From the Pulpit

Posted on April 20, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

If Christ is Risen, Nothing Else Matters

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The Festival of the Resurrection of our Lord
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
April 20, 2025
Isaiah 65:17-25, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, Luke 24:1-12

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We worked so hard for this moment. It has been a long time coming, but we finally achieved our goal. We were direct, we were sneaky, we laid traps, we manipulated people, we schemed and planned and finally we have what we were going after. Jesus of Nazareth is hanging dead on a cross at Golgotha. That aggravating teacher from Galilee will no longer be a problem with His violation of the Sabbath rules and His eating dinner with low life sinners. Now He…is…dead…silenced forever.

Word is that two traitors are going to bury Jesus; Joseph of Arimathea who is a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin; the Jewish governing assembly, along with Nicodemus, a Pharisee. They got permission to bury Jesus. We thought these two were with us, but apparently they are secret followers of Jesus…probably spies. Who else might be secret followers? Who can we trust?

With Jesus dead, it feels like it is all done, that we have accomplished all that we set out to do, but now is not the time to rest. We remember that when Jesus was alive He told his followers… Luke 9:22 (ESV) 22 …“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

He was right about rejection and being killed, but He is not going to rise from the dead. Dead is dead. Nobody rises from the dead. Somehow, Jesus supposedly raised Lazarus from the dead but it cannot be true. Dead is dead. Nobody rises from the dead.

So, we are going to make sure that everyone knows Jesus is dead, and that He will stay dead. He claimed to be the Son of God and King of the Jews, but we will show the world that He was just another lunatic claiming to be the Messiah.

You have got to imagine that the Jewish leaders who worked so hard to get Jesus executed never let His body leave their sight. I’m sure they keep watch to make sure no one steals the body to claim that Jesus rose from the dead. Certainly they are watching as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus take the body down from the cross and prepare it for burial. They watch as the two men wrap Jesus’ body in a linen shroud with spices and lay it in a tomb. They watch as a great stone is rolled in front of the entrance to the tomb and the two men go away. They watch the two women who are also there by the tomb. They watch the women leave, after a while, as the Passover Sabbath begins with the setting of the sun. I’m sure the tomb is kept under watch all night.

In the morning the chief priests and Pharisees get Roman soldiers to fortify security. They send a delegation to Pilate to ask for a guard. After talking to Pilate they get soldiers and … Matthew 27:66 (ESV) 66 …they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.” Now they just have to wait a few days to prove that Jesus was a fraud.

For the soldiers it must seem like an easy assignment. They are guarding a dead man sealed inside quiet garden tomb; a boring assignment, but easy. Dead men cannot get away.

Saturday is quiet during the day and through the night, but then comes Sunday morning… Matthew 28:1–4 (ESV) Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.”

The tomb is empty. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Matthew 28:5–6 (ESV) 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”

As the women are leaving the tomb to tell His disciples, Jesus meets them and says, Matthew 28:9–10 (ESV) 9 … “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

The guards are paralyzed or passed out with fear. The angel never told them, “Don’t be afraid.”

After the women leave, the soldiers come around and realize they are in a bad situation. How can they explain what has happened? Who will believe that a heavenly being came and rolled away the stone? Everyone will think they fell asleep on guard duty and the penalty for that is a severe beating or even execution.

Matthew 28:11–15 (ESV) 11 While [the women] were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.”

The elders and the chief priests had to pay Judas to betray Jesus, now they have to pay the soldiers to make up a story about falling asleep. And, possibly, they have to somehow convince Pilate not to punish the soldiers if he finds out about their story of falling asleep on guard duty.

The elders’ and the Chief Priests’ plan is falling apart. All of their scheming and planning and hard work is for nothing. Jesus really did what He said He would do. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The crazy thing is…the elders and Chief Priests know the truth. They heard from the Roman soldier eyewitnesses about the earthquake and the angel and the empty tomb. The soldiers may have even seen Jesus talking to the women. They know that Jesus rose from the dead. Just as Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, now He himself is raised from the dead.

They know the truth….and they cover it up. They are so concerned about their own stuff; their rules, their traditions, their positions, their power and control that they try to cover up the most important event in the history of the world — Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Jaroslav Pelikan, a Lutheran theologian wrote, “If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen, nothing else matters.”

When the Magi came to Jerusalem looking for the newborn King of the Jews the chief priests and scribes knew where the Christ was to be born but none of them went with the Magi to worship the Christ child.

The religious leaders witnessed Jesus’ miracles, but they did not rejoice — they were only concerned about Sabbath regulations. The Jewish leaders know that Christ rose from the dead, but other things matter more.

This is a stark warning. This is convicting. Some folks know that Jesus rose from the dead, but then the things of life become more important…and Christ’s resurrection no longer matters to them.

We are warned about this in Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seeds. Matthew 13:22 (ESV) 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” If Christ is risen…nothing else matters.

Do not let the busyness of life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke out that knowledge in you. Do not leave here today and then live as if Jesus’ resurrection does not matter.

Do not let Godly good stewardship of money become a satanic love of money that chokes out faith in Christ and is the root of all kinds of evil.

Do not let lust take control of you and lead you into ongoing sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger and give the devil a foothold. James 4:7 (ESV) 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

You know Jesus died and rose from the dead for you. You know your sins are forgiven. You are the light of the world. Let the love of God shine in your life. Listen to Jesus. Jesus teaches, Matthew 7:24 (ESV) 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Remain in the Word of God — read, mark, learn and inwardly digest God’s word. Pray regularly. Stay connected to God’s Word and His sacraments. Remember your baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Repent, confess your sins, and receive absolution. Regularly receive the Body and Blood of Jesus into your body to strengthen and preserve you in true faith. You are one with Christ.

It is a wonderful day to be here in God’s house enthusiastically proclaiming, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!”

Pilate asked, “What is truth?” You know the truth. Jesus died on the cross as payment for the sins of the world. Jesus, the Son of God, drank the cup of God’s wrath because of your sin. He paid the price for you and forgives you all your sins. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day just as He said He would. Jesus is indeed King of the Jews. He is King of the universe. He is God in flesh. He is your Lord and Savior.

You know the truth. The truth sets you free. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! “If Christ is risen…nothing else matters.” Amen.

Posted on April 19, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum

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Good Friday 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
April 18, 2025

Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. Just a few months ago we celebrated Epiphany and the Magi’s trek from the East to find the baby Jesus. The magi come to Jerusalem and ask, Matthew 2:2 (ESV) 2 … “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

At that time, Herod the Great was king over Israel under the authority of Caesar Augustus, the King in Rome. The Magi are asking about a new King. Matthew 2:3 (ESV) 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him…”

Herod the Great tries to trick the magi into locating the newborn King and reporting back to him so he could also come and “worship” Him. Of course by “worship” Herod means kill Him. The magi are warned in a dream and depart by another route. Jesus’ stepfather Joseph is also warned in a dream and the family escapes the sword of Herod by fleeing to Egypt.

