wasted flesh has little strength; My soul alone still cries in me: "Lord, take me home, take me to Thee!" 4. Oh, let Thy sufferings give me power To meet the last and darkest hour! Thy blood refresh and comfort me; Thy bonds and fetters make me free. 5. Oh, let Thy holy wounds for me Clefts in the rock forever be Where as a dove my soul can hide And safe from Satan's rage abide. 6. And when my spirit flies away, Thy dying words shall be my stay. Thy cross shall be my staff in life, Thy holy grave my rest from strife. 7. Lord, in Thy nail-prints let me read That Thou to save me hast decreed And grant that in Thine opened side My troubled soul may ever hide. 8. Since Thou hast died, the Pure, the Just. I take my homeward way in trust. The gates of heaven, Lord, open wide When here I may no more abide. 9. And when the last Great Day shall come And Thou, our Judge, shalt speak the doom, Let me with joy behold the light And set me then upon Thy right. 10. Renew this wasted flesh of mine That like the sun it there may shine Among the angels pure and bright, Yea, like Thyself in glorious light. 11. Ah, then I'll have my heart's desire, When, singing with the angels' choir, Among the ransomed of Thy grace, Forever I'll behold Thy face! The Lutheran Hymnal Hymn #148 Text: Luke 23:33  Today we celebrate the Festival of the Reformation. A central part to the success of the Reformation was the hymnody. Lutheran hymnody took the world by storm 501 years ago. Though one of the first hymnals only contained 25 hymns, these hymns were foundational for the liturgical life of the church and the laity’s (and ministers’ for that matter) understanding of the central teaching of the Reformation - justification by faith alone. Lutheran hymnody remained a vital component to the success of the Reformation as it spread across Europe. Since then, Lutheran hymnody has been an integral part of confessional Lutheran churches throughout the world.
There are at least six characteristics that mark the Lutheran difference in hymnody.[1] The first difference is that Lutheran hymns are confessional. That is they show what we as Lutherans believe. Hymns should be a faithful confession - that is a faithful speaking back to God what He has first spoken to us in His Word. This means that Lutheran hymns are based on and saturated with the language and beauty of God’s Holy Word. This gives the hymns a depth and a breadth that is unsurpassed anywhere else. Second, flowing out of the first point, Lutheran hymns are loaded with theology. If Lutheran hymns are based upon God’s Word then it would only be natural that they should be loaded with theology - for God’s Word is loaded with theology. Lutheran hymns are not afraid to be theological, because it is often through the hymns that the people learn and remember so much of their own theology.[2] The hymns delight in the riches and wonders of theology as expressed in Holy Scripture. Third, Lutheran hymns sing about THE faith, not about my faith. That is to say Lutheran hymns focus on the objective, as it is often expressed - Christ outside of us. The reason for this is because the hymns are pointing the one singing them outside of themselves to the object of faith, rather than pointing them inward to their own faith. By focusing on the THE faith all those singing the hymn are actually directed to look upon Christ who gives them their faith, strengthens and sustains their faith. Fourth, because of the first three points Lutheran hymns are difficult hymns. There is so much substance to each hymn that they cannot be learned quickly or easily. This is true not only of the content, but also of the music as well. This is not a bad thing though. A Big Mac takes far less time to prepare and eat than a delicious New York steak, but there is no question which one is better. This is one small example, but it is often the case that those things that are more valuable and more beneficial for you are more complex and require more time to prepare/learn. Fifth, Lutheran hymns are congregational. The hymns are designed to be sung by the congregation. They are not written to be sung by a few for the entertainment or enjoyment of the rest, but they are written so that all can participate and sing together. In this way everyone can be edified and built up, everyone becomes more deeply involved in the liturgy of the church. This not only gives them the opportunity to sing about their faith, but also the opportunity to learn and grow more in the faith. Sixth, it should be clear by now that Lutheran hymns function as preaching and teaching in Lutheran churches. The hymns are proclaiming the glorious truth’s of the Gospel and so are teaching these truths to the congregation as they are sung. As many have pointed out over the years, Lutheran hymns were often more responsible for the Gospel taking root in various places then the other writings and works of even Luther. This means that Lutheran hymns are not a trivial part of the liturgy or the congregation’s life but are working hand in hand with all the other aspects of the liturgy. Lutheran hymnody has remained a powerful force in the life of the church because of the characteristics and strengths briefly laid out in this paper. Lutheran hymnody is a great treasure in the Lutheran Church, a treasure that is in danger of being buried and forgotten in many of our churches today. May we never forget what a great and invaluable treasure this hymnody is and how fundamental it is to who we are as Lutherans, and how integral it is to passing on the faith to the next generation. So sing them loud – even when you don’t know them well and even when they are hard to sing. You (and those around you) will benefit from it. Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice, With exultation springing, And with united heart and voice And holy rapture singing, Proclaim the wonders God has done, How His right arm the victory won. What price our ransom cost Him! - LSB 556 Here are a couple of great quotes I found on hymnody in Reu’s Catechetics: On hymns: "The church hymn is not, like its brother, the folk song, the property of merely a certain period of life, that of youth; it belongs to the whole congregation, to all periods of life. It is learned by heart by the children, criticized by those in a state of inner ferment, explained by the lessons of life, learned anew and comprehended by the adults, fathomed more deeply through progressive experience, transfigured by age, and tested by death. The hymn is your companion form the cradle to the bier, the expression of your every need. Its deep, central notes not only thunder down from the organ loft; they also rise from the pew. And when the time for singing is past, it trembles upon the lip as a prayer; when the word loses its power in depths of woe, the old comforters once more begin to gleam; and in the darkest night of suffering they sparkle as inextinguishable stars...One of the best gifts parents can give to their children is constant familiarity, intelligent appreciation, and hearty, and sincere use of the world's great hymns. Like all good things it will demand time and effort; but the expenditure will be more than compensated by the gain." – (417-418) F. W. Herzberger says: "Our Lutheran Church is pre-eminently the Singing Church of Evangelical Christendom. No other Church can rival her in the rich, soulful music in which she sings her immortal hymns. Countless other songs and melodies have been composed in their day, delighted their audience for a short while, and then passed into hopeless oblivion. Our majestic Lutheran chorals, however, have survived the wrecks of time, and are still today the delight of all true lovers of sacred music, irrespective of creed or language. "The Lutheran Church", says Dr. Schaff, the noted Reformed theologian, draws the fine arts into the service of religion, and has produced a body "of hymns and chorals, which, in richness, power, and unction, surpass the hymnology of all other Churches in the world". The late Alexander Guilmant, a Frenchman and devout Catholic, the unrivaled master of the organ in his day, declared that the Lutheran chorals are the most heart-stirring and inspiring tunes in the whole realm of sacred music. Now what is it that gives to our Lutheran chorals or church tunes their imperishable charm? Knowing their history as we do, we must say that it is the spirit of heroic faith, singing in every note its profound adoration of the merciful and omnipotent God that makes these old Lutheran chorals so universally and solemnly impressive in their character. They are alive with pure and holy devotion. They thrill th every depth of the Christian heart because they are born from the deepest and holiest passion of their inspired singers. With few exceptions, they were composed in the heroic days of the Reformation and the Thirty Years' War, days that called for heroic courage to believe and confess the truth as it is in Jesus; days that demanded heroic submission to the inscrutable ways of our God and Redeemer. The same spirit of sublime, God-given heroism that inspired the texts of our immortal hymns also inspired the heart-stirring tunes. Hence the tunes are an integral part of our hymns. Deprive our hymns of their historic musical setting, sing them to a new modern tune, and you have deprived the rose of the fragrance she alone possesses, you have robbed the nightingale of her most rapturous note. You may then have a sorry hybrid of a poem and some sort of tune, but nevermore the original, forceful, edifying, compact hymn! For in our Lutheran hymns the text and tune are welded as inseparably together as body and soul in man. The reason is that one and the same spirit of holy devotion gave birth to the text as well as the chorals, or tunes, of our Lutheran hymnology. Broadly speaking then, our Lutheran chorals are preeminently devotional in character.” (418-419) [1] All of these points can be seen clearly in Luther’s “Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” LSB 556. [2] So often what people who attend a church believe is not the same as what the church teaches or confesses. Sometimes this is because the hymns/songs sung are actually teaching the opposite of what the church confesses.  We sang this beautiful hymn last night. I'm posting it here because I think I will try do go through and do some brief explanations of each stanza throughout the rest of Lent. For now meditate on the hymn itself.
“O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken" By Johann Heermann, 1585-1647 1. O dearest Jesus, what law hast thou broken That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken? Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession, -- What dark transgression? 2. They crown Thy head with thorns, they smite, they scourge Thee; With cruel mockings to the cross they urge Thee; They give Thee gall to drink, they still decry Thee; They crucify Thee. 3. Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish? It is my sins for which Thou, Lord, must languish; Yea, all the wrath, the woe, Thou dost inherit, This I do merit. 4. What punishment so strange is suffered yonder! The Shepherd dies for sheep that loved to wander; The Master pays the debt His servants owe Him, Who would not know Him. 5. The sinless Son of God must die in sadness; The sinful child of man may live in gladness; Man forfeited his life and is acquitted, -- God is committed. 6. There was no spot in me by sin untainted; Sick with sin's poison, all my heart had fainted; My heavy guilt to hell had well-nigh brought me, Such woe it wrought me. 7. O wondrous love, whose depth no heart hath sounded, That brought Thee here, by foes and thieves surrounded! All worldly pleasures, heedless, I was trying While Thou wert dying. 8. O mighty King, no time can dim Thy glory! How shall I spread abroad Thy wondrous story? How shall I find some worthy gifts to proffer? What dare I offer? 9. For vainly doth our human wisdom ponder, -- Thy woes, Thy mercy, still transcend our wonder. Oh, how should I do aught that could delight Thee! Can I requite Thee? 10. Yet unrequited, Lord, I would not leave Thee; I will renounce whate'er doth vex or grieve Thee And quench with thoughts of Thee and prayers most lowly All fires unholy. 11. But since my strength will nevermore suffice me To crucify desires that still entice me, To all good deeds, oh, let Thy Spirit win me And reign within me! 12. I'll think upon Thy mercy without ceasing, That earth's vain joys to me no more be pleasing; To do Thy will shall be my sole endeavor Henceforth forever. 13. Whate'er of earthly good this life may grant me, I'll risk for Thee; no shame, no cross, shall daunt me; I shall not fear what man can do to harm me Nor death alarm me. 14. But worthless is my sacrifice, I own it; Yet, Lord, for love's sake Thou wilt not disown it; Thou wilt accept my gift in Thy great meekness Nor shame my weakness. 15. And when, dear Lord, before Thy throne in heaven To me the crown of joy at last is given, Where sweetest hymns Thy saints forever raise Thee, I, too, shall praise Thee.
