bible – Page 3 – From the Pulpit

Posted on June 22, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

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Pentecost 2 Proper 7 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
June 22, 2025
Isaiah 65:1-9, Galatians 3:23-4:7, Luke 8:26-39

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In a battle between you and the spiritual forces of darkness, who would win? In a battle between Jesus and the evil one, who would win? Today’s Gospel reading demonstrates Jesus’ power over demons. Jesus is God… and has power over everything. In the Gospels we see that Jesus has power over sickness, injury, the weather, even death. Today we see His power over the devil and his demons.

Jesus and His disciples cross the Sea of Galilee to a predominantly Gentile area. No sooner do they set foot on the shore than a demon-possessed man challenges them. This demon possession is pretty intense. The man lives among the dead, he wears no clothes, and the locals are unable to restrain him even with chains. Luke 8:28–29 (ESV) 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.”

Jesus shows His power over demons by talking with them. Although demons are the sworn enemies of God, they have no choice… they must answer Jesus. When Jesus asks “What is your name?” he answers, “Legion”, indicating the strength of the evil forces in this man. A legion is an army numbering in the thousands. Thousands of demons against one Jesus, but it wouldn’t make a difference if there were a billion demons; Jesus is Lord over everything and even the demons must obey Him.

When Jesus commands the demons to leave the man, they have no choice but to leave, the only question is where do they go. The demons ask to inhabit a nearby herd of pigs, but even for this they need Jesus’ permission. Jesus gives permission. The demons enter the pigs and the pigs promptly stampede into the lake and drown. After that we aren’t told what happens to the demons.

The swineherds have a predictable response at the drowning of their herd of pigs… they run away. They flee to a nearby city for help. When the city folk hear the news they go out to check out this pig-murdering Jesus fellow. This scene gives us a glimpse into the difference between people who are saved and people who are still enslaved by the devil.

The man who is now saved is sitting at Jesus’ feet; he is listening as Jesus teaches. The round trip to the city takes a little while, so the man who is now free of demons has had time for Bible class with Jesus. He cannot get enough of Jesus and wants to go along when Jesus returns across the lake.

The people arriving from the city are terrified of Jesus. They ask Him to leave. Like so many unbelievers today, the local people see Jesus as a problem … not as a savior.

Jesus complies with the people’s wishes. He departs, but He leaves a missionary behind. The man who is now demon free wants to go with Jesus, but Jesus leaves him there, saying, Luke 8:39 (ESV) 39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.”

When Jesus arrived, this man was full of demons and out of control. When Jesus departs, this man is commissioned a missionary to the people on the east side of the Sea of Galilee.

Demons are mysterious creatures. The Bible teaches us that demons are fallen angels. God created them sometime during the six days of creation along with all the other angels. Soon after the creation a group of angels rebelled against God and God condemned these angels to an eternity of punishment in the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Since demons are angels, they are spiritual beings; they do not have bodies and are not subject to the laws of the physical universe. Since demons are fallen angels, they are enemies of God.

The problem with having God as your enemy is that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and unlimited by time and space. Demons are God’s enemies but are still God’s creation, and cannot win against God in a direct attack. They must find some other way to express their hatred of God and the battlefield they have chosen… is you, a follower of Jesus. Revelation 12:17 (ESV) 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus…”

The demons’ main weapon against you is deception as Jesus says in, John 8:44 (ESV) 44… When [the devil] lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” It would be obvious if the devil appeared to you dressed in red body armor with horns and a pitch fork, smelling like burning Sulphur and demanding, “Follow me”. You would instantly know that this is the prince of darkness and you would flee. But the devil is clever. Knowing you are naturally sinful, demons present temptation in ways that make sense … ways that seem like the right thing to do … ways that have a certain beauty. As the Apostle Paul writes, 2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV) 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

In Eden, the devil uses a serpent to tempt Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit. “Did God actually say?” Eve and Adam fall to this deception and the temptation to want to be like God, and from then on, all of their descendants, every human being, inherits a sinful nature at conception.

The rite of baptism in the Lutheran Service Book states, “The Word of God also teaches that we are all conceived and born sinful and are under the power of the devil until Christ claims us as His own. We would be lost forever unless delivered from sin, death, and everlasting condemnation.” In baptism you renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways. You receive the Holy Spirit and you are set against the devil.

You are a baptized child of God and a follower of Jesus, but the demon’s lies and temptations can feel so right because you are, by nature, sinful and unclean. Instead of naturally loving God with all your mind, soul, and strength, you love yourself. This is why you cannot trust your feelings, but trust the Word of God.

Since demons deal in deception, they adapt their lies to the culture of any given time and place. Rationalism has had a profound effect on our culture. Many today do not believe demons even exist and that suits the demons just fine. It doesn’t bother them one bit if you don’t believe in them.

Folks are very concerned with outward appearances and trying to analyze people’s behavior. Demons don’t care if the crime rate goes down. They don’t care if charitable donations go up. They don’t care if people give each other a helping hand. They don’t care there is a cure for every disease. They don’t care if everyone is just one, great big, happy family, as long as it is one, great big, happy family on the wide road to hell.