Fast forward 33 years and the King of the Jews is again causing turmoil in Jerusalem. Jesus of Nazareth rides a donkey colt down the Mount of Olives to shouts of Luke 19:38 (ESV) 38 … “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” The King has returned to Jerusalem. The local religious leaders are not pleased. They beg Jesus, Luke 19:39–40 (ESV) 39 …“Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

The King of the Jews is back and the Jewish religious leaders are furious. They plot and scheme to arrest Jesus away from the crowds so they can put Him to death for claiming to be the Christ and the King.

For 30 pieces of silver, Judas Iscariot leads Jesus’ enemies right to Him at Gethsemane late Thursday night and betrays Jesus with a kiss. Friday morning the chief priests and scribes take Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.

But why is there a Roman governor instead of one of Herod’s sons? After the death of Herod the Great, his son, Archelaus, ruled Judea for only two years before Caesar Augustus sent him into exile in France and replaced him with a Roman governor. Now the “King of the Jews” trouble that Herod the Great had with the newborn King comes before the fifth Roman prefect of Judea.

Luke 23:2 (ESV) 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”

John 18:33–38 (ESV) 33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.”

Jesus is King, but He is not king of this world. Jesus’ kingdom far exceeds the kingdoms of this world. He is the eternal King of all.

Earthly kings come and go. Tiberius Caesar is king of the Roman Empire when Jesus is crucified. He dies in March of 37 AD, and his ashes are interred at the Mausoleum of Augustus in Rome where they remain to this day. In this world, kings come and go, prime ministers and presidents come and go. Jesus is still King. Jesus is King forever.

The people of Jerusalem that day, the Jewish leaders and the Romans are agitated and amused by the idea that this pitiable teacher from Galilee, tied-up, beaten, bloody and bruised is a king of anything. How quickly they dismiss all that they have heard about Jesus of Nazareth. Everybody has heard about His great miracles; how Jesus healed the sick and crippled, how He drove out demons, how He fed thousands, how He raised the dead. They are all especially aware of how Jesus recently raised Lazarus from the dead in Bethany just east of Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. This Jesus raised a man from the dead after four days by telling him to “come out,” and all they can do is be angry, and abuse Him.

The soldiers, who have heard about all that Jesus has done, flog Him and afterwards mock Him; crowning Him with thorns and dressing Him up in a royal robe. They call out, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and then slap him in the face.

John 19:12–16 (ESV) 12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.…” The Jewish leaders choose Caesar over God. They abandon the King of the universe to follow an earthly king.

What Herod the Great failed to do 33 years earlier, Pilate will reluctantly accomplish. The King of the Jews will be killed. The author of life will be executed for the crime of telling the truth about who He is. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. God has come to be one of us. God the Father, out of love, sent His Son to give His life to pay for the sins of the world. John 3:16–17 (ESV) 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Pilate does not want to execute Jesus. He believes the Jewish leaders are jealous of Jesus. Pilate, however, is not brave enough to risk a riot and so he gives in to their demands and delivers over Jesus to be crucified.

Perhaps to antagonize the elders and chief priests, or maybe because he had a glimmer of faith that Jesus spoke the truth, or for some other reason… John 19:19 (ESV) 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” To make sure everyone would know what he wrote, the inscription was in Aramaic, the local dialect, also in Latin for the Romans, and in Greek which was the common language of the period. In artwork we abbreviate the sign as INRI, from the Latin, Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum. Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. As Jesus hangs on the cross, those passing by continue to mock… Luke 23:37 (ESV) 37 … saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”

Jesus of Nazareth is the King of the Jews crowned with thorns and enthroned on the cruel cross at Golgotha. All is going according to plan. The King of the Jews, the King of the World, offers Himself as the sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Jesus is the servant king who… Philippians 2:7–8 (ESV) 7 … emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Whether he meant to or not, Pilate got it right. Jesus of Nazareth is King of the Jews… King of the world…King of the Universe. As Gabriel told Mary, Luke 1:32–33 (ESV) 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Jesus is the King…your King…your Lord…your Savior. He goes to the cross to save you. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Amen.

Posted on April 18, 2025April 18, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

A New Covenant

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Maundy Thursday 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
April 17, 2025
Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 10:15-25, Luke 22:7-20

Time is growing short — down to mere hours. Jesus is well aware of what will happen. The disciples should be aware, but they are, like us, pretty thick-headed at times. Jesus and the 12 disciples are gathered together in the upper room to eat the Passover meal. Passover is the annual remembrance of God delivering the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt.The Israelites are instructed to kill an unblemished year-old male lamb and take its blood and paint it on the doorposts and lintel of their home. The Lord will see the blood marking and the destroyer will pass over that house. The Israelites are protected from the destroyer who kills the first born of all of Egypt.Each year the Jews remember the Passover on the 14th day of the first month.

On this Thursday night, after dinner, Jesus will be betrayed into the hands of the Jewish religious leaders. He will be arrested and beaten and tried in a late night kangaroo court and condemned to death. Chaos and hatred and pain and humiliation are coming for Jesus, but, for now, it is calm and peaceful in the upper room as Jesus eats the Passover with His disciples.

Luke 22:19 (ESV) 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Something momentous is happening here. What does He mean? “This is my Body?” What does He mean, “Given for you?”

Luke 22:20 (ESV) 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

This is a new covenant instituted as a last will and testament that will be sealed on Friday with Jesus’ blood shed on the cross. This new covenant is prophesied by Jeremiah 900 years earlier. Jeremiah 31:31–32 (ESV) 31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord.”

A new covenant… not marked with the blood of a lamb, but a new covenant in the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

Jeremiah 31:33–34 (ESV) 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

At the Passover dinner that night Jesus gives the cup of the new covenant. The cup of the new covenant… in the blood of Jesus… for the forgiveness of your iniquity… so Jesus will remember your sin no more. This is the cup of salvation, but this is not the only cup Jesus talks about that night.

When the Supper is completed and Jesus has transformed the Passover meal into the Lord’s Supper, Jesus and the disciples, minus Judas, go down Mt. Zion, across the Kidron Valley to the Garden of Gethsemane. Gethsemane means oil press. Olives are grown there and pressed for oil for cooking and lamps. In Gethsemane Jesus withdraws by Himself and prays, Luke 22:42 (ESV) 42 … “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

This is the cup of God’s wrath; punishment for disobedience and rebellion. Jeremiah 25:15–16 (ESV) 15 Thus the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. 16 They shall drink and stagger and be crazed because of the sword that I am sending among them.”

Jesus will drink the cup of God’s wrath to forgive your sins. He takes your punishment so God no longer holds your sin against you. He gives you His Body in the bread of the Lord’s Supper and His blood in the cup of the new covenant. He delivers to you, over and over, His promise of eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath down to the dregs for you so He can give you the cup of salvation.

The cup of salvation is offered to everyone and yet so many refuse this gift. Many follow false gods and believe they are saved by their own works. Others desire for autonomy makes them refuse Jesus’ gifts in the new covenant. They want to be Lord of their own life and have their own feelings be their authority. They reject Jesus and remain in their sin and they will have to drink the cup of God’s wrath for themselves.

Revelation 14:9–10 (ESV) 9 … “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”

Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath for you. You have been set apart from the multitude of unbelievers in the holy ark of the Christian Church. Stay alert to the devil’s deceptions trying to separate you from Jesus. Remain in Christ and drink the cup of salvation.

