“We want to see Jesus” (John 12:12-26) 20-21

S-1488 Palm S/3B 3/29/2015 Hymns: (O) #161; (S) #160; L.S. #308; #309; #315; (C) #162

Texts: Zechariah 9:9-12; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1-15:47

Theme: “We want to see Jesus” (John 12:12-26) 20-21

Question: “How well do you see?”

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen! Indeed! Alleluia. The text for Palm Sunday is from John: “Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus’” (12:20-21).

People of the Cross, you who have been purchased with the crimson blood of the Savior, thanks be to our Creator God who gave us eyes to see. The eyes are a part of the body that are most remarkable. They see color and detail. They can sense depth and distance. The eye is a creative miracle of the creative Miracle Worker. But sometimes we need more than our natural eyes to help us see more clearly.

Whenever I go out deer hunting, I use binoculars to help me see farther and better. With age, I have needed glasses to help me see better. Many of us use either glasses or contact lenses to help us see better.

Now, I am going to ask you to help me demonstrate my point. I will not impose on those of you wearing contact lenses, but will ask any of you who are wearing glasses to kindly remove them for a few moments... How well do you see without the aid of your glasses? Probably not well. You wear glasses or contacts to see better and more clearly.

In today’s Gospel we meet some Greeks who have come to Jerusalem during Passion Week to celebrate and observe the Passover. These devout and God-fearing Greeks had a request for Philip, “Sir, We have a great desire to see Jesus.” Jesus was the object of their desire.

The questions we need to ask the Holy Spirit to help answer are these: 1. Why did they ask Philip and 2. Why did they want to see Jesus?

1. Perhaps they approached Philip because he was from Bethsaida, which bordered their own Gentile towns; and because Philip was not a Hebrew name. Maybe he even spoke Greek. Philip then asked Andrew to help him and together they took the inquiry of these Gentiles to Jesus. And,

2. More than likely these God-fearing Greeks had heard many reports about Jesus, including the recent news that He had raised Lazarus of Bethany (John 11) from the dead. Like the Ethiopian eunuch of Acts 8 and the Gentile centurion Cornelius of Caesarea of Acts 10, these Gentiles trusted in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and wanted to be near Him and know Him better. They had heard of the God who had done mighty things, and now right there before them is that Man who was bringing the Messianic age to fruition. PAUSE.

We don’t know much about these God-fearing Greeks, they probably attended synagogue worship in their home towns and regularly traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate festivals. But when they came to worship at the temple, they could only go up to the court of the Gentiles. There was a wall separating Gentile worshipers from the rest of the temple area & they could not go past it.

Despite this restriction, these God-fearing Greeks had a desire to see Jesus. The apostle John presents Philip as a person like us—down to earth, not highly educated, neither did he come from a high class society. Remember, it was Philip who said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” He, too, wanted to see better.

What was Jesus’ response? Jesus mildly rebuked Philip, saying, “Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been with you for a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Nonetheless, the Holy Spirit was at work in Philip, a simple, ordinary man who is used to further the kingdom. He was chosen by Jesus to be one of His disciple. The Savior of mankind delights in His children and equips them for the work in His church to share the great news so that others might see Him and know Him better.

In His divine wisdom Jesus deliberately chose Philip. This act gives hope to you and me. Philip was certainly a common man, but the Lord Jesus Christ chose him as His apostle. In mercy and grace, God delights to do great things with ordinary people. He chooses the nobodies of the world and makes them somebodies. We ourselves were nobodies, but God chose us, and being baptized in His name we become somebodies special—His own treasured possessions. PAUSE.

What a blessing it is for us to be brought here by the Holy Spirit, to see with eyes of faith what these Greeks saw. They saw the Savior of mankind in person. They had a desire to behold Him who is the heaven-sent Savior. They wanted to know that they have a place at the table with Father Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and so do we.

