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Lent 4 2026
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
March 15, 2026
Is 42:14-21, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41

Sermons online: 

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Text:                           pastorjud.org   
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itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
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            A couple weeks ago we heard about the Pharisee, Nicodemus, coming to Jesus at night to find out more about this new teacher.  Jesus teaches him about being born from above by water and the spirit and that God loved the world, in this way, that He sent His only son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Jesus concludes His teaching with Nicodemus… John 3:19–21 (ESV) 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” 

            There is darkness and there is light.  Jesus is the light.  John 1:4–5 (ESV) 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

            There is darkness and there is light.  There is blindness and there is sight.  In our Gospel reading, Jesus leaves the temple after the Jews want to stone him for saying John 8:58 (ESV) 58 …“Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”  “I am”, is God’s name.

            John 9:1 (ESV) 1 As [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.”  Being born blind is a great disability; at Jesus’ time and today. While some progress is being made, still, with all our medical advances, there is no cure for someone born blind.

            The disciples do not talk to the man, but they talk about him.  There is a common belief that suffering is retribution from God for specific wrongdoing.  The disciples want to know who sinned, this man, or his parents.  John 9:3–5 (ESV) 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 

            Jesus spits on the ground and makes mud with the saliva and anoints the man’s eyes and tells him, “Go wash in the pool of Siloam.” The man does what he is told, he goes to the pool south of the Temple Mount washes the mud off, and comes back seeing. A man, blind from birth, can now see. This is an incredible miracle of God. No one else can make the blind see.  Jesus is the real deal.  Isaiah prophesied, Isaiah 35:5 (ESV) 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened…”

            The formerly blind man is well known.  Everyone has seen him sitting outside the temple begging. Now it is clear that the man who was blind can now see, but, trying to discredit Jesus, they dispute that it is really him. They question the man and he replies, John 9:11 (ESV) 11 … “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” The man can physically see; spiritually his eyes are beginning to open.  He describes the healer as, “The man called Jesus.”

            The man is questioned by the Pharisees who dispute among themselves whether someone who broke one of their abundant Sabbath rules by making a tablespoon of mud could be from God — even though He did a miracle that only God can do.  When asked, “What do you say about Him,” the man answers, “He is a prophet.”  The man is being enlightened.

            After his parents refuse to say how their son was healed, for fear of being thrown out of the synagogue, the Jews question the man again about what happened.  They go back and forth and the man boldly proclaims, John 9:32–33 (ESV) 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”  The formerly blind man’s spiritual eyes are widening and he confesses that Jesus is from God.

            Unable to win on the facts, the Pharisees switch to an ad hominin attack, John 9:34 (ESV) 34 … “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. The Pharisees do not want the truth…they do not want a reminder of the truth… they reject the miracle…they reject the Messiah who showed His authority over blindness… they reject the light.

            John 9:35–38 (ESV) 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.” The man has physical sight and now the man can spiritually see.  He calls Jesus, “Lord,” and he worships Him.  The man was in the darkness, but now he is in the light.  He was blind, but now he sees. 

            John 9:39 (ESV) 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”  The man born blind can now see — physically and spiritually.  He is living in the light of Christ.  He is one of those who do not see who may see.  Who then are they who see who may become blind?  John 9:40 (ESV) 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 

            Jesus answer is a bit confusing, John 9:41 (ESV) 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”  The man born blind initially does not know who Jesus is, but the light of Christ shines on him and he begins to understand, and then understand even more, and confesses Jesus is Lord.  The Pharisees believe they know the scriptures, but they are blind.  They are so corrupted in their understanding that instead of rejoicing with a man born blind who can now see, they obsess over Jesus making mud on the Sabbath, and they kick the healed man out of the synagogue for not condemning Jesus.

            There is darkness and there is light.  There is blindness and there is sight.  Jesus is the light.  The light rescues you from darkness.  As Paul writes to the Colossians… Colossians 1:12–14 (ESV) 12 [give] thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  And to the Ephesians….Ephesians 5:8 (ESV) 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…”  

            There is darkness and there is light.  There is blindness and there is sight.  It is as simple and complex as that.  Jesus is the light.  Jesus rescued you from the darkness and now you are a child of light.  This morning we get to witness God rescuing Johann and Hannah from the darkness and bringing them into the Kingdom of light through water and the Spirit.  They were in darkness, but now they are light in the Lord. They were blind, but now they see.

            Jesus is the light.  Jesus is the only light.  There is no other light.  If you seek a way other than Jesus, you are walking in darkness.  If you seek a way other than Jesus you are blind. 