We are quickly approaching the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. A hymn that beautifully summarizes what the Reformation was all about and one that should still be sung and memorized by all Christians today is Salvation Unto Us Has Come.
1 Salvation unto us has come By God's free grace and favor; Good works cannot avert our doom, They help and save us never. Faith looks to Jesus Christ alone, Who did for all the world atone; He is our one Redeemer. 2 What God did in His Law demand And none to Him could render Caused wrath and woe on ev'ry hand For man, the vile offender. Our flesh has not those pure desires The spirit of the Law requires, And lost is our condition. 3 It was a false, misleading dream That God His Law had given That sinners could themselves redeem And by their works gain heaven. The Law is but a mirror bright To bring the inbred sin to light That lurks within our nature. 4 From sin our flesh could not abstain, Sin held its sway unceasing; The task was useless and in vain, Our guilt was e'er increasing. None can remove sin's poisoned dart Or purify our guileful heart-- So deep is our corruption. 5 Yet as the law must be fulfilled Or we must die despairing, Christ came and has God's anger stilled, Our human nature sharing. has for us the Law obeyed And thus His Father's vengeance stayed Which over us impended. 6 Since Christ has full atonement made And brought to us salvation, Each Christian therefore may be glad And build on this foundation. Your grace alone, dear Lord, I plead, Your death is now my life indeed, For You have paid my ransom. 7 Let me not doubt, but truly see Your Word cannot be broken: Your call rings out, "Come unto Me!" No falsehood have You spoken. Baptized into Your precious name, My faith cannot be put to shame, And I shall never perish. 8 The Law reveals the guilt of sin And makes us conscience-stricken; But then the Gospel enters in The sinful soul to quicken. Come to the cross, trust Christ, and live; The Law no peace can ever give, No comfort and no blessing. 9 Faith clings to Jesus' cross alone And rests in Him unceasing; And by its fruits true faith is known, With love and hope increasing. For faith alone can justify; Works serve our neighbor and supply The proof that faith is living. 10 All blessing, honor, thanks, and praise To Father, Son, and Spirit, The God who saved us by His grace, All glory to His merit. O triune God in heav'n above, You have revealed Your saving love; Your blessed name we hallow. We get to sing this beautiful hymn on Sunday. The tune is the same as "All Glory, Laud and Honor," so it's easy to sing. I'm posting it now so that you can enjoy it before Sunday.
"Farewell I Gladly Bid Thee" by Valerius Herberger, 1562-1627 1. Farewell I gladly bid Thee, False, evil world, farewell. Thy life is vain and sinful, With Thee I would not dwell. I long to be in heaven, In that untroubled sphere Where they will be rewarded Who served their God while here. 2. By Thy good counsel lead me, O Son of God, my Stay; In each perplexing trial Help me, O Lord, I pray. Mine hour of sorrow shorten, Support my fainting heart, From every cross deliver, The crown of life impart. 3. When darkness round me gathers, Thy name and cross, still bright, Deep in my heart are sparkling Like stars in blackest night. O heart, this image cherish: The Christ on Calvary, How patiently He suffered And shed His blood for me! 4. Lord, hide my soul securely Deep in Thy wounded side; From every danger shield me And to Thy glory guide. He has been truly blessed Who reaches heaven above; He has found perfect healing Who rests upon Thy love. 5. Lord, write my name, I pray Thee, Now in the Book of Life And with all true believers Take me where joys are rife. There let me bloom and flourish, Thy perfect freedom prove, And tell, as I adore Thee, How faithful was Thy love |
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Our Savior Lutheran Church, Pagosa Springs, is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and is committed to the doctrine of the Lutheran Church as presented in The Book of Concord. What this means is that we are thoroughly committed to everything the Bible teaches. We are a congregation uniquely devoted to liturgical worship, to catechesis (Christian education), and to the centrality of the Holy Communion and other Sacraments in the life of the Christian. |
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