The demons don’t care if there are churches on every corner as long as the churches don’t talk about sin and its punishment, and Jesus and His salvation. The demons don’t care if we talk about god as long as that god is not the god who took on human flesh and died to save you. The demons don’t even care if we talk about Jesus as long as Jesus is just a great example or just a great moral teacher or just a great liberator or just a great unifier. The only God – the only Jesus — that the devil hates is the Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life. The Jesus who died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and then rose from the dead in order to confirm forever His victory… over sin… over death… and over the devil.

There is only one person who defeated the devil. That person is Jesus Christ, God in flesh, crucified for the forgiveness of all sins and raised from the dead. That person and that person alone is the only one who endured every temptation that the devil could throw His way and yet never sinned. Jesus and Jesus alone endured being forsaken by God for you as He died on the cross for your sins and He offers His victory to you.

Demons don’t always identify themselves by driving pigs into a lake. Sometimes they quietly inhabit people who look like quite normal. They inhabit people who look respectable on the outside and seem very nice, but who repeat the lies of the evil one and ask, “Did God actually say?”

Just like dangerous strangers may tempt children with candy or puppies, demons tempt you with your selfish desires to get you to indulge them and proclaim, “I am being true to myself.” It is the demon’s goal to make you feel very comfortable and even righteous while traveling the path to hell.

We see Jesus’ power over demons in today’s Gospel. He has defeated the devil once and for all on the cross for you. In baptism He has given you His Spirit who dwells in you and makes your body a temple of the Holy Spirit. Trust in the Word of God. Trust in Jesus. Trust in His holy life, His innocent suffering and death, His resurrection from the dead and His ascension into heaven.

The one who defeated the devil is the only one who can protect you from the attacks of the devil. He is the only one who can give to you life everlasting. Trust in Christ crucified and risen from the dead, and pray that the Holy Spirit will work that saving faith in all people, to rescue them from the devil, and give to them eternal life.

You cannot face the devil alone. You need Jesus. Amen

Posted on June 1, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

Where is Heaven?

John Singleton Copley: The Ascension

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Ascension (Observed) 2025
Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
June 1, 2025
Acts 1:1–11, Ephesians 1:15–23, Luke 24:44–53

When I was a kid we would go to parades. In 1976 I went to a lot of parades because my sisters were baton twirlers and there were lots of parades that year for the bicentennial. Something that would happen at almost every parade was both tragic and kind of cool. A child would let go of the helium balloon that his parents had just bought for him before they were able to tie it to his wrist. There is no worse feeling for that kid as the tears well up, but now everyone else gets to watch the balloon ascend up into the sky. If it wasn’t windy and the balloon was a bright color you could watch it go up and up and up and get smaller and smaller until it couldn’t be seen anymore.

Today we celebrate Jesus’ ascension 40 days after His resurrection. How did Jesus ascend? Jesus led the disciples out to Bethany on the Mount of Olives and told them, Acts 1:8–9 (ESV) 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”

Jesus promised the power of the Holy Spirit, instructed the disciples to be witnesses, and they witnessed Jesus ascend and a cloud envelope Him so they could not see Him anymore.

Where did Jesus go? Acts 1:10–11 (ESV) 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” So, where is heaven? It is easy to get drawn into thinking that heaven is somewhere way, way, way up there… very far away. But Jesus did not just keep ascending until He was out of sight. He was enveloped by a cloud which brings to mind the cloud at transfiguration, the cloud of God’s presence at the tabernacle and temple, the pillar of cloud that was God guiding the Israelites out of Egypt. Jesus was taken into a cloud. So, where is Jesus now? Where is heaven?

We get clues from our Epistle reading today. Paul is blessing the Christians in Ephesus and praying for them and that they may know… Ephesians 1:19–20 (ESV) 19 … the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,”

Just as we confess every week. Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. So heaven is at the right hand of God the Father. Where is that? Where is God the Father? God the Father is omnipresent, He is present everywhere.

Martin Luther writes about this: “Scriptures teach us…that the right hand of God is not a specific place in which a body must or may be, such as on a golden throne, but is the almighty power of God, which at one and the same time can be nowhere and yet must be everywhere.” [1]

It is beyond comprehension. Our human minds cannot understand. Jesus ascended in His body and is at the right hand of God the Father which is not a place of location, but a place of power and authority. Jesus is… Ephesians 1:21–22 (ESV) 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church…” Jesus is above everyone and everything; rulers and authorities and the church. This is not above in location, but above in power and authority. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus. He rules. This is the Kingdom of Heaven.

When we think about the Kingdom of Heaven it is tempting to think about the kingdom as a place of location. But the word kingdom may be better replaced by the word, “rule”… rule of heaven, the reign of heaven. The kingdom is where Jesus rules… and where does Jesus rule? Everywhere. You pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy Kingdom Come”. What do you mean by praying that?

Luther’s explanation in the Small Catechism is pretty good. “What does this mean? The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.” You pray that Jesus rules you.

“How does God’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.”

The Spirit brings you into the Kingdom. Jesus told Nicodemus, John 3:5–6 (ESV) 5 … “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

The Father gives you His Spirit so Christ can dwell in your heart, and you can know the love of Christ, and be filled with the fullness of God.