            Jesus is the light.  The light shines in the darkness.  The light has come to save all people but not everyone believes in the light. Far too many love the darkness rather than the light because their works are evil and they do not want their works to be exposed.  Those doing evil want to stay in the dark.

            We think of light as good, but the light can hurt. When you walk into the brightness of sunlight from a dark room you have to shield your eyes.  Coming out of the darkness of sin, the light of Christ can cause pain.  The light exposes the darkness of your sin.  The light convicts you of your sin.  The light shows that you are, by nature, spiritually blind, dead and an enemy of God.  The light shows your helplessness.  Many reject the light because the light causes them pain and exposes their evil. They reject the light before they can be enlightened as to who Jesus is and what He has done for them. 

Jesus is the light.  The light takes on Himself the darkness of the world and is suffocated by the darkness on the cross.  That dark Friday it seems the light has been extinguished.  But the light dawns again Sunday morning.  The light conquers the darkness by rising from the dead.  Jesus takes your darkness and gives you His light so, with the man who had been blind from birth, you confess, “Jesus is Lord!” and you worship Him. 

There is darkness and there is light.  There is blindness and there is sight.  Jesus is the light.  You are light in Him.  You were blind, but now you see.  Amen. 

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Lent Wednesday 3 2026
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
March 4, 2026
Matthew 26:30-56

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
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itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            Jesus and the eleven disciples leave the upper room and walk down the east side of Mt. Zion toward the Kidron Valley.  It appears they are headed back to Bethany on the Mount of Olives where they have been staying while in Jerusalem.  On their way, Jesus warns them, Matthew 26:31 (ESV) 31 … “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.’” He also gives them great hope.  Matthew 26:32 (ESV) 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”  The disciples do not understand what is happening even though Jesus has told them over and over.  Before His transfiguration…Matthew 16:21 (ESV) 21 … Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”  Peter rejected this idea and rebuked Jesus.  Matthew 16:23 (ESV) 23 But [Jesus] turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”  In Matthew Jesus tells them twice more what will happen, but as it is happening they do not understand. 

            Jesus has made it clear that He is going to Jerusalem and He will be seized and killed and raised from the dead.  He tells the disciples that they will all fall away that night, but Peter insists, “Not me.”  Matthew 26:33 (ESV) 33 … “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”  Jesus tells Peter that he is going to deny Jesus three times before the rooster crows and Peter rejects this, vehemently.  Matthew 26:35 (ESV) 35 …“Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.”

            As they enter Gethsemane their spirits are high and they are unified in their belief that Jesus may be right about a lot of things, but He is wrong about the disciples falling away and He is wrong about Peter denying Jesus.  Jesus has eight of the disciples sit and He takes Peter, James and John a little ways deeper into the olive grove.  Jesus is sorrowful and troubled and begins to talk like He has never talked before.  Matthew 26:38 (ESV) 38 … “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 

            Jesus then goes a little farther and falls on His face and prays.  Matthew 26:39 (ESV) 39 …“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 

            Jesus knows what is coming…the humiliation, the suffering, the torture, the dying an excruciating death.  But that is not the worst.  Jesus will be left utterly alone.  Already the crowds are gone, the group of followers is gone, one disciple will soon betray Him.  Of the brave disciples who all declared they would die rather than deny Jesus — eight are asleep near the entry to the olive grove, and the three He asked to watch with Him are also asleep.  Jesus goes to sleeping Peter and says, Matthew 26:40–41 (ESV) 40 … “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  The disciples all intend to do well, but are unable.  In reality, there is nothing for them to do.  Jesus prays again, Matthew 26:42 (ESV) 42 … “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”  After praying a third time, Jesus wakes up the disciples and together they go to meet Judas who is coming with a crowd carrying swords and clubs.  Judas betrays Jesus and the crowd seizes Him.  Peter draws his sword to fight back striking one of the men, but Jesus tells him, Matthew 26:52–54 (ESV) 52 … “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”  

            After dinner, Jesus gave the cup of the new testament in His blood for the forgiveness of sins to the disciples and to you.  Now Jesus will drink the cup of God’s wrath, taking upon Himself the punishment for those sins.  He is the sinless Son of God who takes on Himself the sin of the world.  2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) 21 For our sake [God the Father] made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Jesus will do it alone.  He has to do it alone.  He is the only one that can pay this price.  In Jesus’ drinking of the cup of God’s wrath, He is forsaken by God the Father.  It is the Father’s wrath inflicted on Jesus to save sinners.  