And how do you know that all of this is true? How do you know that Jesus really meant what He said that Thursday in the upper room? You know it is true because Sunday is coming. All the power and intensity of Thursday and Friday are brought to a culmination on Sunday morning with the empty tomb.

Today we have a number of young people receiving the Lord’s Supper for the first time. To be worthy to receive Holy Communion is to have faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These baptized children of God know they are sinners who need forgiveness. They know they have been given forgiveness in the waters of baptism and in Jesus’ words of absolution. And they know that in the bread and wine of Holy Communion they will receive into themselves the Body and Blood of Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.

You are in the new covenant — sealed with the blood of Jesus. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who gives you faith to hear and believe God’s law to bring you to repentance and to hear and believe the Good News of forgiveness in Jesus. Receive Jesus’ abundant forgiveness and love and let His love and forgiveness flow abundantly from you to the world. On the first Maundy Thursday John 13:34 (ESV) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

Come to the altar of the Lord and receive the Body and Blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of yours sins and to remember Jesus’ promise to you in the new covenant, the new testament in His blood begun that first Maundy Thursday. You are blessed in the new covenant. Jesus forgives your iniquity and remembers your sin no more. Amen.

Posted on April 13, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

The Most Important Week Ever

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Palm Sunday
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
April 13, 2025
Luke 19:28-40

Sometimes days go by quickly and uneventfully and it is hard to believe that another week has gone by and nothing important really happened. Jesus’ week in Jerusalem is not that kind of a week. On Sunday, as Jesus rides a donkey colt down the Mount of Olives and into Jerusalem He is beginning a monumental week — the most important week in the history of the world.

Jesus has been moving toward Jerusalem for a long while with crowds following Him to receive healing and authoritative teaching. Accounts of Jesus’ miracles and teaching have spread throughout Israel and the surrounding countries. Everyone has heard about this teacher from Galilee who can do things that only God can do. This should bring great joy and excitement, but the local religious leaders are very focused on their own rules and their power and authority. Jesus purposely performs miracles on the Sabbath and this enrages the Scribes and Pharisees. The tension between Jesus and the religious leaders has grown intense, especially so after Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead just outside Jerusalem. The whole world is going after Jesus.

Now the time has come for Jesus to enter Jerusalem. He instructs His disciples to get a donkey colt and they are able to find the colt and bring it to Jesus, just as He said. Some throw their cloaks onto the colt and Jesus begins His journey down the Mount of Olives. The little parade must look a bit silly; a full grown man astride a small donkey. The King is coming into the Holy City, but He is not coming in power and might…He is coming in peace and gentleness.

Jerusalem is crowded with Passover pilgrims and they hear Jesus is coming into the city. This causes a great commotion as people rush toward the Mount of Olives to greet Him. Some cut palm branches and wave them in welcome, others lay palms on the road, still others lay their cloaks on the road. The gathered multitude cries out, John 12:13 (ESV) 13 … “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” Hosanna means help us, save us! Indeed, the King is coming into the city to save His people. Hosanna!

On that Sunday, Jesus enters the city and moves onto the temple mount. There He clears the temple of those who are changing money and selling animals for sacrifice…thus ratcheting up the tension with the Jewish leaders even more. The next three days Jesus travels into the city each day from the Mount of Olives to teach at the Temple. The Jewish leaders desperately want to arrest and silence Jesus, but they do not want to do it in front of the crowds because they fear the people will riot. So instead, they try to trap Jesus in His words and teachings, but they find that their traps are no match for the one called King of the Jews.

The frustrated religious leaders continue to look for a way to get rid of Jesus when an opportunity comes to them through the help of the devil. Luke 22:3–6 (ESV) 3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.”

On Thursday, Jesus tells the disciples how to find a room for the Passover dinner and it is exactly as He says, and there, in the upper room, they prepare the Passover. During and after the meal Jesus transforms the Passover into Holy Communion. The annual celebration of salvation through the blood of a lamb painted on the doorposts and lintel in Egypt becomes the weekly celebration of salvation through the body and blood of the Lamb of God soon to be sacrificed on the cross.

In John’s account of the Last Supper we see Jesus wash the disciples’ feet to show his love and service to His followers and how we are to love and serve one another. After the Passover meal, Jesus and His disciples walk down across the Kidron Valley to Gethsemane which means “olive press” in Hebrew. There, Jesus takes Peter, James and John and heads deeper into the olive grove, then leaving those three; Jesus goes a little further to pray by Himself pressured by the weight of knowing what is going to happen over the next 18 hours. He prays… Luke 22:42 (ESV) 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

As Jesus is praying, Judas leads an armed group to Gethsemane to arrest Jesus under the cover of darkness away from the crowds. The disciples try to defend Jesus. Peter draws a sword and strikes off the ear of one of those who came to arrest Jesus, but Jesus stops the fighting and heals the man’s ear. Jesus is seized and taken back across the Kidron Valley and up to the high priest’s house for a late night show trial, and a time to be able to abuse and mock Jesus away from the crowds.

In the morning they take Jesus to the governor, Pontius Pilate. Pilate has no interest in executing Jesus, but has less interest in a riot. Jesus is flogged and mocked and crowned with thorns and led off to be crucified.

Jesus’ joyous, Sunday palm procession down the Mount of Olives with a donkey colt carrying Jesus, now, on Friday, becomes a horrifying, cruel, heartbreaking procession to Golgotha with Jesus carrying the cross on which He will die.

Rather than shouts of “Hosanna! Save us!” now it is mocking shouts of “save yourself!, if you are the King of the Jews.” Jesus is crucified and dies and is taken down from the cross and laid in a tomb to rest on the Sabbath day to await the 8th day, the first day of the week, the day of new beginnings for all time.

Jesus’ journey is not just that one week, or even His 33 years on earth. Jesus’ journey down the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem begins in eternity — before the creation of the world — it continues at creation…in wrestling with Jacob…in the burning bush…the pillar of cloud and fire…in the fiery furnace. The journey takes on flesh in Nazareth and continues to Bethlehem and the Jordan River and Galilee, to the cross and tomb in Jerusalem which seems like the end, but the journey continues from the empty tomb to the ascension from the Mount of Olives. It is a journey that Jesus has been on from the beginning and it is a journey that continues today as we walk, with Christ, awaiting His return on the Last Day to raise the dead and take us to be with Him at the wedding feast of the Lamb in His Kingdom. It is a journey from heaven before creation to eternity in the heavenly city where there will be… Revelation 7:9–10 (ESV) 9 … a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

On that first Palm Sunday, the people cried out, “Hosanna!” Save us! That week in Jerusalem Jesus accomplishes the salvation of the world. His Body, the Church, distributes this forgiveness of sins to those on the journey with Jesus to the Heavenly City — and invites everyone to follow Jesus.

Today you remember that first Palm Sunday by waving palm branches and singing out to Jesus, “Hosanna! Save us!” for you need Jesus’ forgiveness and salvation. As you hold the palm in your hand, also look forward to being a part of the multitude in white robes with palm branches for eternity with Jesus in the Heavenly City.