You have been born again of water and the spirit. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the breath of God in you connecting you to God the Father through the Lord Jesus. The Spirit shows you your sin through the Word of God and the Spirit points you to Jesus as your redeemer and savior and king through His Word and Sacraments. The Spirit lets you know that you cannot save yourself; that you are in God’s kingdom by the grace of God.

In Ephesians 3 we see how God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit work together in believers. Paul writes…Ephesians 3:14–19 (ESV) 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

The Father gives you His Spirit so Christ can dwell in your heart, and you can know the love of Christ, and be filled with the fullness of God.

Jesus ascends to be enthroned as king; your king, my king, king of all creation. Jesus is King but Jesus does not force obedience. It is possible to reject Jesus. Many rebel against their King. Many reject Jesus’ reign and authority. They want to follow their own gods that they can control. They reject the Holy Spirit and by this, separate themselves from Jesus and salvation. They put themselves outside the Kingdom of Heaven.

Among Christians, folks can sometime worry about whether they have rejected the Holy Spirit because of their sin. The interesting thing is that if you are worried about rejecting the Spirit it means you still believe; it means you still have faith. If you have faith, you have the Holy Spirit. You may be resisting the Holy Spirit, but He is in you, pointing you to Jesus, letting you know you should be troubled by your sins and when you are troubled by your sins to look to Jesus and repent. Turn away from sin and turn back to Jesus. Repent… for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Repent… and receive the Body and Blood of Jesus into your body in communion with the King. Pray, Thy Kingdom Come which is the same as praying, Lord Jesus, rule my heart.

The Holy Spirit dwells in you and gives you faith as He does with the whole Christian Church. Jesus’ Church is unified in the Spirit. The devil desperately tries to tear the Church apart with conflict and false teaching. The devil wants you to reject the unity of the Holy Spirit. Paul exhorts the Ephesian Christians. Ephesians 4:1–6 (ESV) 1 I … urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Jesus did not disappear high up in the sky like a balloon. Jesus did not ascend way, way up far away to sit on His throne waiting to return. Jesus ascended to take His position at the right hand of the Father as ruler over everything. Jesus is King of the universe. Jesus is King of the world. Jesus is King of the Church. Jesus is the King of you.

“Thy Kingdom come. Lord Jesus, rule my heart.” Amen.

[1] LW Vol 37, Pg. 57

Posted on May 25, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

A Portal To Heaven

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Easter 6 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
May 25, 2025
Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:9-14, 21-27, John 16:23-33

How amazing and wonderful would it be if you found a portal to heaven; an opening in the space-time continuum that would transport you to eternal life with Jesus. In this sin-sick world, how many would line up to go through the portal to leave behind this life of sorrow and struggle and be transported directly to heaven? If only there was a portal to heaven. Well…I recently discovered that portal… in a shoebox of old documents.

Now, I am not very good at saving things from important events, but I am impressed that others are. After Mary Spoerl died, Tim brought me a box of historical documents of the church that Mary had been saving for many years. She had some newer items — a copy of the bulletin from my installation as senior pastor here in 2006 and also some older ones. She had the 25th anniversary booklet for the Immanuel Ladies’ Society that took place in 1922; 7 years before Mary was even born. That one is in both German and English. Altogether, the shoe box contains a nice little collection of historical Immanuel documents. Perhaps Tim should not have entrusted them to me. One booklet is from the dedication of this church building on April 1, 1951. I don’t believe I had ever seen this one before and it has great descriptions of the building.

The exterior architectural style is that of a Norman-Saxon parish church. The dramatic change of pace in the tower with its massive walls at the base and its slender and cross-surmounted…spire at the top lifts the eyes heavenward and encourages a spirit of devotion and reverence. Those who behold and enter the structure will have no difficulty recognizing it as “The House of God and the Gate of Heaven”. The Gate of Heaven. This church is a portal to heaven.

“The massive oak doors, the paneling above them and the large wooden cross which is the center of interest in the entrance are a source of delight to every observer. To all who pass, the entrance announces that, “we preach Christ and Him Crucified””

As you come through the doors, “the low ceiling of the Narthex may well serve to remind all who enter that humility is required of those who desire to come into the presence of God, and all who leave, that their walk among men should likewise be humble.”

“Once in the nave, the worshipper automatically follows the admonition, “Life up your hearts” as the high open ceiling lifts his eyes and thoughts upward. The details and appointments lend emphasis to the fact that this is a place set apart. It takes one away from that which characterizes the market and the fire place. Here one can commune with his God and meditate upon those things which are not of this world.”

“The center of attention in the oak-paneled sanctuary is the altar, also of oak, with its three-fold elevation…the IHS design, symbolic of the Lord Jesus Christ, is carved into the front of the altar.” IHS are the first three letters of Jesus in Greek.

In 1963 the front windows of faceted glass chunks were added with the stars of heaven, the creator’s hand, representing God the Father with beams of light going throughout all the windows. The Agnus Dei, Christ the Lamb of God, is resting on the Holy Bible with a flag of victory. The dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. On top, the Alpha and Omega, show Christ is the eternal God; the A and the Z, the beginning and the end. The communion wafer and chalice, the grapes and wheat for God’s gift of the Lord’s Supper. The shell, a symbol of baptism. The cross on the world telling of our mission to make disciples of all nations.