Jesus bears the penalty for your sin.  Jesus suffers separation from the Father, in your place.  Forsaken by the Father, Jesus suffers the full wrath of God for the sin of humanity.  He alone is the substitute for humanity.  He endures the total separation from God the Father that humanity deserves in order to reconcile God and man.  Matthew 27:46 (ESV) 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 

            Jesus praying alone in Gethsemane is the beginning of His utter aloneness being arrested, being before Caiaphas and the Council, being denied by Peter, being beaten and mocked, questioned by Pilate, flogged, crucified, and laid in the tomb.  Jesus is truly all of Israel reduced to one perfect, final sacrifice.  He is abandoned by the crowds, by His followers, by His disciples and then, finally… by God the Father.  It is the Father’s will that Jesus suffer and die alone.

            LCMS President Matthew Harrison wrote this in the Lutheran Witness in June of 2020 in the throes of COVID regarding whether God wills suffering and affliction. 

            “The answer comes most clearly in Gethsemane. “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). There it is. God the Father wills the suffering of God the Son. Under the pressure of the sins of the world, Jesus seemed to waver. Yet He, “who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15), also did not sin at that tense moment. Jesus said, “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18).

So there you have it. God the Father and God the Son willed that the Son should suffer and die. God willed death. God willed suffering. At first, this is disconcerting. Isn’t death a result of sin? Isn’t suffering a result of sin? So, is God the cause of sin? No. God is not the cause and source of sin and death. Yet God Himself makes use of the curse of sin — suffering and death — for His good purposes. In doing so, He most often works in a hidden way. Our life is “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). Just think of it. As Christ was dying on the cross, His followers were terrified, distraught, hopeless, helpless. They thought that God had abandoned Jesus, and them. But it was not so. The Father had abandoned Jesus to death for them. The greatest act in the history of the universe appeared to be the most pathetic, powerless and useless failure.”[1]

            Jesus is sorrowful in Gethsemane because, as He prepares to drink the cup of God’s wrath to save you, He will be forsaken by everyone, including His Father.  This is the Father’s will.  Jesus alone is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Alone Jesus gives His life to save you.  Matthew 26:42 (ESV) 42 … “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”  Amen.  

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[1]June 1, 2020 / Letter From the President, Print Feature, The Magazine / By Matthew Harrison / COVID-19, Suffering

Painting by Finnish artist Albert Edelfelt (1854 – 1905) Jesus Washing the Feet of his Disciples (1898)

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Daniel English
February 25, 2026
Sermon – Lent 1 – Midweek Wednesday
John 13:1-20;

A Mighty Servant Is Our God

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lent is a time when the church conforms her habits to the suffering of Christ. Traditionally, Christians have fasted from various good things in order to devote themselves to Bible reading and prayer and almsgiving. During Lent we pay special attention to the sufferings of Christ. We remind ourselves just how serious our sin is, how it provokes the wrath of an Almighty God, and we remind ourselves that the wages of sin is both temporal and eternal death (Romans 6:23). +++ We remember that the punishment we deserve isn’t simply swept under the rug and forgotten… Instead, our punishment is carried out on one righteous and perfect Man, Jesus Christ. +++ Lent isn’t a time to drum up our emotions, to make our repentance a performance, to disfigure our faces in a great showing of our devotion, or even to relish all of the beautiful, minor key music. And it isn’t just in these 40 days alone that we repent of our sins. But as the Preacher says, “For everything there is a season…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1), and we use this season of weeping and mourning and fasting to remind ourselves just how much Christ has suffered for us. FOR US. FOR YOU.

This Lententide we will follow Jesus through the last 24 hours before His death, from the Upper Room to the cross. As the Lenten Hymn says, “Ye who think of sin but lightly / nor suppose the evil great / Here may view its nature rightly, / Here its guilt may estimate. / Mark the sacrifice appointed, / See who bears the awful load; / ‘Tis the Word, the Lord’s anointed, / Son of Man and Son of God” (“Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted,” LSB 451:3). +++ When we remember Christ’s great suffering, we begin to understand the gravity of our sin. But we also begin to understand the depth of His love for us.

St. John makes this connection in our reading for today: “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1). Jesus knows that His hour has come. Up to this point He has loved His own, and He will continue to love His own to the end. That end is to be betrayed, arrested, mocked, scoffed at, spit on, struck in the face, and whipped. And at the conclusion of a bogus trial, He will be put to death. Just 24 hours before all of this suffering, Jesus is in the Upper Room with His disciples and He decides to wash their feet.