You are on an eternal journey with Jesus. That week in Jerusalem changed everything. Amen.

Posted on March 30, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

The Prodigal Father and Son

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Lent 4 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
March 30, 2025
Isaiah 12:1-6, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

It is the bottom of the ninth, two outs, the visitors are up by one run and the home team has runners on second and third. The batter swings and hits a hard grounder straight to the star short stop. He is a super talented ballplayer… and he knows it. He sees the ball coming…he struts and showboats a bit and leans over to scoop up the ball and throw it to first to end the game. Easy peasy. Except with all the strutting and showboating he does not get his glove down far enough and the ball shoots between his legs, under his mitt and into the outfield. The runners on second and third both score and the home team has the victory. The next few games the star short stop rides the pine in the dugout and he is miserable. His pride cost the team a victory and the coached benched him. What does he need to do to earn a second chance?

The younger son in the parable of the prodigal son has done more than just mess up a play during a baseball game. The son did the unthinkable. He basically said to his father, “I wish you were dead, now, so I could have my inheritance.” Then the father did the unthinkable, he divided up his estate between his two sons, likely with the older son getting two-thirds and the younger son getting one-third. The father is reckless with his estate, giving away one third to his undeserving younger son. This parable is called the parable of the prodigal son. What does prodigal mean? It means wastefully or recklessly extravagant, or very generous; lavish. This teaching should probably be called the Parable of the Prodigal Father and Son. The father is recklessly extravagant in giving the younger son one third of the estate. The son is reckless in selling off the land and squandering it on wild living in a far country.

The problem with recklessly extravagant spending is that that you have a finite amount of money and it will run out. That is what happens to the younger son. He runs out of cash, and runs out of options, and finds himself caught in a famine at the mercy of a tightfisted pig farmer who takes advantage of the younger son’s precarious situation.

The once prosperous Jewish boy is flat broke feeding unclean pigs without even receiving a payment of food. The young man who once feasted sumptuously is now jealous of the pigs’ scavenged pods.

In desperation, he comes up with a plan. He is starving here, but back home his father’s servants have plenty to eat. The son has a start of repentance. Repentance is to have a change of heart; to turn from sin and turn back to God. The son has a change of his stubborn heart enough to know he needs to turn from starvation and return to his father. He formulates his confession to his father. Luke 15:18–19 (ESV) 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’

The proud, reckless son is admitting that he is the cause of his own circumstances and he has sinned against his father and God. He is no longer worthy to be called a son. He is a true outcast like the tax collectors and sinners that concern the Pharisees and Scribes at the beginning of our reading.

The son’s repentance is typical of the way repentance is thought of by Jewish teachers of his time. His repentance does not rely on the grace of his father, but rather, his repentance includes reparations and atonement. The son will work his way back into his father’s good graces. The son wants to know, “What do I need to do to get a second chance?” He is not going to rely on his father’s grace; he will save himself through his work. He will be able to maintain some amount of freedom and independence, some dignity. He will be living and working with the servants who may despise him, but at least he will get a second chance. He will maintain his pride. And so the son heads home.

The son never gets to execute his plan to earn a second chance. Luke 15:20 (ESV) 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”

The father is prodigal with his love for his lost son. He runs to his son and running is not something a respectable man does. He embraces his son and kisses him before the son has a chance to say anything. The father restores their relationship out of pure grace. The son does not have to say anything or do anything to be restored.

The son now shows his complete repentance. His confession is no longer a face-saving conditional repentance where the son will make reparations. Now the confession is true repentance, Luke 15:21 (ESV) 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” Notice what is missing. There is no offer to be a servant.

In the son’s repentance, there is no freedom for him, no independence, no dignity, no pride, just utter dependence on his father’s grace. There are no reparations from the son, only pure grace and restoration from his father. And this is not done privately, just between father and son. The father announces it publicly to the servants by having them adorn the son with the finest clothes and jewelry, and then he announces the restoration to the whole community by killing the fattened calf and throwing a huge feast.

The feast is what makes the older son really angry as he returns from the fields to the sound of music and dancing. The Pharisees and scribes grumble about Jesus eating with sinners. The older son refuses to eat with his sinful brother. The younger son represents the repentant tax collectors and sinners received into fellowship with Jesus at His table. The older son resents the feast. He resents the father’s celebrating because… Luke 15:24 (ESV) 24 … my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’…” The older son resents the feast because the younger son has not earned it.

The older son views himself not as the eldest son and heir to whom the whole estate belongs, but rather as a servant valued only for his work. He thinks the father only values him as a worker. He believes that he pleases his father through work, the same way the younger son hoped to find restoration through reparations. The older son represents all the Jewish religious leaders who believe that repentance is about reparations; that repentance is about what you need to do to deserve a second chance. And so we leave the older son outside, refusing to go in to the feast. Does he ever repent of resenting his father’s grace? We are not told. It is still a struggle for people today to believe that repentance is not about what you will do to deserve a second chance; it is about the grace of God earned by the blood of Jesus.

When you find yourself caught up in sin and far away from God, be the younger son. Joel 2:13 (ESV) 13 …Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love…” Repent and take your place at the table of the Lord.

At the beginning of our service you declared that you are unworthy… and your Father in heaven embraced you with His love and welcomed you once again. You have been forgiven by your Prodigal Father in heaven and invited to the feast where you receive the Body and Blood of the sacrificial Lamb, Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus pours out forgiveness on you over and over and over in abundance. He is recklessly extravagant in giving out forgiveness. It cost Him everything on the altar of the cross but now He has an unlimited fountain of goodness and grace. Live in the love and forgiveness of Jesus. Walk in the commands of the Lord. Be the light of Christ. Continue to turn from sin and return to God. God is prodigal, He has no shortage of grace. Repent and come to the Lord’s Table. Amen.

Posted on March 23, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

Godly response to deadly tragedy

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Lent 3 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
March 23, 2025
Ezekiel 33:7-20, 1 Cor. 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9

It seems like the TV news often has information about people who have died and suggestions of what you can do so that you do not die. When I hear a story of someone who has perished I almost automatically look for reasons that what happened to them could never happen to me. They were on a motorcycle and I don’t ride one. They were out very late at night in a dangerous area and I don’t go out late at night. They were 90 some years old and I am not. They were driving along minding their own business…..They were in their 50s … I really like to think that I am not going to die, but I have heard that I may be just fooling myself.

In our Gospel reading today Jesus is told about some people from Galilee who were killed in the temple by Pilate. The people telling Jesus may be wondering, why did God allow something so evil to happen to people who were just doing what God commanded. Or, maybe they are wondering, what did these Galileans do to deserve to die in this way. Jesus…Luke 13:2–3 (ESV) 2 … answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

And lest the people of Jerusalem think that Galileans are more deserving of God’s wrath than the Judeans, Jesus brings up a tragedy in Jerusalem… Luke 13:4–5 (ESV) 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Jesus does not want the people to turn their focus to trying to understand God’s motives. Jesus wants the people to examine themselves.

Don’t worry about why God let this happen, worry about yourself. Are you ready to die? The harsh news of this Gospel reading is that if you sin, you will die…and if you don’t sin, you will die.