Yet, many times our eyes don’t see the majesty of the Divine Son of God. We don’t see because we choose not to see like Paul the Apostle. Remember he was a Hebrew scholar. He read and knew the Old Testament well, but wouldn’t accept the truth that this Man—Jesus, is the Messiah.

With fervor Paul went out on a mission not to save people, but to enslave them into the rules of man. He didn’t go out to share the love of Jesus, but to silence Him. On this mission Jesus met and opened his eyes by removing the scales that hindered him to see clearly. Once the scales were removed this man, became one of the greatest missionary and preachers the world has even known. We have 13 Epistles (letters) penned through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by his hand in the Bible telling us of the great doctrines of salvation, justification, sanctification, adoption into the family of faith, the story of redemption, and glorious resurrection all through Christ’s mighty power.

Read his Epistles and you will see Jesus more clearly, more wonderfully and more amazingly, because the Lord in mercy removed the scales from his eyes. Like Paul, we too have had our eyes opened. In the waters of Baptism we died to sin and received new life. In Baptism we who were enemies of God became friends of God. We who were blind now can see and can see so clearly! We confess that without Jesus there is no life and there is no resurrection.

We hear this and our bodies ache with longing, a possibility too good to be true. We’re hungry. We’re thirsty. We long for the bread of life—bread that truly satisfies. To see him. To see Him face to face. The intimacy of the encounter—as our gaze meets His and we are drawn into those refreshing waters, our eyes swimming in His.  We long for the embrace of God, our participation in the eternal love of the Father, Son, and Spirit. We long for the Son of Man to come in all His glory.

By the grace of God, we are richly blessed like the Greeks of old who see Jesus. We see Him too. We see Him in His Word, and in His simple Means-water, bread and wine. Oh, we see Him, not with glasses, contact lenses, or binoculars, but by grace through faith worked in us through the Holy Spirit.

The God-fearing Greek had a desire to see Jesus and so do we. But did you know that Jesus has a desire to see you? Indeed He does! He saw us in our sins. He saw us as people heading to hell without Him. He saw us wallowing in the mire of sin without a chance to get out of it. He saw us destined to spend eternity without any hope of freedom and slaves in the clutches of the devil.

Yes, He saw us as we are—poor, miserable, outcasts sinners without an opportunity to live in peace and joy with Him. So He did more. He came to earth as a humble man, lived the perfect life as He constantly looked to the love of the Father to sustain Him. He permitted the powers of His day to beat Him, bruise Him and bludgeon Him. He permitted the power hungry to drag Him, defile Him, and degrade Him. He permitted the solider to smite Him, strike Him and spit upon Him. He permitted them to place a crown of thorns on His head and crucify Him to death on a Roman cross. He did all of this so that we can see His love for you more clearly.

But He still did more, on the third day He rose again to make sure that you and I, poor miserable sinners will rise again from death to life. Just like the Greeks saw Him, just like the disciples saw Him after the resurrection, just like the women saw the tomb empty and saw Him in person, so do we today. We see Him here in His Word and in His Sacrament.

Thanks be to God, that the One who created our eyes has opened them up for us to see. And we have seen who this Jesus is! In the strength and power of the Holy Spirit, w e leave here and share what we have seen and heard so that others might see Him and believe. Join me in thanking the Lord for opening our eyes to see Him now and always. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Marching Unto Death” (Isaiah 50:4-6)

S-1426 Palm S/3A 4/13/2014 Hymns: (O) #160 vv 1-3; S #658: LS 161; 316; 307; (C) #160 vv 4-5

Texts: Isaiah 50:1-9; Philippians 2:5-9; John 12:20-43

Theme: “Marching Unto Death” (Isaiah 50:4-6)

Question: “Have you marched for a cause?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! The text for Palm Sunday is from the O.T. Lesson: “The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning He awakens; He awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord God Has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave My back to those who strike, and My cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not My face from disgrace and spitting” (Isaiah 50:4-6).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Beloved saints in Christ Palm Sunday is a day that allows us to enter with Jesus into the Holy city-Jerusalem and behold the heaven-sent Savior marching unto death—death on the cross for us-for you. Palm Sunday ushers us into the most sacred, solemn and serious time in the life of Jesus to earn our salvation. Palm Sunday permits us to be with the throng and walk along the path and observe to what extent Jesus would march to free us, give us faith and guarantee our future. His march leads Him to the crucifixion on a Roman cross, the grave and the empty tomb for us—for you.