What does it mean that Jesus is washing His disciples’ feet? It’s hard not to import some kind of modern meaning into an event like this. Maybe you think feet are gross and washing someone else’s feet even grosser. You might think footwashing is an awfully irregular, or important, or intimate thing for Jesus to be doing. The reality is, in Jesus’ time footwashing is nothing unusual. In the Old Testament, when Abraham welcomes the Lord and two angels as guests, he calls for water to be brought so that they may wash their feet (Genesis 18:4). Lot offers the same hospitality to those same guests in Sodom (Genesis 19:2). When Isaac and his traveling companions reach Laban’s house, there is water to wash their feet (Genesis 24:32). Joseph, when he welcomes his brothers back to Egypt, provides water so they can wash their feet (Genesis 43: 24). Footwashing was done regularly by priests during their priestly duties (Exodus 30:19), or by anyone when entering a house or before meals. For thousands of years, from Genesis to the time of Christ, footwashing has been a normal part of hospitality in a culture where one walks around in the dust wearing sandals all the time. Footwashing back then is like taking off your shoes at the front door today.

In our reading for today, the footwashing is not unusual. What is unusual is… WHO… is doing the washing. “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from the supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (John 13:3-5). The footwashing is not what is striking. It is striking that the One through Whom and for Whom all things were created (Colossians 1:16) is acting as a servant.

With this in mind, Peter’s struggle is not so hard to understand. “[Jesus] came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, do you wash my feet?’ Jesus answered him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You shall never wash my feet’” (John 13:6-8a). If anyone has begun to understand who Jesus is, it is Peter. Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13-20). And now Jesus — the Christ — the Son of the Living God — has come to Peter to wash his feet. Unsurprisingly, Peter responds passionately: “You shall never wash my feet.” The interchange is almost comical. Jesus wants to wash Peter’s feet, Peter basically says, “No way!” Then “Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.’” So Peter says, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” (John 13:8b-9). Oh, Peter… we love Peter. Let’s learn from him. What mistakes does he make? +++ Luther, when he is discussing human nature around the dinner table is quoted as saying, “The world is like a drunken peasant. If you lift him into the saddle on one side, he will fall off the other side” (Luther’s Works American Edition, Vol 54, pg 111). Peter’s first mistake is pride… and the second is enthusiasm. In his pride, Peter rejects the Word of God altogether. In his enthusiasm, he thinks it’s okay to add to it.

Peter’s pride prevents him from receiving the Kingdom of God as a little child. Our pride makes it an offensive thing to receive Christ’s gifts. Christ wants to be the one to do the washing. Christ does the cleansing. Christ chooses to give the gift freely, and Peter falls off one side of the horse. PRIDE. +++ Jesus makes it clear: “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me” (John 13:8b). If Jesus does not do the work, you have no share with Him. We’re drawn to this same self-righteous pride. Instead of the righteousness of faith given as a gift, we want to play some part in our own salvation. We want to contribute something! It seems only polite, it looks like humility… but it’s pride. +++ What only appears to be humility makes the work of Christ meaningless, and seeks to replace it with works of our own. This pride is called works righteousness, and it is always a temptation. Avoid it! Paul teaches against this error in his letter to the Galatians: “Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? […] You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace” (Galatians 3:1b-3; 5:4). +++ You think your sanctification merits you something or that you’re not as deserving of hell as that person over there, or that it makes you better than this person over here. Repent… It’s pride.

Peter is quickly corrected. Jesus says, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me” (John 13:8b). What happens next looks like piety: “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Peter adds to the Word and example of Christ, and he falls off the other side of the horse. ENTHUSIASM. How often are we tempted to leave the clear Word of Christ for something else? But we don’t need anything else. Not councils or popes, not inward affirmations or special revelation. The Word is sufficient. Christ is sufficient. When your emotions, your experiences, or your intellect push you to change or add to the Word of God, as if you have authority over it, repent… It’s enthusiasm.

Thankfully, Jesus is merciful to us, just as He is merciful to Peter. Christ is good to us. He forgives us and corrects us, and sets himself before us as a Holy Example. Jesus says, “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:15). +++ Jesus is given all power and authority by God the Father, and with it He becomes a Suffering Servant to those whom He loves. TO US. TO YOU. You are to do the same: any authority given to you should be used in service to others. Now your works, instead of a prideful distraction from the merit of Christ, become a blessing to your neighbor. You don’t act as though you’re owed anything, you know you’re not capable of earning God’s grace, but you serve one another in all humility. You remember that you have been forgiven much, so you are quick to forgive others. You walk in faith, knowing that Christ loves you and died for you, while you were still a sinner. By His death and resurrection, you are made righteous through faith before God. You are cleansed in Holy Baptism, washed clean. And He serves you His own Body and Blood in the Lord’s Supper, which strengthens and preserves you. In Lent, don’t take your sins lightly, but remember that Christ has taken your sins to the cross, and He removed them as far from you as the East is from the West.