When you hear about a tragic event, don’t use it as an opportunity to examine God, but rather use it as a wake-up call for you to examine your own life. What if it were me? Am I ready to meet my maker? Use the tragedy as a reminder to repent; to turn away from sin and turn back to God. Don’t be concerned about why God is doing something. Rather, be concerned about what you are doing.

In all our readings today we see that God takes sin seriously. In Ezekiel the Lord tells the prophet that He has made him a watchman for the house of Israel and he needs to warn the wicked of their wicked ways. In our epistle reading, St. Paul reminds the Corinthians that after rescuing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt God still punished them for idolatry and sexual immorality and for testing God and grumbling against God. God takes sin seriously. 1 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV) 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

You are a baptized follower of Jesus living in a world that hates Jesus. The devil desperately wants to drag you into a life of unrepentant sin. Stay aware, and, in an ongoing way, as a humble disciple of Christ, be brutally honest about your status before God. Admit you are by nature sinful and unclean. Struggle against sin. Battle against sin in your thoughts…. before they become sins of word and deed. Do not let unrepentant sin creep into your life. Do not set up a lifestyle where you love sin more than you love God.

The temptations for the Israelites wandering in the desert are the same very real temptations today. In this land of abundance there is a great temptation to idolatry; to fear, love and trust money and possessions more than God. In this nation, sexual immorality is considered normal behavior and Christians are sorely tempted to follow the ways of the world and engage in intimacy outside the bonds of marriage. Testing God and grumbling against God is common and it is easy to fall into a life of complaint and discontent. We forget, 1 Timothy 6:6–7 (ESV) 6 …godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.”

The devil wants to keep you discontent and to ignore what God says and forget about His promises. And so you resist the devil. You gather together this morning to hear God’s promises once again. You know that God has promised to cover your sins with the robe of Jesus’ righteousness. You heard Jesus’ words to you again this morning, “I forgive you all your sins.” It is true and you can believe it. God takes sin so seriously that He sent His Son to die for you. While you were a sinner Christ died for you and rose for you. Jesus loves you, this you know, for the Bible tells you so.

In the second half of our Gospel lesson today Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree. Here we see Jesus’ long-suffering compassion on His people. The vineyard owner has a fig tree that is not producing fruit and orders the tree to be cut down so it does not use up the ground. The vinedresser protects the fruitless fig tree. Luke 13:8–9 (ESV) 8 …‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

Jesus is the vinedresser buying the fruitless tree another year. A little more time. A sinner gets a little more time to repent. Jesus will cultivate and fertilize the tree and give the tree every opportunity to bear fruit. Will there be fruit the next year? Will there be repentance before the final judgment?

Are you ready for the judgment day? Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Battle each day against the devil, the world and your own sinful desires. Do not make excuses for your sin, do not rationalize your sin, do not compare your sin against someone else. Repent. Repent means a change of heart. Repentance is making a U-turn. Turning away from sin and turning back to Jesus. Listen to Jesus, believe His promises and do what He says. Do not resist the Holy Spirit, but let the fruit of the Spirit abound, Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV) 22 … love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control…”

Jesus is God in flesh, begotten of the Father from eternity and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus has given His life to save you. He loves you so much He suffered the humiliation and pain of death by crucifixion. He drank the cup of God’s wrath to free you from your sin. He lifts you up out of the muck and mire of your sin and washes you clean and says, “follow me.” Repent. Turn from sin and turn back to God. Turn from death and return to life with Jesus.

St. Paul encourages those in the church at Ephesus… Ephesians 4:22–24 (ESV) 22 … to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Today’s readings are a stern warning about the seriousness of sin. They are a call to continue to stay alert against the lies of the devil. To be vigilant and not allow the busyness of life and the deceitfulness of wealth to choke out the Word of God. To remain on guard against letting the desires of your own sinful nature become your guide, rather than God’s commands.

Do not give in to the devil’s seduction that your sin is too great for Jesus to forgive. The great deceiver wants you to despair; to give up hope and just sink into sin and celebrate it. But that is not who you are. Repent. You are a child of the most high God, adopted in the waters of Holy Baptism. You are grafted into the vine of Christ. You are ready to meet your maker. Abide in Christ. Amen.

Posted on March 16, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

Mother Hen

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Lent 2 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
March 16, 2025
Jer. 26:8-15, Phil. 3:17-4:1, Luke 13:31-35

It is a normal day in the farm yard as chickens peck the ground and chicks run around like cute little yellow fuzz balls with legs. Just then a dark shadow slides across the ground. The rooster crows and the mother hen scurries around trying to corral her chicks. The shadow slides back and forth ominously. The soaring hawk has seen the chicks and is looking to make lunch of one of those cute, little, fuzz balls. Most of the chicks, sensing their mother’s distress and hearing her alarmed clucking, run to mom and nestle under her wings. Snuggled under her wings they are safe. Mother hen puts her body between her chicks and the hawk. Her body is a shield for the helpless little ones. One chick, however, does not seek shelter. One chick declares he is a brave little chick. He isn’t afraid of some shadow on the ground. He will be just fine on his own. He is good enough, he is smart enough and he is strong enough all by himself. The chick thinks he knows what he is doing, but he looks ridiculous — a helpless, fuzzy little chick strutting confidently around the yard unafraid of the circling hawk.

In a flash of feathers the hawk dives and grabs the chick in its talons and flies away to find a place to eat. All that is left of the brave little chick is a little fuzzy yellow down blowing around in the dirt. The chicks sheltered under their mother’s wings are safe, and as mother hen’s heart rate slows to normal the other chicks start to peak out from under their mother’s wings.

Jesus is on his way toward Jerusalem passing through the territory of Herod Antipas along the Jordan River just north of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus earlier foretold his death, Luke 9:22 (ESV) 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” At Jesus’ transfiguration Moses and Elijah talk with Him about His departure which would happen in Jerusalem. Then Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem and is now on His way with His disciples teaching along the way and in the Synagogues on the Sabbath.

While He is teaching and journeying some Pharisees warn Jesus, Luke 13:31 (ESV) 31 … “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” We can’t be sure if the Pharisees were genuinely concerned for Jesus’ safety, or if they just wanted Him out of their territory, but Jesus responds defiantly, Luke 13:32 (ESV) 32 … “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.”

But Jesus is actually not planning to stay in the area so He continues, Luke 13:33 (ESV) 33 Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’

Jerusalem…Jesus turns His thoughts and His heart to Jerusalem which means, city of peace, Jeru – Shalom, but it is hardly that. Jesus laments, Luke 13:34 (ESV) 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!” The stone pavement of Jerusalem is stained with the blood of prophets. Tradition holds that Isaiah was sawn in two in Jerusalem by King Manasseh. Zechariah was stoned to death in the temple court for criticizing King Jehoash. The prophet Uriah was killed by the sword of King Jehoiakim during the time of Jeremiah. And now Jesus — prophet, priest and king — is going to Jerusalem to die. It would be natural for Jesus to hate the people of Jerusalem for what they are going to do to Him, but His compassion shines through. Jesus wants to protect the people of Jerusalem. “…How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

I am not sure how frustration works with God in flesh, but it seems like it must be incredibly frustrating for Jesus. He is coming to the great city of Jerusalem to give Himself for the people, and the people will reject Him, arrest him, and cry out to crucify him. Jesus is ready to cover everyone with the robe of His forgiveness and righteousness to protect them from the evil one, but the people strut around like proud little chicks thinking they are good enough and strong enough and smart enough. They reject the protection Jesus offers because they think they don’t need a savior.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Jesus laments the rebellious disobedience of the Holy City, but He does not turn away. He continues on His way, Luke 13:33 (ESV) 33 …for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’

Despite the frustration, despite lamenting over Jerusalem, Jesus continues on His way to finish His course all the way to the cross and the tomb and the Sunday resurrection. Despite their proud strutting, Jesus does not give up on the people of Jerusalem… and Jesus does not give up on you.