Throughout man’s history there have been many who were forced to march to death. Under the cruel Roman Emperor Nero, a law was put in place which stated: That if a slave kills his master; all of the slaves in the household would be put to death because no one warned the master of the danger. On July, of 61 AD., 400 slaves were marched to the Hippodrome and were put to death because one of the slaves killed his master.

In August of 64 AD a large portion of Rome was burnet to the ground. Nero blamed the Christians and many of them were brutally put to death by wild animals, swords and burned alive. The leaders of the Christian church, including Peter were encouraged to leave the city so that they could save the church. While Peter was leaving the city he saw (in his mind’s eye) the Master Jesus Christ going to the city. Peter asked Him, “Where are You going Lord?” Jesus’ response to Peter, “I’m going to minister to the burdened, burned, and branded as enemies of the state!”

Having heard this, Peter turns around and marches back into the city of Rome. He offers himself to the authority and asked to be crucified upside down because he is not worthy to be crucified like His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. PAUSE.

However there is no greater march unto death as the Suffering Servant, our Savior endured for us-for you as told us by the Prophet Isaiah in the text for this Palm Sunday. Hear the Word of Isaiah again please. “The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning He awakens; He awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord God Has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave My back to those who strike, and My cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not My face from disgrace and spitting”

As the Suffering Servant and Savior, Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time; He knew He wouldn’t come out alive. He knew He was marching unto death. He knew that He wouldn’t turn backward from His mission; He would give His back upon which they would dig furrows in it; He would permit some to strike Him and others to pull out the hair out of His beard and His face to be beaten and bloodied for us-for you.

The Suffering Servant and Savior as He heard the cries of the people on the Palm Sunday processional saying: “Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to the Son of David!,” knew that He would march into Jerusalem, would be handed to the authority, condemned to death-death by crucifixion on a hewn cross for the sins of the world-for us-for you.

Beloved in Christ, Jesus’ triumphal entry into the City of David was intended to triumph over our enemies and do away with the curse of the law and the punishment of hell. And His triumph was the answer to the prayers of those who stood by the road and cried out to God to save them. PAUSE.

When the people cry out, God hears and sends a deliverer. Moses, Joshua, the Judges, David—when the people cry out for help, for rescue, for restoration, for redemption, God sends His chosen One. Hear our cries, O LORD. Let Your ears be attentive to our pleas for mercy. O Lord, hear my voice; let my cries come unto You. “Deliver [us] from sinking in the mire; let [us] be delivered from [our] enemies and from the deep waters…Answer [us] O LORD, for Your steadfast love is good; according to Your abundant mercy, turn to [us]” (Ps. 69:14, 16).

From this holy place called Redeemer Lutheran Church, in Armour, SD our prayers and cries for mercy rise up from the altar of our supplication, seeking the LORD and His help in time of trouble. For we, all, are marching towards death—death because of our sins that sends us to the abyss of hell.

Without our deliverer, the Suffering Servant—Jesus our march to death would take place because the devil would lead us by the nose to receive our due reward, separation from the presence of God forever where there is gnashing of teeth and torment of hell.

As the redeemed people of God, I need to ask you, are you marching to tell others about the One who was sent to be rescuer and redeemer of the people the world over? Are you marching with eagerness to be in His house of worship? Are you marching to study the Word of God? Are you marching towards the altar to be fed and nurtured?

If you are God be praised. If you are not, I am so thankful that the Spirit has led you here to hear the footsteps of the Savior as He marches on towards Skull Hill to die for the world—for us—for you. PAUSE.