Have you been washed? Christ’s Word says, “You are clean.” Don’t reject it. Don’t seek to take anything away from it or add anything to it. Just trust in it. It is enough.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

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Epiphany 5 2026
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
February 8, 2026
Isaiah 58:3-9a, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, Matthew 5:13-20

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
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itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
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            If you are going to grill some steaks, how long can you let them sit outside on a table before getting them on the grill?  Ten minutes?  30 minutes? An hour?  Two hours?  What would happen if one of those steaks gets pushed off the table onto the ground and is forgotten for a couple of days?  There are bacteria like salmonella and e coli and listeria already on the meat and if left unrefrigerated, the bacteria start to grow and in a couple of hours the meat is dangerous to eat.  It will loses its color and starts to smell which attracts flies that lay eggs and soon maggots are hatching.  The steak is now disgusting and rotten and ruined.

            Before the advent of refrigeration, one way of preserving meat was with salt.  Salt pulls moisture out of the meat and out of the bacteria, and the bacteria are unable to grow and the meat is preserved against rot.

            This world in which you live is, in so many ways, rotten. Evil is already everywhere looking for the right conditions to grow.  The world is filled with those who promote anger and hatred and violence and abuse and greed and neglect and hedonistic selfishness.  People take God’s good gifts and twist them into evil.

Like beef sitting at room temperature, the devil just needs the right conditions for evil to start to grow.  It can start small with a little conflict, a little anger, a little insult, a little greed, a little lust.  Evil begins to grow, and once it takes hold, the scent attracts more evil that moves in to destroy, spiritually, mentally and physically. Left at room temperature the once good piece of meat becomes garbage.  Left to let evil grow, a once good person is ruined. 

There is an antidote to the rot of sin; it is the salt of God.  The salt of God brings His love and forgiveness and dries up evil so the devil cannot get a foothold.  This salt is so powerful that it does not only preserve against rot, but also reverse the effects, it heals and restores wholeness.

            Where can you get this salt of God?  Where can you get this powerful weapon against evil?  Look in the mirror.  Jesus says to the disciples — and to you… Matthew 5:13 (ESV) 13 “You are the salt of the earth…” You bring the love and forgiveness of God to those around you.  Being the salt of the earth, your presence prevents rot.  You bring healing and restoration to hurting people.  You stop evil from advancing with the power of God’s love and forgiveness flowing through you.  And not only are you the salt of the earth… Matthew 5:14 (ESV) 14 “You are the light of the world…”  As a redeemed follower of Jesus, you fight rot and darkness.  

            In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus explains your status before God.  You are poor in spirit.  You have nothing to offer God in exchange for eternal life.  You are spiritually bankrupt… and God blesses you beyond comprehension.  You are in the Kingdom of heaven right now — and for eternity. 

You are in the Kingdom of heaven but, for now, you still live in this world.  You see the rot and the darkness in the world and in yourself — and you grieve over it – and you are blessed — you will be comforted.  You know you are powerless; you know you are meek… and you are incredibly blessed by God. You will inherit the earth. 

            Jesus declares.  You are the salt of the earth.  You are the light of the world.  If Jesus declares it, you should believe it.  You are the antidote to rottenness in the world. You are the cure for darkness in the world.  Your presence as a redeemed child of God makes the world a better place.  Matthew 5:16 (ESV) 16 …let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

            Let you light shine by doing good deeds for others. Your good deeds may, at times, be big, audacious works to help others, but, more likely, your good works are your simple, daily, interactions with those around you.  Your good deeds are you being salt and light to your parents, your children, your spouse, your coworkers, your classmates, the folks at the store, your neighbors, those you interact with on social media, and anyone else you come into contact with.  You are salt and light to others in your life and you make the world a better place. You are salt and light in caring for others.  You are salt and light as you live your ordinary life in an extraordinary way because Jesus has redeemed you and made you holy.

            The Sermon on the Mount is radically counter cultural. Jesus cranks up the commandments so there is no doubt that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. He calls for His followers, the salt and light of the world, to live profoundly different lives from what the devil, the world and your own sinful nature promote. 