How many times has Jesus lamented over your sin and rebelliousness? How many times have you strutted around like a proud little chick acting like you don’t need Jesus’ protection because you are good enough and strong enough and smart enough and you’re not afraid of the evil one? How many times has Jesus lamented over your sin and then continued to offer you His Body and Blood to forgive and cover all of your sins.

Despite opposition and rebellion, Jesus stays the course all the way to the cross. Jesus stretches His arms over you on the cross at Golgotha. He offers you protection under His wings. Psalm 91:1–6 (ESV) 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty…. 4 He will cover you with his [feathers], and under his wings you will find refuge….”

You need refuge in Jesus. As a baptized child of God the devil is targeting you. Like a hawk seeking to snatch a helpless little chick, the devil prowls like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Stay protected in Jesus. Jesus has ascended into heaven but He has not left you alone. The Church is the Body of Christ. The Church gives you shelter from the storms of life and from the evil one himself. Jesus gives you the Holy Spirit delivered to you in the water and word of Holy Baptism and in the truth of God’s Word. The Church delivers to you the truth of your forgiveness in Jesus. The Church pours out on you the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. United in the one Spirit, under the protection of the Body of Christ, you are safe for eternity.

Despite the temptation to strut around through life proudly and independently declaring you are good enough and strong enough and smart enough, you instead, each week, come here and humble yourself by kneeling before the Lord and confessing that you are not good enough, you are not strong enough, you are not smart enough. You give up the ridiculous strutting of a proud baby chick and you tuck yourself safely under the protective wing of your savior — who has given His all for you. Amen. –

Posted on March 2, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

Listen to Jesus, Do What He Says

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Transfiguration 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
March 2, 2025
Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Hebrews 3:1-6, Luke 9:28-36

All four of my kids have worked at the same pizza place over the years with Caleb starting right after his 16th birthday in 2006 and Rebecca continuing to this day with just a brief pause during Covid. When each of them started working I gave them the same advice. “Show up on time, and do what they tell you to do.” Simple enough. Do what the boss tells you to do.

That is good advice for children with their parents. Kids, just listen to your parents and do what they tell you to do. Easy? Right? Why are you looking at each other like that? Listen and do. It shouldn’t be hard to just do what they say, the first time, without a fuss…and yet it is.

Jesus is having this same issue with his disciples and the crowds in the Gospel of Luke. At the end of the Sermon on the Plain Jesus asks, Luke 6:46 (ESV) 46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”

This is a good question that we can each ask ourselves on behalf of Jesus as we prepare to enter the season of Lent. “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”

Jesus continues, Luke 6:47–49 (ESV) 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” If you hear Jesus’ words and do them…on Christ the solid rock you stand.

The first Sunday after Epiphany we remembered the Baptism of Our Lord. Jesus goes to John the Baptist down at the Jordan River. And it is an epic beginning to answering the questions, “Who is Jesus? And, “What has He come to do?” Luke 3:21–22 (ESV) 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Who is Jesus of Nazareth? He is the Son of God. Jesus shows this throughout His ministry. He goes to Nazareth and announces at the synagogue that He is fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. He heals the sick and drives out demons. He gives the disciples He is calling a miraculous catch of fish. He cleanses lepers and heals people who are paralyzed. He heals a Roman centurion’s servant without even seeing him. He raises a young man from the dead in Nain. He heals great crowds of people. He feeds 5,000 plus with five loaves and two fish. He is doing things that only God could do. Jesus is God in flesh.

He teaches the people the parable of the sower and the seeds. Luke 8:14–15 (ESV) 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Jesus continues, Luke 8:18 (ESV) 18 Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

Take care how you hear. What incredible advice from Jesus given during a time which was utterly quiet compared to now. There were no radios, no podcasts, no recorded music, no giant billboards, no television, no smart phones, no internet and still Jesus warns, “Take care how you hear.” Today there are so many voices vying for your attention and your time. It takes great intention to turn off all of the voices in order to listen to Jesus. Take care how you hear.

What would it be like to be in Jesus’ family? But who does Jesus say is His family? Luke 8:19–21 (ESV) 19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” You who hear the word of God and do it are Jesus’ family.

Hear the word of God and do it. But just what does Jesus say? Jesus has some difficult sayings as we heard last week, Luke 6:27–28 (ESV) 27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”

After feeding the 5,000 Jesus has some heavy back and forth with the disciples. Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ of God and then Jesus tells the disciples, Luke 9:22 (ESV) 22 … “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

And then…Luke 9:23–25 (ESV) 23 …[Jesus] said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” These are difficult teachings. These are teachings that the disciples have trouble hearing. They are still worried about which of them is the greatest.

And then eight days later, Jesus takes Peter, James and John up on a high mountain and Jesus is transfigured before them becoming dazzling white, and Elijah and Moses appear with Jesus. A cloud overshadows them… Luke 9:35 (ESV) 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

Who is Jesus? And what did He come to do? Jesus is the Son of God. He is God in flesh. He is the fulfillment of prophecy. He is the perfect, final offering for the sin of the world. He will be sacrificed on the cross and rise again from the dead to conquer death. He is the Lord. He is King of everything. The Kingdom of heaven is near because Jesus is King.

Is Jesus God? Yes. Does He have authority? Yes. Should you listen to Him? Yes.

Listen to Jesus and do what He says to do. It is so simple and straightforward and yet so difficult.

It is certainly tempting to not listen to Jesus. It is tempting to reject Jesus’ lordship and be your own boss, and do things your way. It is so easy to be acting with God like a little child rebelling against his parents in a futile attempt to take control. Parents are not going to give up control, and yet children will throw temper tantrums trying to get their way. God is not going to give up being God because humans get grumpy. As the Lord teaches in Psalm 46:10 (ESV) 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. …”

Be still. Take time each day to unplug from the noise of the world and be in God’s Word and hear Jesus. Retreat from the cacophony of voices surrounding you, turn off the noise, and set apart some time to listen to Jesus. This is difficult. I know this is hard for me. It is hard for me to take quiet time alone to read and meditate upon God’s Word. There is a constant nagging to get finished and move on to the next thing. A constant temptation to check my phone, think about something else. There is always something else to do. I find myself being a Martha, running around doing things, instead of Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to Him.