In 2007-2008 we renovated the sanctuary and added the 16 side stained glass windows and the windows in the doors to the narthex. We chose 16 scenes to depict God’s story from creation through redemption to eternity with Jesus in the holy city of New Jerusalem. Under the creation window we have the tree of life and under the last window of the heavenly city we have the tree of life again. Eternal life lost in Eden will be restored on the Last Day. This gate to heaven will bring you to heavenly city, the new Jerusalem.

In our reading from Revelation today we have John’s description of the holy city from his vision while in exile on the island of Patmos. Revelation 21:10–11 (ESV) 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.”

John is trying to describe the holy city shining with the glory of God, using inadequate human language. He describes the layout of the city, Revelation 21:12–13 (ESV) 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.”

Twelve gates with angels and the names of the tribes of Israel from Old Testament times facing east, north, south and west welcome people from all over the earth. Revelation 21:14 (ESV) 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”

In the description of the holy city we see the unity of ancient Israel and the New Testament church. As Dr. Louis Brighton, a late professor at Concordia Seminary, describes it, “Thus by means of the wall with its twelve gates John is reminded that, as there has always been only one covenant of grace embracing the entire people of God, those of old by faith in the promise of the Messiah and those by faith in the fulfillment of that promise in Jesus Christ, so now the true Israel of God will be in the new heaven and earth as represented by the new Jerusalem.”[1]

Paul uses this same kind of language in…Ephesians 2:18–21 (ESV) 18 For through him [Jews and Gentiles] have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”

In the verses skipped over in our reading today John describes the measurements of the city; 12,000 stadia long and wide and tall; a perfect cube — 1,380 miles in each direction. It is a massive, perfect cube bringing to mind the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s temple; the place of God’s holy presence. Entrance to the Holy of Holies was reserved for the high priest once a year with a blood covering. At Jesus’ death, the curtain in the temple was torn in two — showing that we can now approach God covered by Jesus’ sacrifice. In the holy city to come, the people of God, covered by the blood of Jesus, will be the Holy of Holies.

There will be no temple in the holy city. There will be no need for churches in the holy city pointing to the Lord. The Lord God the almighty and the Lamb will dwell with the people of God. There will be no need for separation between God and man. As Brighton writes, “The saints of God in their state of righteousness and holiness and perfection after the resurrection can now look directly into the face of God.”[2]

There will be no night in the holy city for the glory of God gives the city light and its lamp is the lamb. Revelation 21:24–25 (ESV) 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.”

The twelve pearl gates are always open for there is no night, no danger, no threat, no evil. The whole creation will be united in praising God and the Lamb. It will be a place of eternal peace and praise for those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. The way to the Father is through Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

As a child of God — as a follower of Jesus — this is your future. In baptism your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. You receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and you will live forever with God and the Lamb in the holy city of New Jerusalem. You found the portal to heaven. By faith through the Holy Spirit you have come here to the house of God, the gate to heaven. You enter and humbly get on your knees and repent of your sins and hear the Good News that your sins have been forgiven by the blood of Jesus. You praise the Lord and hear the Word of God. You come up through the arched gateway to the altar of the Lord to receive a foretaste of the feast to come. You receive into your mouth the Body and Blood of Jesus to strengthen and preserve you on your journey to life everlasting. Here, you are covered by the robe of Jesus’ righteousness that covers all your sins. Here you are at the gate to heaven. And while we are blessed to have a building that points us to Jesus, the gateway is not the building. The gate to heaven is the gathering of the saints of God. Together, you are the Body of Christ, the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints. Gathered together, you, the saints of God, with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven sing praises to God.

Hearing God’s Word and receiving His gifts you go forth from humbly from this house of God to live out your identity as a saint of God in humble love and service to others in this world. This is the gate to heaven and together you look for the day to come when Jesus will return in glory and take you to be with Him forever in the holy city of new Jerusalem.

For now you live as the light of Christ in a world of sin and evil. Stay alert, the world strives to pull you in and smother you with its darkness. It is a dangerous world, but you know where the portal to heaven is and you can invite others to join you in the house of God on the journey to the Holy City where you will live with Jesus forever. Amen.

[1] Louis Brighton, Revelation, CPH pg. 612

[2] Revelation, Louis Brighton, CPH, pg. 618

Posted on May 18, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

Easter Turns Sorrow into Joy

By Jacopo Tintoretto – Web Gallery of Art: Image Info about artwork, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15542295

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Easter 5 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
May 18, 2025
Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-7, John 16:12-22

When wives are pregnant they really appreciate husbands giving them advice and letting them know that it is not really that bad. Especially during labor, the ladies are looking for helpful suggestions from their husbands. They enjoy pregnancy jokes like how the pain of giving birth is almost as bad as a man having a cold……Well…maybe not. It has been a little while for me, but what I learned through being present four times during labor and delivery is that silent handholding may be tolerated.

In our Gospel reading today we have an unmarried man talking about the pain of childbirth. That may be dismissed as mansplaining, except, well….it is Jesus, God in flesh, the creator of the world. He was there in the Garden of Eden when the curse of pain in childbirth was put onto Eve and all women. So, for Jesus to talk about childbirth is probably okay.