In the book of Genesis chapter 44 the 11 sons of Jacob returned to Egypt to buy grain and depart. On their way back to the Promised Land, the Egyptian soldiers followed and overtook them. They asked “Why have you done this evil against my kind master and took his silver cup?” Ultimately the cup is located in Joseph’s full brother—Benjamin’s bag.

The soldiers drag Benjamin back to Egypt and put him in jail. Then Judah his older brother pleads and begs with Joseph to let him be jailed instead of his brother for the sake of his elderly father—Jacob who has already lost one brother—Joseph. Joseph wouldn’t permit his brother Judah to do so. However, the great, great grandson of Judah—Jesus would give His life, not only to rescue Benjamin, Peter, the 400 slaves but the world. That is why He marched into the city of Jerusalem knowing full well He would march unto death for us-for you; and would rise again so that we would march with Him unto the glories of heaven.

What joy fills our hearts on account of the Savior, Jesus who marched in our place in hell so that we would march with Him forever in heaven. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Lost in the Crowd BUT Found by the Crown”

S-1247 Palm Sunday/3A 04/17/11, (O) # 160; (S) #452; (C) #161

Text: Isaiah 50:4-9; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 27:11-66; (sermon John 12:12-19)

Theme: “Lost in the Crowd BUT Found by the Crown” (John 12:12-19)

Question: “Have you been lost?” 6th in Sermon series Lost and Found

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! The text for our 6^th Sunday in Lent is from the Gospel lesson: “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, Your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!’ His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him and had been done to Him. The crowd that had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet Him was that they heard He had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him’” (John 12:12-19).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

In the name of Him who wore the crown of thorns, beloved in Christ, there is nothing more frustrating than being lost. Before the days of GPS, my wife and I traveled to Cleveland, OH to visit my uncle. After driving for 18 hours, somehow I took the wrong turn . It was dark, we were tired and needless to say frustrations ran very high that night. But what is even worse is being lost and not knowing it.

Today, as you and I travel in spirit to Jerusalem, we join the throngs of people who have come from all over the world to celebrate the Passover. It is estimated that during the weeks approaching the Passover, there would be close to 2.5 million people in Jerusalem. No wonder the Scripture writers tell us that there was a large crowd who followed Him. And those who followed Him cried out saying: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ In other word they were crying out to the Man riding the humble donkey, to save them. Save them from the Roman regime. Save them from the taxes they have to pay. Save them from the burdens of life. Do anything and save us. They had a misunderstanding of the type of king who would come. They wanted an earthly king; one who would be the leader and shaker of the Jewish nation with its capital in Jerusalem. These crowds were lost without knowing it.

Have you ever been lost dear friends? Being lost is not fun. It is frustrating. When a child is lost it throws a family into panic; we pray that when our children get “caught up” in the crowds of the day that we too would be in a panic about rescuing them and showing them their Savior. Others choose and want to get lost in the crowd so that they don’t stand out, so they aren’t noticed, so that they might not be seen and be called on to do something. Even among the crowds in Jerusalem when they saw Jesus riding the donkey; they didn’t know what to think about what they were hearing; So also today, when the “crowds” hear the message but it doesn’t touch their hearts because they are caught up in the things of this world.

Soon we will gather from the most awe inspiring celebration of Easter and there will be many “crowds” that will be in church this Easter: wondering; trying to get in “their points” with God, since they haven’t been in Church since Christmas; some who are “caught up” in the “drama” of the day, and even if they are not strong in faith, want to hear a message that is positive, perhaps even satisfies their curiosity. PAUSE.

The Gospel writer John writes: “Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God” (John 12:42-43).