            If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.  If they sue you for your tunic, give them your cloak as well.  If they force you to go one mile, go with them two.  Matthew 5:44 (ESV) 44 … Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” 

            When someone does you wrong you have the right to retaliate, but as salt and light you do not retaliate because Jesus did not exercise His right to get even with you.  Instead of Jesus punishing you for your sin, He takes your sin to the cross, and gives you His perfection. 

You are salt and light to the world by showing mercy to others like Jesus shows mercy to you.  As salt and light you are a sponge for evil, you absorb the evil so it cannot grow.  In this way, wherever you are, there is less evil and the world is less rotten and dark.  Because of your presence, the world is a better place.

As salt and light you are pure in spirit – you are faithful to the true God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit – faithful to the Word of God.  You reject false gods and false teachers, and you gently and patiently speak the truth in love about forgiveness coming only from Jesus on the cross.  You call all to repent and follow Jesus.  And the world is a better place. 

Being salt and light you are a peacemaker.  Salt and light brings the news that God and man are reconciled in Christ. Salt and light brings Good News to a world that does not know that it can be at peace with God.  You have the peace that is beyond understanding and you bring this peace to people in a rotten, dark world — and the world is a better place. 

            As salt and light you do good works and people see God’s goodness in what you do.  With this last big snowstorm many of you shoveled out your driveway, and then your elderly neighbor’s.  You check on the vulnerable to make sure they are okay.  You prepare meals for busy new parents.  You give generously to support our Christian Service fund to help those in need of utility and rent payments to keep warm and safe.  You are salt and light in so many different ways as you bring God’s forgiveness and love to the world.  You are the salt of the earth.  You are the light of the world. 

            The frustrating thing is that you are salt and light living in a dark, rotten world, and you have a problem.  You are a natural sinner and sin comes naturally.  You are salt and light, but sometimes you act like you are not.  You claim the name of Christian, but you act like rot and darkness.  And God’s law convicts you and you grieve your sin.

When it happens.  When you act like saltless salt — when you behave like a lamp covered by a basket – when you give in to your sinful desires, when are tempted to believe the devil who tells you that you are good enough, or you let the devil’s accusations take hold and you start to despair.  When you find yourself not living as salt and light — and you will — over and over and over again… you learn — again — that you are, indeed — poor in spirit.  You are an honest to goodness sinner.  You really are in bondage to sin and cannot free yourself.  You really are a sinner who needs Jesus…and Jesus blesses you with His righteousness, innocence and blessedness. Jesus cleanses you and declares you holy.  Jesus rescues you and restores you to being salt and light. 

            The world is rotten.  You are the salt of the earth. The world is dark.  You are the light of the world.  You make the world a better place.  Amen. 

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Epiphany 4 2026
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
February 1, 2026
Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18:31, Matthew 5:1-12

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            Going to a job interview is stressful.  They are going to ask you a lot of questions about your strengths and weaknesses and you want to answer honestly… but maybe not too honestly. When they ask about your weaknesses what do you say?  I remember answering this question once, “I have trouble understanding why others don’t work as hard as I do.”  Google advises… “choose a real but minor weakness, frame it positively by showing you’re actively improving…making sure it’s not a core skill for the job.”

            Imagine for a moment you are at an interview for some kind of a reality show or something, but you are not sure exactly what. The interviewer asks you about your strengths and weaknesses.  What do you answer for your strengths?  I am smart. I am funny.  I am organized.  I can solve problems.  I am artistic.  I work hard. I am a good leader.  I am a good communicator.  I am good with money.  I am well liked.  What do you perhaps not say, but you hope they notice?  I have a firm handshake.  I am well dressed in expensive clothes and shoes.

            How would you answer the question about your weaknesses?  Maybe…I have difficulty delegating, or I have trouble saying, “No”? 

            Then you find out that the interview is with God for the reality of being adopted as His child.  How do you answer God about your strengths and weaknesses?  With God, your strengths can become vulnerabilities.  The things that you think impress the world like money and power and fame and beauty and hard work and wisdom — do not impress God.  These strengths can be vulnerabilities because it is so tempting to rely on them for your value.  It is so tempting to fear, love and trust in your strengths rather than God.  And so strengths become vulnerabilities.

            For all of us there is the danger of trusting money.  Godly stewardship of money is needed to not fall into the trap of loving money.  We live in a land of great abundance in which our basic needs are well taken care of.  By world standards we all have abundance. Do you see what you have and say, “Look what I have accomplished?”  Better to look at what you have, and say, “God has given me great responsibility to manage what He has put in my care.”  As a faithful steward of God’s creation you give regular, sacrificial, first-fruits offerings to acknowledge that all you have belongs to God and to prevent greed from getting a foothold.