Jesus talks about sorrow and joy and He uses a clear example. John 16:21 (ESV) 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.”

It is a miracle of God that women who have gone through childbirth once, are willing to do it again. The joy of holding that newborn baby helps her forget the difficulties and pain. The great joy of a newborn baby overcomes the sorrow of having to face the anguish.

In the reading today from John, Jesus is in the upper room speaking with His disciples on that fate-filled Thursday night before heading out to Gethsemane. Jesus warns the disciples about what is coming. John 16:20 (ESV) 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful…” Before leaving the upper room Jesus tells the disciples that they will be sorrowful…but that is not the end of the sentence. “You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.”

In 18 hours or so Jesus will be dead. The anguish He experiences during these hours is intense. The disciples go on a dark journey of observation through the valley of the shadow of death and they are afraid and troubled and devastated. They go from the high of Jesus’ teaching and washing feet and instituting the Lord’s Supper to His arrest and trial and His being beaten and humiliated and mocked and abused and flogged and crucified. The disciples, in the depths of their fear, watch their leader, their teacher, their Messiah, being destroyed. Jesus’ life fades away in front of them as he dies on the cross. The Romans make sure by piercing His side.

What are the disciples thinking as Jesus’ body is taken down from the cross and washed and wrapped in preparation for burial? How crushingly heartbroken are they as the stone is rolled in front of the tomb. What is the depth of their grief? The disciples, grown men, are overcome with weeping and lamenting. Hiding in the shadows, overcome with grief, they watch those around celebrating because the annoying teacher from Galilee is finally dead and gone. The chief priests and scribes and Pharisees are experiencing the thrill of victory. The disciples are living out the sting of defeat.

Jesus told His disciples that He would be killed and after three days rise from the dead. They should know this is true, but it so hard to believe Jesus will rise standing there witnessing the brutal finality of His death. The disciples are overwhelmed by grief and even if they could cling to the truth that Jesus will rise from the dead there would still be grief at His death. Death is tragic as we see with Jesus weeping outside Lazarus’ tomb. Jesus knows what He will do next, and He still weeps.

Death is painful and sad. Facing your own death or the death of a loved one is certainly one of the hardest things that you will ever have to do. Even though you know that you will die, death remains such a strange and foreign thing to happen, it is disorienting and overwhelming. Death is not natural; it was not part of God’s original plan. Adam and Eve were not designed to die and so death brings great grief.

Death is devastating, but it is not the end. Paul teaches in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 (ESV) 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”

By rising from the dead Jesus defeated death. Romans 6:3–5 (ESV) 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

In this life there are times of great sorrow. There is conflict and financial struggles and sickness and injury and death. There are periods of sadness and struggle and anxiety. You can start to think, “Am I really a Christian? Why is life so hard? Why do I feel so bad? Why am I so afraid?” In your struggles you can feel the scorn of unbelievers who just shake their heads and ask, “Where is your precious Jesus now? If Jesus is real, why do you weep and lament?” Jesus’ words to His disciples can also apply to you, today, in the midst of your struggles, “You will be sorrowful… but your sorrow will turn into joy.”

This is the great good news of Easter. Jesus conquers death and the grave. While you are currently locked in the struggles of this life and you weep and lament, this is not the end. Easter turns sorrow into joy. Because Jesus rose from the dead, you will rise from the dead.

The Church is under attack from worldly forces that would like to see faithful Christian churches and schools disappear. Our church body faces the challenge of fewer members and fewer pastors and teachers and many struggling parishes. There is a lot of stress and strain and anxiety. What does the future hold?

These struggles and emotions are captured well by Anglican hymn writer Samuel Stone in “The Church’s One Foundation”

Though with a scornful wonder
The world sees her oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distressed,
Yet saints their watch are keeping;
Their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song.

Like Jesus said, “You will be sorrowful… but your sorrow will turn into joy.”

Now, joy can be tricky. The important thing to remember about joy is that joy does not come from within. Joy is not from your personality. Joy is not from you being able to conjure up positive thoughts. Joy is from Jesus. Joy is from knowing that Jesus rose from the dead. Joy is from Jesus rising from the dead for you and promising that you too will rise from the dead. Easter turns sorrow into joy.

This is the great good news of Easter. Jesus conquers death and the grave. While you are currently locked in the struggles of this life and you weep and lament, this is not the end. Easter turns sorrow into joy. Because Jesus rose from the dead, you will rise from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:54 (ESV) 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

On that day you can boldly confront death and demand, 1 Corinthians 15:55 (ESV) 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

Because Jesus rose from the dead, the day is coming when death will be defeated forever. You wait for that day with great anticipation because you live in the valley of the shadow of death.

When we are standing at the side of a fresh grave ready to lower a brother or sister in Christ into the ground it is a somber, mournful moment. But there is great hope. What are the last words I speak at the graveside before the benediction? “Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia! Let us go forth in peace in the name of the Lord.”

Like a woman giving birth, the pain and grief of death and trouble is not the end of the story. Resurrection day is coming.