Fence-straddlers in large numbers are also present among us today. Claiming to be Christian is fine for them as long as that claim doesn’t cost them anything. And when it does, they leave. It may be because the preacher steps on their sins or because someone has the audacity to ask for their time, talent, and treasure as response to God’s love. Perhaps someone doesn’t pay enough attention to them. The bottom line, though, is that they will not “confess their faith” ... They shop for the church that best meets their own self-centered needs, while ignoring the doctrine of the Gospel in their shopping. They treat the Christian faith like a smorgasbord, picking and choosing what appeals to their individual tastes. (LifeLight, Bible sudy, p. 18)

How sad, that the situation has not changed. So many people even today, are still lost in the crowd. They are still looking for a king who would save them from inflation, from the burdens of life and the troubled marriage they are in. They want a king who would give them every wimp and desire. They treat Jesus like a Jeannie as they rub the bottle and demand from Him their heart’s desire. What we notice in the lost crowd of Jerusalem that day is that The King who entered Jerusalem to cheers of “Hosanna,” would exit the city to Jeers of “Crucify Him!” They didn’t understand the mission of Jesus nor the prophecy about Him. After all isn’t this why the heaven-sent Savior came. Listen to Zechariah: ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, Your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!’ (Zechariah 9:9). PAUSE.

“It’s good to be the king!” That slogan has become familiar through the ads of a prominent fast-food chain, like Burger King and Mattress King. When we think of being treated like royalty, we envision a life of luxury and being waited on hand and foot. Such attention and care could easily lead us to think, “It’s good to be the king.”

What a different kind of king we see in the Son of Man, our Sav­ior! Instead of leading a life of lux­ury, He wandered the hills and valleys of Palestine, with no real place to call home. Instead of being waited on hand and foot, this King came to serve His sub­jects with every fiber of His being. Instead of being crowned with gold, He wore a crown of thorns, because Jesus, our King, rules with a servant’s heart!

Today marks the entrance to the most Holy Week in the Church’s year. We will retrace our King’s journey to the cross, where He would pay the ransom price for His rebellious subjects. Jesus would lay down His life for deniers like Peter, betray­ers like Judas, cowards like the disciples who fled at His arrest, and for sinners like you and me. This King is the greatest of all kings, who in love serves us in giving His life into death so that we can live forever!

So many of the crowds are still lost and so are we. Lost in sorrow, suffering and in sadness. Lost in pain and hurt. Lost in the darkness of sin and death. Isn’t true that when you lose someone you love, you hurt and you lose focus? Certainly!!! PAUSE.

Have you picked the newspaper lately and looked at the obituary? There is always someone you know who has been swallowed up in death. Death our great enemy, has taken more casualties. Last week, an innocent guard at the State Penitentiary was brutally murdered. Louis Theiss, the fatherin-law of a colleague of mine also died. And other loved ones could be next. I’m sick and tired of death stealing life and our loved ones! And so is Jesus our servant King.

And so Jesus climbed on to a young donkey and rode meekly into Jerusalem to the praise and the palm-waving of the people. It didn’t look like it, but Jesus was going off to war. Our sermon Hymn: in the “Church Militant” section of the hymnal says in part, “The Son of God goes forth to war A kingly crown to gain. …” 452.

He went forth without a sword and without an army. Oh, He had some “soldiers” with Him, but you know how well they stood by their Lord’s side: while He prayed to His Father in the Garden, His watchers slumbered. The fiery “sons of Thunder” (James and John) and the would-be-valiant Peter fell fast asleep…and the soldiers of the High Priest came to take away our Lord.

What was next? Sham trials, a wishy-washy Governor, the scourging (oh, the scourging!), the painful walk to Calvary, the nails and the crown.

The crown! Is this thorny crown the “kingly crown” noted in the hymn? Yes! Our King on the cross, Jesus, had only a hastily made crown of thorns to adorn His head—and it was made in mockery to increase His suffering. Then the Roman soldiers bowed before Him in derision. His crown commanded no respect, only shame and scorn. His own people had rejected Him. But as He wore that terrible crown, He won forgiveness for us and the whole world. “It is finished (i.e., accomplished)!” He cried. The thorny crown is, thus, a glorious crown.