            Love of money is a spiritual danger that can be managed through faithful, generous stewardship.  There is a more insidious strength that can become a vulnerability; wisdom.  Being intelligent and well educated is viewed very favorably.  It seems we are all very impressed by experts with lots of letters after their name.  We listen when, “Experts say…”  And there is nothing wrong with being smart and educated but there is a danger that you will fall for the devil’s enticement to believe that you are smarter than God.  It worked with Eve and it can work with you.

            When Paul is writing his first letter to the church in Corinth the Romans and Greeks had many deep thinkers and philosophers pontificating about the meaning of life.  There were the Stoics that taught that virtue was the highest good and that living according to reason and nature brings happiness.  There were the Epicureans who sought contentment and absence of pain. They believed the soul is material and mortal; just atoms that will disperse upon death.  There were also the Sophists who were traveling philosophers who taught rhetoric and philosophy focusing on wit, eloquence and persuasion. They believed truth and morality were relative and not absolute.  Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross does not make sense to these wise men of Corinth.  Paul calls them out for rejecting the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:20–21 (ESV) 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”

            The philosophies of our time are not so different and there is still the danger of rejecting anything about God that does not make sense to you. There is the lure to use your wisdom to explain away your sin rather than to repent.  There is the pull to rewrite God’s Word so it is in line with your thinking.  It is very popular in our age to believe you are smarter than God and elevate your intellect over Scripture. 

When I got out of college I was pretty sure I knew what the Bible taught about different things because I was convinced that the Bible pretty much taught what I believe.  Then I actually read the Bible and I had a startling discovery; there were teachings in the Bible that went against my personal beliefs.  What should I do?  I had to decide.  Who is right? Me?  Or God?

            This is an ongoing temptation.  I want to make God make sense to me.  I had a bit of a crisis on my vicarage because I realized that I did not understand Holy Communion.  How can the bread be the Body of Christ?  How can the wine be the Blood of Christ?  It does not make sense.  Then I came to an epiphany.  God does not have to make sense to me.  It is true because Jesus said it is true.  “Matthew 26:26–28 (ESV) 26 …“Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 …“Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”  God does not need to make sense to me.  It makes sense that God does not make sense because He is the creator and I am the creation.

            The Lord declares in…Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV) 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, [declares the Lord]. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 

In this world our default idea about receiving eternal life is too often the same as the rich young man in… Matthew 19:16 (ESV) 16 …“Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”  It is the wrong question.  Jesus forgives — not because of anything in you — but because of Christ crucified for you.  1 Corinthians 1:22–25 (ESV) 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”  God does not have to make sense. 

            Religious movements of many sorts reject the sufficiency of Jesus on the cross for forgiveness because they believe they need to do something to be a part of their own salvation.  Church bodies reject infant baptism because it does not make sense to them that an infant can have faith.  Churches reject the real presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus in, with and under the bread and the wine of Holy Communion for the forgiveness of sins because it does not make sense that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father and on the altar at the same time.

            We are tempted by the devil to use wisdom and cleverness and eloquent language to change the Word of God to fit our own desires and the understandings of the world.  When the E.L.C.A. rejected that Jesus is the only way to salvation they claimed their new policy’s text “undergirds a posture of curiosity and humility” as the ELCA seeks to “learn from and engage” their inter-religious neighbors.”  One delegate argued that Jesus said, John 14:6 (ESV) 6 …“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  To which a pastor responded, “Our God is big enough for our family to include all of these interfaith siblings. Our God is big enough to admit that we do not know everything there is to know.”  The policy to reject Jesus as the only way to salvation was passed by a vote of over 97%.

Using the wisdom of the world, denominations have proudly endorsed clearly condemned sin because they reason that, “life is complicated,” and because of complications, sin must be okay.  Abortion on demand is celebrated.  Homosexuality and transgenderism is encouraged.  They use pretty words like, “we need to engage in “serious moral deliberation,” or, “this doesn’t violate Jesus’ principal of unconditional love and forgiveness.”  Or because, Genesis 1:27 (ESV) 27 …God created man in his own image…”.  Using half a verse and some nice words they reject all scripture that does not fit their ideas.  Indeed, God did create man in His own image in Genesis 1, and then Man fell into sin in Genesis 3.  To rationalize sin by saying God made me in His image could be used for any sin.  “I like to steal.  God made me this way.  Even though the 7th Commandment say, “You shall not steal,” it is okay.  God made me in His image.”  Those using this verse to support transgenderism generally don’t use the whole verse.  Genesis 1:27 (ESV) 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” 

We too can fall under the temptation to use our wisdom to try to redefine and justify our sin.  My refusal to forgive is just righteous anger.  We are going to get married, so living together now is just fine.  My hatred of others is because of my loyalty to God.  My private lusts don’t hurt anyone.  My anger is just who I am.  My sin is okay — because I say it is okay. 