Today is graduate Sunday for our school’s 8th grade class. As our graduates leave Immanuel Lutheran School and go out into the world they go with life-altering, eternal knowledge. It is a rough world out there. I pray they will all stay connected to Immanuel or another Bible-believing church in order to be fed by God’s Word and Sacraments. As you conclude this divine service today and go back out into a world full of sorrow and trouble you also go out with life altering, eternal knowledge. You go — knowing Jesus has risen from the dead – knowing you will rise from the dead. Despite the struggles of life, you go forth in peace and joy to love and serve in Jesus name. Easter turns sorrow into joy.

Amen.

Posted on May 11, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

Beware the Wolves

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Easter 4 2025 Good Shepherd Sunday
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
May 11, 2024
Acts 20:17–35, Psalm 23, Revelation 7:9–17, John 10:22–30

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Our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles is an interesting section of scripture. Here we find Luke recording Paul’s instructions to the pastors in Ephesus as Paul prepares to go to Jerusalem and is not expecting to return. It is the only part of Acts that sounds a lot like one of Paul’s letters. For three years Paul faithfully taught the Ephesians. He reminds them that he…Acts 20:27 (ESV) 27 … did not shrink from declaring to [them] the whole counsel of God.”

Paul warns the Ephesian pastors about dangers facing the Church. Acts 20:28 (ESV) 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

Jesus shed His holy, precious blood to redeem His Church from sin, death and the devil. The flock is Jesus’ precious treasure. Paul warns the pastors of Ephesus, to pay attention to themselves and to the flock. The pastors are under shepherds of the Good Shepherd. They must watch themselves and live their lives within the boundaries of God’s law. Great damage is done when a pastor goes astray and sins openly and brings disgrace upon the office and the church. Pastors must watch themselves… and watch the flock placed under their care by the Holy Spirit. And the danger is not just danger from original sin causing unholy desires from inside each person. The flock of the church is under attack from within and without. Paul warns these under shepherds of the Good Shepherd to beware of wolves.

Paul says, Acts 20:29–30 (ESV) 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them….” Acts 20:32 (ESV) 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

Fierce wolves will come in from outside and also will arise from among the pastors and the flock. In Ephesus there is going to be a battle for truth… and that battle is still going on today…here…and all over the world. The Bible is the Word of God for you. God’s Word has authority. You do not get to adjust it to fit your desires. You adjust yourself to fit God’s word.

The danger is that the Bible is radically counter cultural and many find it to be embarrassing. In a society that idolizes unrestrained intimacy and sacrifices babies on the altar of sexual freedom, it is considered hateful and evil to teach that sexual intimacy belongs only in the lifelong marriage union of a man and a woman. Biblical teaching about marriage is embarrassing to a world that seeks bodily autonomy. And in the promotion of this autonomy, some church bodies have adopted the whole alphabet soup of sexual categories… and the plus sign. They have embraced sexual sin in any and all forms and are committed to welcoming whatever comes next. Society’s immorality is their authority. Other churches, when pressed, will say they believe the Bible’s teachings on sexual morality, but they don’t talk about it because they are embarrassed by the Bible; they do not want to offend anyone. Wolves have come in amongst the sheep.

The Bible is embarrassing to many because it teaches that you cannot do anything to save yourself from your sins. Folks do not like to feel helpless; they do not want to be poor in spirit, so wolves teach that people find dignity in helping to pay the price for their sins. There is a movement lately that people want to be a part of a demanding church with many requirements, but that can be dangerous if you begin to believe you are saved, even partially, by what you do, in addition to what Jesus has done. Wolves disguised in sheep’s clothing are teaching God’s sheep.

Many are embarrassed by the Bible’s teaching about forgiveness of sins coming through the brutal, bloody crucifixion of Jesus. They are embarrassed by talk of heaven and hell. They are embarrassed that Jesus teaches that He is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the father except through Him. They are embarrassed by the idea that anyone is going to end up in hell. So the wolves teach that there are many paths to the Father; that Jesus is not the only way. Fierce wolves do not spare the flock.

So many people are embarrassed by the Bible, embarrassed by God’s law, and even embarrassed by God’s Gospel. So many modern heretics accept the teaching of the Bible only when it fits their own ideas. They prefer a faith not tied down by authoritative Biblical teaching. There are many wolves leading the sheep away from the shepherd.

So much false teaching today creates a god in the image of man so that man can take authority over this god and mold him and shape Him. But if man has authority over god — that is not the true God, but just an idol of man’s own design. It is an idol constructed by the wolves.

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. And if Jesus is the Good Shepherd, what does that make us? It makes us the sheep. How absurd for sheep to be embarrassed by their Shepherd. How bizarre for the sheep to try to take authority over the shepherd.

Sheep are not strong, wise, or dangerous creatures. Sheep are weak, kind of dumb, helpless creatures. Sheep are very vulnerable. In a fight between a sheep and a wolf — bet on the wolf. You are a sheep in the flock of the Good Shepherd. You need the Shepherd’s protection and you have the Shepherd’s protection. His rod and His staff, they comfort you.

The Good Shepherd protects the sheep. The Good Shepherd is strong, wise and dangerous. His Church calls men to be under shepherds of the Good Shepherd. The under shepherds of the Good Shepherd are fellow sheep so they cannot operate under their own intelligence or authority, they can only listen to the Good Shepherd and teach His Word to the flock. The Word of God, the Sword of the Spirit, is the under shepherds’ weapon against the wolves. The Word of God is wolf repellant; it keeps you safe.