Christ has defeated our great enemy, death (along with sin and Satan!), by His death. The writer of Hebrews says, “…but we see Jesus…now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). And now He has traded in that thorny crown for an imperishable one. Christ suffered, died, rose and ascended into heaven; He now rules eternally with a crown whose glory will neither fade nor end, a crown of gold (Revelation 14:14). His joy will be to hand us each a crown: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

The Son of God went forth to war during the week we call Holy Week. From the tragic cross to the triumphal entry, He gained a crown that week, still wears one, and He can’t wait to place a crown on your head in heaven!

Yes, beloved, you who were once lost in the crowd, have been found by Him who wore the crown—Jesus Your King forever. Amen.

Now the peace…

Theme: “How Quickly Things Change!” (Luke 23:13-16).

-1179 Palm Sunday/3C 3/28/2010 Hymns: (O) #160; (S) #162; L.S. #456; 547; 535; (C) #161

Texts: Psalm 118:19-24, 28-29; Deuteronomy 32:36-39; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 23:1-56

Theme: “How Quickly Things Change!” (Luke 23:13-16).

Question: “How do you cope with change?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The text for our Palm Sunday is from the Gospel Lesson: “But they all cried out together, ‘Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas’— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 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.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that He should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 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” (Luke 23:18-25).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

People of God, chosen and beloved, it was 1970 I was still living in Israel, my oldest brother Moussa (Moses) and one of his friends went to a soccer game in the town of Aco (Acre) against their arch rival a team from Nazareth. The game was a delight to watch. People were jumping up and down cheering their players to do the best until the referee gave the opposing team a red card (a player is ejected out of the game and the team must continue to play with only 10 against 11). And all of a sudden things changed rapidly. The joy of the game turned into the biggest brawl. My brother was grabbed by an angry mob by his necktie. They began to swirl him round and round, his eyes bulged out, he was beginning to lose consciences, and his life was in jeopardy, until his friend miraculously got him loose and they fled.

On Thursday night I was watching a program called “Caught on Tape” on the animal planet (one of my favorite shows). The incident that was caught on tape was in the Philippines. A zoo keeper whose main responsibility is to take care of the tigers was in the courtyard with them. In one corner he was tending to the care of one tiger and all of a sudden another tiger came from behind and attacked his leg and got him to the ground. The tiger in the corner pounced on the other leg. Before long a third tiger and then a 4^th were on the man mauling and shredding him to pieces. People were horrified as they watched him being bitten and bleeding. They could hear the bones crushing with each bite. Finally, another zoo keeper stepped into the courtyard with a sledge hammer and began to hit the tigers and took his co-worker to the hospital. Amazingly he survived. What is more amazing how quickly things changed for this zoo keeper? PAUSE.

Who would have thought it? No one in all of Jerusalem, not the disciples and not even Mary His mother suspected things could change so quickly against Him. Earlier in the week, the people shouted and laid their garments and palm branches before Him and cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David, Hosanna to the King of Israel” But that was then. Today, we hear two things: first Pilate declares he finds no crimes that Jesus has committed, and second the crowds cry for His blood—they want to see the Man from Nazareth dead so they make sure Pilate hears them well. The refrain is this: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

The irony of all of this is that the people ask for a criminal to be released and for an innocent man to be condemned. How quickly things changed! On Palm Sunday there was a crowd (it is possible these are not the same people) crying out “Hosanna” or “Save us now!” Yet less than a week later a crowd with even more gusto raised their fists and voices for this same Savior to be crucified!

It is interesting to note the names of these two people—the Criminal and the Innocent that take center stage on that Friday. Barabbas’ name means “Son of the Father.” Jesus’ name means “Savior”. How ironic it is in what they are asking for even without knowing it. They are asking for Barabbas—the “Son of the Father” to be released. At the same time, they want the TRUE “Son of the Father”—Jesus to be condemned. Without knowing it, they were still shouting their Hosanna’s. For after all this is why the Son of the Father came to earth, to go to the cross, be crucified to give them hope and heaven. PAUSE.