Carefully listening to Jesus really needs to be planned and deliberate. Take care how you hear. Set aside quiet time each day to pray and read and listen to God’s word. Learn again that Jesus has paid the price for your sin. Gather together here each week to listen to the Word of God read and preached and sung. Come to a Bible study to dig more deeply into scripture. Listen to Jesus.

Listen to Jesus. And if Jesus says something that you disagree with…know that Jesus is right. This is humbling and liberating. To know that God’s Word trumps your own ideas frees you from trying to mold and shape God to fit your ever-changing thoughts and ideas. It keeps you from being… James 1:6 (ESV) 6 …like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” As a baptized follower of Jesus who struggles with sin and temptation, listen to Jesus because He has the words of eternal life.

To listen to Jesus and do what He says gives you freedom within the limits of God’s law. To live in the Kingdom of God under the reign of the Lord Jesus gives you blessed assurance that you belong to Jesus and you are God’s treasured possession. He has set you apart for eternal life with Him. Listening to Jesus and doing what He says is an act of worship acknowledging that Jesus is Lord and Savior.

To show up on time and do what they tell you to do is good advice for work. To hear Jesus’ words and do them is God’s command for His followers. As we come to the end of the Epiphany season we have answered the questions, “Who is Jesus?” He is the Son of God, Immanuel, God with us. “What did He come to do?” Jesus comes to be the perfect final sacrifice for your sin. Jesus is your Lord. Jesus is your Savior. He has forgiven you all your sins. Listen to Jesus. Amen.

Posted on February 23, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

Life in the Overlap

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Epiphany 7 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
February 23, 2025
Genesis 45:3-15, 1 Corinthians 15:21-26, 30-42, Luke 6:27-38

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Venn diagrams can be an interesting way to analyze information. These items belong in one set. These items belong in another set. These are the characteristics that both groups share.

The whole human population can be broken down into two sets; sinners and perfect people. Who goes into the sinner category? Adam? Yes. Eve? Yes. All of their children and grandchildren? Me? You? Yes. Who goes into the Perfect category? Well, actually one of Adam and Eve’s great, great grandchildren. Jesus of Nazareth. He is in the perfect category. Two sets, one with all humanity minus one and the other set with Jesus.

But here is where it gets interesting. The two circles overlap. Many folks are only in the sinner category and Jesus is only in the Perfect category, but there are many people in the area of overlap. They are both sinners and perfect.

How does that work? These are sinners who believe in Jesus to whom Jesus has given His perfection and declared them to be holy. These people are both sinners and saints at the same time. You are in this overlap. As a baptized child of God, as a follower of Jesus, you are in the area of overlap. You are a sinner, but you have been declared to be holy and perfect and you are safe from the coming judgment on the Last Day.

The strange thing about being in this area of overlap is that you can become more aware of your sins than those who are in the sinner area alone. The more you learn about God’s law, the more sinful you realize that you are — knowing you sin in thought, word and deed. This makes you increasingly grateful for all that Jesus has done for you.

There is a danger in the area of overlap. The devil will try to convince you that you did something to earn your place in the overlap. He wants you to forget that you are a sinner who deserves condemnation and start to believe that you are good enough. He will tempt you to believe you are so much better than the sinners you are not in the overlap.

This is what Jesus is warning about in our Gospel reading today. When thinking about sin it is our natural tendency to think about other people’s sins rather than to look at our own, and to think their sin is so much worse than ours.

It is spiritually healthy to remember who you are in the overlap of saint and sinner. You are a sinner redeemed by Jesus. Beginning worship each week with the confession of sins keeps you grounded. Being a saint is not from you, but is purely a gift of God though the blood of Jesus.

Now, in the set of sinners who are not also in the overlap area of perfection there is a large subset of people who think they are good enough. These are those who think they are autonomous and just make up and adjust their own rules to live by. It is also those who follow false religions which teach that you can be good enough through your own actions. And it is those who trust in their good works rather than trusting in Jesus. Everyone in this subset of thinking they are good enough is mistaken. They have been misled. They are not good enough and are in danger from the coming judgment when Jesus returns.

No one in the set of sinners is good enough. Those in the overlap with perfection know that they are not good enough, but have been given the gift of forgiveness, holiness and perfection by the Lord Jesus, and they follow Jesus because He is the font and source of eternal life. Those in the overlap are marked with the blood of the Lamb which protects them now, and on the Day of Judgment.

You know you are in the overlap of saint and sinner. You know you are by nature sinful and unclean and you know you justly deserve God’s present and eternal punishment. You know that God has had great mercy and grace upon you and given you forgiveness and eternal life. You are safe from the coming judgment. You also know that those outside the overlap are in grave danger when the judgment comes.

There is a disaster looming and there is ready protection against the disaster. Picture for a moment a building full of people. You know there is a looming disaster which will destroy the building and everyone inside. You know there is safety on the other side of a doorway. How do to let people know about the doorway to safety? It is difficult when people do not sense the danger, they will think you are just acting crazy.

It can be like this in the world and worse. You know that everyone in the set of sinners deserves the judgment and condemnation of God. You know there is protection in the Kingdom of God, under the reign of Jesus, in the overlap of Saint and Sinner. You try to warn people of the pending disaster and have them come to safety. The problem is that so many are in the subset of those who think they are good enough.

You try to warn them, “Repent and believe Jesus died for you and rose to give you eternal life,” and too often the response is, “Whoa…what was that first word? Repent? Are you saying that I have something to repent of? Don’t you know your Bible? Luke 6:37 (ESV) 37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged…” It is a frustrating place to be for you. In love you want to warn of the impeding danger for all people in the set of sinners, including yourself, but they are hearing it as you being judgmental. And certainly there are those all about judgment and not about love and it is easy to fall into judgment and condemnation rather than compassion and patience and love. This is also what Jesus is warning about in the Gospel reading today. So, how can you make them understand the danger and see the path to safety?

A lot of that is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Lord wants all people to be saved but many resist the Holy Spirit and refuse to repent of their sins. So what do you do? Be the light. Many in the “think they are good enough” subset actually have doubts that they really are good enough. They are honest enough with themselves to be troubled. They are looking for something. So, take time to listen to people. Listen to their stories. Listen to their hurts. It is hard living outside the overlap of saint and sinner not knowing who you are or what you are supposed to do. Listen with the sympathy and empathy of a fellow sinner and invite them to come with you to this place where we admit the awful truth that we are sinners and we hear the amazing good news that Jesus forgives our sins.

Now, in the world you will encounter those who hate Jesus and hate you because of Jesus. Jesus teaches, Luke 6:27–28 (ESV) 27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”

This is a high and difficult calling. It is a call to not respond instinctually to insults and hurts, but to respond like Jesus.

Last week there was a hockey game with the U.S. against Canada. The Canadian fans booed the playing of the Star Spangled Banner and so when the hockey match began three American players started fights with the Canadians. “If you boo our national anthem we will make you pay — with our fists.” That is, I guess, the way of hockey. That is the way of the world. But that is not the way of Jesus.

We naturally want to be aggressive and decisive and demanding and vengeful, but that is not Jesus’ way. Jesus’ way is mercy and compassion. Jesus has great mercy and compassion on you. You deserve His present and eternal punishment, but He patiently gives you forgiveness — over and over and over. He never endorses or encourages sin, but He patiently loves you, forgives you and calls you to follow Him.