The Word of God is your source of knowledge about God. The Word teaches about God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It teaches you God’s law which curbs your behavior, shows you your sin and guides you through life. The Word of God delivers to you salvation earned for you by Jesus on the cross and confirmed by His rising from the dead. He delivers forgiveness and eternal life to you through His Word in absolution, in Holy Baptism and in Holy Communion. The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit. It is your weapon against the lies of the devil and his wolves.

You need to be in a church where the pastor preaches the Word of God. So, how do you know if the pastor is preaching the true Word of God and not twisted things as Paul warns? As a sheep in the flock of the Good Shepherd, how do you equip yourself to spot a counterfeit sheep — a wolf in sheep’s clothing?

To detect counterfeit currency people are trained to become so very familiar with authentic currency that they can easily spot a fake. The way to equip yourself to test a pastor’s words is to know authentic Scripture so well that you can easily spot counterfeit teaching. If you know the Word of God you will be able to expose wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Stay on guard against wolves in the church. Be alert. Check what you hear being preached and taught. I pray I never fall victim to the temptation to be a wolf, but if I ever preach or teach something that is not in keeping with the truth of scripture, let me know. Maybe not in the middle of the sermon, unless it is egregious, but afterwards, ask me to show you in the Bible where it teaches something I said. You won’t be the first. Twice it has happened over the years that I was corrected by diligent members of the flock and I rectified the errors for second service. Thankfully, these issues were nothing too big, but they were errors that needed correction.

Stay alert…know your Bible well. In order to do that, you need to read the Bible. Little ones…learn to read so you too can study the Bible. Until then, have your parents read to you. For those who can read, set up a daily plan of Bible reading. If you search for Bible reading plans online you will find there are many to choose from. Bible in a year. Bible in 90 days. Bible in chronological order and many more. On Bible apps there are various plans for reading or listening. In the hymnal, on page 299, there is a daily lectionary that gives readings from the Old and New Testaments. The Treasury of Daily Prayer from Concordia Publishing gives a daily reading from the Psalms, the Old Testament, the New Testament and a suggested reading from the Lutheran Confessions. If possible, use a good Study Bible that has charts and maps and notes to help with difficult passages. The Lutheran Study Bible from Concordia Publishing is a good investment, and that can also be accessed as a phone app for free, and you can add access to all its resources for $10 a year.

However you set up your reading plan, commit to spending time each day in God’s word and in prayer. Read, mark, learn and inwardly digest God’s Word… and stay alert. Know that there are hungry wolves are out there, and possibly in here, looking for someone to devour. The Word of God is your defense.

In this world there are so many voices trying to get you to listen to them. Stick with Jesus. In the words of Simon Peter, John 6:68 (ESV) 68 … “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,”

It was important for the pastors of Ephesus 2,000 years ago to pay attention to themselves and the flock and it is just as important today, especially in our media-saturated lives with the world’s messages pumping constantly into our eyes and ears. Stay intentionally focused on the truth. Stay alert for wolves.

You are a beloved sheep in the flock of the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for you. You are His treasured possession. Follow Jesus. Listen to Him and do what He says. The Lord is your Shepherd. You shall not want. Amen.

Posted on May 4, 2025 by pastorkevinjud

The Crow of a Rooster

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Easter 3 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
May 4, 2025
Acts 9:1-22, Revelation 5:1-14, John 21:1-19

Roosters crow every morning, day after day, and not just in the morning but throughout the day. Every time a rooster crows it picks at the scab on Peter’s heart so he feels fresh shame and guilt for what he has done.

Peter liked to think of himself as the tough guy, the decisive guy, the man of action. He thinks himself brave and loyal and even brags about it. After the Passover meal in the upper room… Matthew 26:31 (ESV) 31 …Jesus [says] to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

Peter looks around at the other disciples with a bit of contempt…Matthew 26:33–35 (ESV) 33 … “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus [says] to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter [says] to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” …

All the other disciples agree. Jesus then takes the disciples to Gethsemane where Peter promptly falls asleep multiple times while Jesus is praying. Indeed the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. When the armed crowd comes to arrest Jesus, Peter jumps into action drawing his sword and attacking. He cuts off the ear of a man named Malchus, but before the fight could continue, Jesus stops it.

The crowd seizes Jesus and binds Him. Peter and John follow the crowd up Mt. Zion to Caiaphas’ house. John knows the High Priest and goes inside to watch while Peter waits in the courtyard to see what will happen. Tough guy Peter finds himself alone amongst enemies. There are soldiers and servants and all sorts of people all waiting to see Jesus killed. Peter nervously tries not to stand out. Matthew 26:69–70 (ESV) 69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.”

A little later, Matthew 26:71–72 (ESV) 71 …another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” The fear and uncertainty must be building in Peter. He is alone in a sea of opponents. Matthew 26:73–74 (ESV) 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed.”

The rooster crows and the memory of Jesus’ words slap Peter in the face. Matthew 26:34 (ESV) 34 … “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter is crushed by the shame and goes out and weeps bitterly.