Oh, how quickly things change. We don’t like to change. As Lutherans, we have a hard time with change. The oft made comments around Lutherans are: “We have never done it this way before!” When change is brought about, people begin to scream some under their breath and others vocally. We don’t want to change, we like things the way they are and if there is a change that needs to be done, it better be a change to our liking.

But isn’t this the reason the Savior came? Did He not come to change our status with our heavenly Father from sinners to saints, from hell-bound to heaven-bound, from enemies of God to friends of God, from strangers to families of God? INDEED IT IS! The whole ministry of Jesus is about change—changing our lives for the better.

Yes, Jesus came to change us and change He did by His crucifixion on Calvary’s tree. We see these changes in many of the saints before us: Saul the persecutor by his encounter with the Savior on the Damascus road was changed to be the great preacher of the Gospel. Peter the denier of Jesus, with one glance of His Savior in the High Priest’s court yard was changed to be a bold confessor of His Lord and Savior that he actually would die for his belief. How quickly things changed.

Golgotha was the center stage on that Friday afternoon. Jesus, the Rabbi from Nazareth and two other criminals were hanging on crosses condemned to die. One of them was changed quickly as He observed and heard Jesus speak to those who wished to see His blood spilled and Him dead. For three to four hours more the thief would draw his ragged breath but that very day his cross would be exchanged for a crown and his soul would be lifted up to heaven’s glory. That morning saw the thief being led out of his prison cell to pay his debt to society. That afternoon saw his life fading away on a cross and his soul facing hell’s gaping doors. But that evening saw him walking hand in hand with His Savior in heaven. What change took place that night in the life of that thief!

That same change takes place in us as well. By the loving act of the Father, the TRUE Son of the Father laid down His life for our redemption to bring about the change that is needed in us. By His mercy we receive the same promise and blessed forgiveness. We are changed as those pierced hands touch us and cleanse us in the waters of Baptism. By those same tender, wounded and outstretched arms we are fed the Meal of heaven. Not only that, but we also receive the great gift of forgiveness from Christ’s own lips. These heavenly gifts are the reasons we have been changed.

Changed for the better; changed by the One who never changes—Jesus Christ. Whose love remains constant; whose compassion never fails; whose mercy is new every morning.

My beloved and His beloved, you and I are changed people. We don’t remain like we were yesterday, but live in the present and presence of Christ. We have received the greatest change from the inside out. This change is not brought about because we went to the greatest fashion designer, makeup artist, or hair stylist; but because the Creator of the Universe has touched us and changed our filthy hearts to His dwelling place.

No wonder the Apostle Paul could and would boast of His Savior. With boldness, he would continue to hold out to others the gift of heaven, won for all earth’s inhabitants. That good news alone can change an uncertain future. As sin’s captives hear about Jesus and “the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control,” fear of the future is replaced with a joyful longing for Jesus’ return. PAUSE.

Some years ago there was a television show in which the hero received a newspaper at his apartment door every morning. Ordinarily, such a thing would not be considered unusual, but this was. Each day’s delivery was tomorrow’s newspaper. It came to him a day before the events reported on its pages took place. He took upon himself the responsibility of trying to head off the tragedy with the fore-knowledge he now possessed. By the end of each episode, he would again be holding the paper and the success of his efforts to change the outcome would appear on its pages.

We don’t know if our bold confidence in Jesus will avert the tragedy of a life being lived without Him, but we do know that the Gospel is the only Means by which Jesus may enter such a life and change the outcome. We are proof of it!

How quickly the crowds turned against the Savior and asked for His death by crucifixion. They asked for Barabbas to be released. And the TRUE Son of the Father was nailed to the tree. And because of that sacrificial act, we have been changed forever. And what a change! Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SDG.