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Easter 3 2026
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
April 19, 2026
Psalm 116:1-14, Acts 2:14, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-25, Luke 24:13-35

Sermons online: 
Text:               pastorjud.org   
Audio:             pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:            bit.ly/pastorjud

            Have you ever found yourself going along with others and doing the wrong thing because everyone around you is doing the wrong thing? I have a number of examples from my own life, but I better not share since I’m not sure about the statute of limitations. 

            There is an equation about boys doing stupid things. One boy = one brain.  Two boys = half a brain.  Three boys = no brain at all.  What happens then with a mob?  A mob completely loses its mind. 

            On that fateful Friday morning the crowd of people assembled outside of the Governor’s palace were likely, at first, minding their own business, but then they got caught up doing what mobs do.  The Jewish leaders got the crowd all stirred up demanding that Jesus of Nazareth be crucified.  The crowd shouted for the release of the criminal Barabbas and for Jesus to be executed, “Crucify him!  Crucify him!”  The mob was not placated by seeing Jesus whipped and abused but cried all the louder, “Crucify him!  Crucify him!” Having found nothing in him deserving death, the governor wanted to release Jesus but the crowd insisted on His death.  The governor then washed his hands before the crowd and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves,” to which the crowd cried out, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

            Fast forward 50 days.  The crowd is back together in Jerusalem but everything is different.  It is Pentecost, the Feast of Weeks, a harvest festival 50 days after the Passover. People are in town from all over the Mediterranean; many likely came for the Passover and stayed on for Pentecost. The whole city is abuzz.  There have been lots of rumors flying around about Jesus of Nazareth.  Folks are saying that He rose from the dead and many people claim they have seen the risen Jesus.  It is said that Jesus ascended into heaven ten days ago and now the followers of Jesus have suddenly gained the ability to speak in many different languages.

            The people in the crowd start to ask themselves, “What did we do?  How could we have cried out for Jesus’ blood?”  One of Jesus’ disciples, a man named Peter, addresses the crowd and lets them know what happened.  Acts 2:32 (ESV) 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.”  Jesus was raised from the dead and has been exalted to the right hand of God the Father and now God has poured out the Holy Spirit on these disciples of Jesus with a great wind and tongues of fire. 

            Peter tells the crowd, Acts 2:36 (ESV)  36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

            Jesus is Lord and Christ.  Pilate wanted to release Him, but the crowd insisted on Jesus’ death.  They insisted that His blood to be on them, and on their children.  What have they done?  They crucified the Lord.  They are guilty of the blood of the Christ.

            The crowd has gone from the blind fervor of a blood-thirsty mob, to having a deepening pit in their stomachs over the unfolding reality of what they have done, to now experiencing full-fledged terror and panic because of their sin.

            They have not offended an earthly ruler; they have offended the creator of the earth.  They have crucified God in flesh.  “Brothers, what shall we do?”

            The crowd has no hope.  To whom do you turn when you have crucified the Lord?  Judas felt the burden of this guilt and he despaired and hung himself. What do you do when you have committed such a terrible sin?  “Brothers, what shall we do?”

            “Repent and be baptized.”  Acts 2:38-39 (ESV) 38 …. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

            From the depths of despair Peter gives the people living hope.  Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. And this is for all people.  This is not just for men, not just for women, not just for Jews. 

As the crowd cried out for Jesus’ blood to be on them — and their children — the promise of salvation is for them — and their children and for all who are far off.  There is no maximum age limit.  There is no minimum age limit.  No geographical limit.  The promise is for everyone.

            What an amazing promise to this guilty crowd.  They have Jesus’ blood on their hands.  You can look at them and think, wow!  They are terrible sinners…they put Jesus on the cross…but then the awful truth dawns.  You too are guilty of Jesus’ blood.  Your sins also put Jesus on the cross; He is suffering and dying for you. As you look at the cross there is the horrible knowledge that you too are guilty of the blood of Jesus and there is nothing you can do to fix it.  This is powerful guilt and the devil knows it. 

When you find yourself mired in guilt, the devil gets up in your ear and whispers in an almost audible way, “This time it is just too much.  You say you’re a Christian but look at what you think about.  Look at what you do.  God cannot forgive you.  You are too far gone.  Your sin is too bad.”  Under attack by the devil you cry out, “What shall I do?

            Repent and be baptized.  Repent and remember that in your baptism Jesus made a promise to you that you belong to Him.  In Christ you have forgiveness and eternal life.  In Jesus you have been freed from the guilt of your sins and set apart from the multitude of unbelievers to live in the Kingdom of God. 

            When the devil accuses you of being a sinner you tell the devil, “You’re right. It is true.  I am a sinner.  But Jesus paid for my sins.  I am baptized.  Jesus made a promise to me and He doesn’t break His promises.  So, be gone devil!  I belong to Jesus.”  Alone, the enormity of your sin would be overwhelming, but you are not alone.  In Christ you have been set free. 

            You are set free by Jesus.  Set free by baptism, set free by confession and absolution, set free by the Lord’s Supper. Your sins are forgiven.  Those who cried out for Jesus to be crucified found forgiveness in Jesus and 3,000 were baptized that day.  You, whose sin put Jesus on the cross, today receive forgiveness from the risen Lord Jesus.  Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia! 

            The message of salvation is simple and straightforward.  Peter does not sugar-coat some message about how the people need to dream big dreams or have their best life now or just try harder to please God.  Peter confronts the people with their sin and points them to Jesus for forgiveness.  Peter bears witness to Jesus and exhorts the people to beware of the ways of the world, Acts 2:40 ESV …Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

            The ways of the world then were opposed to God’s way.  The ways of the world now are opposed to God’s way. Faithful believers and faithful churches are set apart from this crooked generation.  Faithful believers and faithful churches will find themselves pushed more and more to the margins where we will be ridiculed and censured by the so-called intellectuals who embrace and promote this crooked generation.  You will feel great pressure to conform your life to the ways of the world and adopt the world’s ways as your ways.  But as a baptized child of God you no longer belong to the world, you belong to Jesus.  You are transformed by the Word of God.  As a follower of Jesus you live your life inside the boundaries of God’s law.  You know God’s law does not crush your freedom to do whatever you want, but rather God’s law enables you to live in the freedom to do what is right.  To love God and love your neighbor.

            You have heard the message that Peter preached that first Pentecost.  Acts 2:38-39 (ESV) 38 …. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

            This is the message that brought you to faith in Jesus Christ.  This is the message we preach to strengthen each other in this life.  This is the message we bring to a world that struggles with sin.  This is the message we bring to a world that needs forgiveness.  The promise of forgiveness in Jesus is for you and for your children and for all who are far off.  You belong to Jesus.  Amen.