Peter failed Jesus and Peter carries the wound of this shame as his constant companion. Every time a rooster crows he is reminded of his frightened weakness and the wound is fresh again. What has he done? Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, but then He denies His Lord and Savior. He bragged that unlike all the other disciples he would die before abandoning Jesus but then, just hours later, out of fear, he denies even knowing Jesus.

Jesus is crucified, dies and is buried and it seems like everything is over, but then Jesus rises from the dead. But even after learning Jesus rose from the dead the disciples are still hiding out in a locked room for fear of the Jews. Jesus appears to them at least twice in Jerusalem, once without Thomas and then a week later with Thomas. Then the disciples go to Galilee to wait for Jesus. Peter still struggles with the guilt and shame. Can Jesus ever forgive him? Can he forgive himself? Has Jesus abandoned him? Will he ever see Jesus again? The once confident Peter is wracked with guilt. Everything has changed.

In Galilee, on the Sea of Tiberius, the disciples wait for Jesus. One evening, while Peter waits with six other disciples, he declares, “I am going fishing,” and the disciples agree, “We will go with you.”

There is a lot of theological speculation about why they went fishing. Was Peter thinking that his days of ministry were over and he needed to return to his previous vocation? Was this a significant decision by Peter, or was he just bored and wanted something to do. Did they just want to do something familiar after all the craziness? Perhaps Peter was tired of hearing roosters crow and thought…maybe…just maybe, I won’t be able to hear them when I am out on the water.

For whatever reason they do go fishing and they catch nothing all night. For Peter, James and John this must bring up memories of the last time they went fishing a few years before. They work hard all night setting and hauling nets with no success.

As morning dawns, the tired, hungry disciples see a man standing alone on the shore. The man calls out, “Do you have any fish?” Perhaps more literally, “do you have anything to eat?” They yell back, “No!”

The man calls out, John 21:6 (ESV) 6 … “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.”

It all comes rushing back. Just like their last failed fishing trip when, after Jesus borrowed a boat to teach the people on the shore, He gave them two boatloads of fish. Peter, James and John all left being fishermen that day to follow Jesus.

John declares, “It is the Lord!” Peter is so excited and relieved that Jesus is here with them that He puts on his outer garment and dives into the water to swim to shore.

They eat breakfast together; fish Jesus provided, fish from the miraculous catch, and bread from Jesus. You wonder if Peter hears any roosters crowing during breakfast. Jesus is right here with Peter and the other disciples, but where does Peter stand with Jesus after his fearful denial?

After breakfast, Jesus addresses Peter by his original name, Simon, John 21:15 (ESV) 15 …“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

Peter must be wondering… what Jesus is doing? What does he mean?

John 21:16 (ESV) 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” Peter’s confusion must deepen. What is Jesus doing?

John 21:17 (ESV) 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Peter is suffering at Jesus asking him three times, “Do you love me?” But then it becomes clear. Peter is being restored to his place in Jesus’ ministry. At the first great catch of fish Jesus told the disciples He would make them fishers of men. Now Jesus commissions Peter to be a shepherd. To care for and feed Jesus’ sheep and lambs.

Late that fateful Thursday night Peter was afraid that being associated with Jesus would get him killed. Jesus now tells Peter that it is true. Peter will be killed because of Jesus. John 21:18–19 (ESV) 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” Tradition holds that Peter was crucified in Rome likely under Emperor Nero around AD 64 to 68.

After a three-fold redemption Jesus ends with, “Follow me.” Peter is restored. Peter will follow Jesus all the way to his own cross in Rome. The roosters’ crowing has no more power. Peter is forgiven and restored.

The rooster’s crowing tormented Peter. What is the trigger for you to remind you of your sin? Is it a sound…a song…a smell…a person…a place…an object that reminds you of your past sins? How does the devil torment you with guilt and shame? Is it his accusations? “You say you are a Christian, but remember what you did? God cannot love you…God cannot forgive someone like you.” When the devil reminds you of your sins, remember Peter, tormented by the crowing of roosters. Remember Peter… whose sins were forgiven. Remember Peter… restored and made a shepherd of the Lord’s sheep. Remember… you are baptized. Jesus has promised to forgive you all your sins.

Peter dove into the water and swam to Jesus. You have come here this morning to be with Jesus and you began by remembering your entering Jesus’ Church by passing through the waters of baptism, “In the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.” Jesus is here for you — to declare to you, “I forgive you all your sins.” Jesus has prepared a meal for you to feed you with His own body and blood. Jesus says to you “Follow me.” Jesus silences the devil’s accusations. Jesus brings you out of your sin and restores you to your place in His Church.

This morning three of our young ladies will confirm that what was spoken for them at their baptism is still their confession today. They will pledge, with Peter, and all the Church, that with the help of God, they will continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it. We join them in confirming our confession of faith.

Peter was made a shepherd of Jesus’ lambs and sheep, and Jesus’ ministry continues today and you are a part of it. Together we bring the Good News of forgiveness in Jesus to the world. We care for and feed Jesus’ lambs and sheep. We love and serve others, until Jesus returns.

The risen Christ silences the devil and his accusations. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen.

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

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.