As you deal with those who are in the subset of thinking they are good enough, speak the truth in love. Don’t pretend that they are not in the set of sinners. Don’t pretend they really are good enough. But listen. Listen to their hurt. Walk with them in love and compassion. Be a beacon of hope. Be the light of the world. Let the love of Christ shine through you. And as we learn in…1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) 15 … in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…”

When the time is right, gently tell them that the whole set of sinners faces judgment on the last day, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Let them know there is still time to take shelter in the grace of the Lord Jesus. Without endorsing sin, have compassion on those struggling with sin because you are a fellow sinner… struggling with sin… and Jesus has compassion on you. Be patient with those caught up in sin because Jesus is patient with you. Offer Jesus’ grace and mercy to others even though they don’t deserve it because Jesus gives grace and mercy to you even though you don’t deserve it. Judge not because you are not the judge. Condemn not because that is not given to you to do, but share that Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father except through Him.

Love others with the reckless love of Jesus. This is radically countercultural, so rebel against culture. Love like Jesus. Love others like Jesus loves you. Amen.

Posted on February 16, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

Cursed or Blessed

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Epiphany 6 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
February 16, 2025
Jeremiah 17:5-8, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Luke 6:17-26

Jeannette and I recently were able to travel to the Big Island of Hawaii and stay with a pastor there who provides a free apartment and car for church workers as a part of his ministry. The place we stayed was in Waikoloa Village about 10 miles uphill from the ocean on the Northwest side of the Big Island. Near where we stayed was a special evacuation route leading down the hill toward the ocean. We were confused. In beach towns and in Florida, evacuation routes lead away from the water. When I asked, I discovered up there on the side of a volcano the danger is not from water, but fire. The area around the village is scrub brush and grass trying to grow on the old lava fields. It is a sharp contrast against the beautiful, green, flowering, lush landscaping in the village. What makes the difference? Water. In the village everything is watered. An hour drive north over a mountain brought us into a lush rainforest area of the island with magnificent waterfalls. One area of the island is basically a desert, 30 miles away… a rainforest, what is the difference? Water.

In our Old Testament reading from Jeremiah we have curses and blessings. Jeremiah is a prophet of God during the final days of Jerusalem before its fall to the Babylonians in 586 BC. Jeremiah gives advice to King Zedekiah who was made king by the Babylonia king Nebuchadnezzar. But despite being under the control of Babylon, Zedekiah rejects Jeremiah’s advice to repent, trust God, and endure the time under Babylonian control. Instead, Zedekiah allies Judah with Egypt and rebels against Babylon which leads to a brutal 30 month siege of Jerusalem and the complete destruction of the city and temple.

Zedekiah refuses to repent of worshipping false Gods…of trusting in Egypt…of trusting in his own strength. The curses in our reading today are directed toward Zedekiah. Jeremiah 17:5 (ESV) 5 Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.”

The curse continues. Jeremiah 17:6 (ESV) 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.” The desert shrub is spiritually brittle. Heat and drought can kill it because it has no reserves. It is tinder dry and is very susceptible to fire.

In contrast, Jeremiah 17:7–8 (ESV) 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

What a contrast; a dry shrub barely holding on in the parched, barren desert, or a flourishing evergreen tree that does not fear heat or drought and produces good fruit. What is the difference? Water.

Which would you rather be? A dried up shrub on the verge of death, or a lush evergreen? What is the difference? The Lord, YHWH. Do you delight in ways of man, or do you delight in ways of God?

You, baptized child of God, are a lush evergreen. You are rooted to the living waters of God through Jesus Christ. You have the living water of Jesus flowing through you.

You are a lush evergreen, but this was not always the case. You were born a desert shrub, brittle and vulnerable. The great gardener came to you and washed you with the waters of baptism and took you out of the parched desert and transplanted you next to the water so your roots are in the stream. He separated you from the multitude of unbelievers and keeps you safe and secure and well-watered in the holy ark of the Christian Church. Through the Church you are connected to the living water of God and this makes you spiritually resilient. You trust in God. You trust in God’s law. You bear the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22 (ESV) 22 … love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…”

Jeremiah teaches about the great divide in the world. There are those who trust in man and those who trust in God. In baptism you renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways. You fear, love and trust in God instead of the devil, the world and your own sinful desires.

We learn more about this in Psalm 1 (ESV) 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

There is even more given in our reading from Luke 6 where Jesus teaches that those who are focused on spiritual things and live in anticipation of eternal life with the Lord are blessed. Woe to those whose delight is in the things of this world and who are loved by the world because they practice the ways of the world. Luke 6:22 (ESV) 22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Luke 6:26 (ESV) 26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”

Blessing or woe? Given the contrast, why would anyone think that being a desert shrub is better than being a lush evergreen? The devil lies to make it seem attractive to be a desert shrub. “Oh! The freedom, the fun, the excitement. You don’t want to be tied down to the living water of eternal life when you could be living your best life now. Why submit to God, when you can be like God?”

The devil is ruler of this world and he applies great pressure to adopt and celebrate the ways of the world; to trust in people instead of God so you can be celebrated by the other desert shrubs because you are one of them. If you find that you starting to fit in to the world, and are well loved by the world, that is a sign that you need to get back to the water of life. You need to trust in God rather than man.

The devil uses the same lies to try to “liberate” you from “slavery” to the Living Water of God that he used against Adam and Eve to “liberate” them from “slavery” in the Garden of Eden. “Did God really say?”

What does it mean to trust in God and trust in God’s law? It means you trust that God loves you and wants the best for you and that God’s law is good for you. Be a rebel, follow the Ten Commandments. It is quite counter cultural to delight in the will of God and walk in His ways. It offends the desert shrubs. The brittle, dry bushes are greatly offended by God and by God’s law. They reject God and want to silence anyone talking about Him. Or even more deviously they will create a self-serving idol that celebrates sin. They call the idol “God” and they pretend they are still Christians while rejecting God’s law.

The devil and the world look at being an evergreen… planted by living water… forgiven in the blood of Jesus… destined for eternal life with God…as slavery. Those who trust in man promote liberation; intellectual liberation, economic liberation, political liberation, sexual liberation, gender liberation, liberation from the authority of the Bible. They proclaim liberation but they are slaves to the devil and his lies. They are dried up shrubs in the desert.

The devil uses the same lies to try to “liberate” you from “slavery” to the Living Water of God that he used against Adam and Eve to “liberate” them from “slavery” in the Garden of Eden. “Did God really say?”

Even while planted by the streams of living water you still struggle with sin and temptation. You struggle, but you are connected to the living water which is the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. No one trusts perfectly, no one obeys perfectly, no one except Jesus and He gives His perfection to you. His grace flows into you through His Word and His Sacraments. You will face heat and drought in this life. Hard times will come. You will face hardship and grief and injury and sickness and death. But you will endure. You will spiritually thrive even in hard times of heat and drought. You will not dry up or be burned up because you have the living water of the truth of God. Jeremiah 17:7 (ESV) 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. Amen.