            Back to your interview with God.  You are asked to list your strengths and weaknesses.  What do you say?  It really is not hard to answer.  You already did – just 0this morning on your knees as we began the Divine Service.  You confessed that you deserve punishment now and forever and you do not deserve to be forgiven.  You confessed you need Jesus to be your Savior. You declared before God that you have no strengths, you cannot rely on yourself, you are weak, lowly, poor in spirit, hungering and thirsting for things to be right.  You are spiritually bankrupt – and you are blessed by God now and for eternity.  You are saved by the power and wisdom of God through Christ on the cross for you.  In the waters of baptism, God washed you clean and adopted you as His beloved child — not because of your strengths — but because of His.

            1 Corinthians 1:28–29 (ESV) 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 

            This flies in the face of the world’s understanding that you must rely on your own strengths.  You want to think you can count on yourself, but you cannot.  You rely on the Father’s gift of forgiveness in the blood of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:30–31 (ESV) 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 

            What are your strengths and weaknesses?  Your strength is the word of the cross which is the power of God that overcomes your weakness.  That is why we preach Christ crucified.  Amen. 

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Epiphany 3 2026
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
January 25, 2026
Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-25

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            One man is walking north along a road.  What difference could He possibly make?

            Years earlier we find that it is a time of deep darkness for the people living in Naphtali and Zebulun, two of the twelve tribes of Israel.  Naphtali was one of the northern-most tribes and subject to being the first to be invaded and the last to be freed when an enemy attacked.  Zebulun is a small territory just south of Naphtali and strategic because of the Via Maris, The Way of the Sea, which ran east west across Zebulun and North through Naphtali.  This was an important trade road from near Cairo in Egypt all the way to Damascus. 

Isaiah writes our Old Testament lesson during a very dark time for the northern tribes of Israel.  They have been invaded and conquered by the Assyrians who brutally slaughtered many and rounded up and deported much of the population leaving only a remnant behind in the rubble ruled by the Assyrians. 

            It is a crushingly dark, difficult time…a time of deep darkness.  The remnant of Zebulun and Naphtali are experiencing great bitterness and oppression as a conquered people losing their identity.  Isaiah writes to them a message of great hope. 

            Isaiah 9:1 (ESV) 1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.” 

            The former times are what the people are experiencing when Isaiah writes this prophecy.  These are times of anguish and being held in contempt, but the latter times, the times that are to come, will be glorious.

            Isaiah 9:2 (ESV) 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” 

            There will be great joy as at the harvest.  Gladness and rejoicing as when dividing the spoils of victory.  The yoke of burden, the rod of the oppressor will be broken as on the day of Midian. 

            The day of Midian recalls Gideon’s great victory over the huge army of the Midianites with Gideon’s 300 soldiers armed only with torches inside of jars and trumpets.  God helps Gideon defeat the Midianites by throwing them into a panic in which they fought and killed one another. 

            Isaiah promises a great day like that day is coming. Our reading this morning ends with verse four.  If we continue to verse 6 and 7 we hear a familiar promise.  Isaiah 9:6–7 (ESV) 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

            This is quite the promise for the oppressed residents of the former areas of Zebulun and Naphtali and a little over seven hundred years later we see Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled. 

            What do the people imagine this glorious time will look like when they read this prophecy?  Do they imagine a great army marching north to free them from oppression? The reference to the day of Midian should give a hint that God is not going to work the way people think He should work.  Armies should not go to battle with only a few men armed with torches and trumpets. So…how will the new glorious day dawn?

            The dawn of the glorious light begins in an unexpected way. King Herod Antipas arrests John the Baptist for warning the king that he cannot be with his brother’s wife.  When Jesus learns of John’s arrest He withdraws from the area north of the Dead Sea where John had been baptizing and travels north to the east side of the Sea of Galilee thus fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. Jesus is the light of the world and the light walks into the land of deep darkness; a lone man heading north to Capernaum.  When He gets to the Sea of Galilee He likely walks a ways on the Via Maris, the Way of the Sea, which turns north at Tiberius toward Capernaum and on to Damascus.  It may not look like it, but the light has dawned. This man walking north on the road is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This is the King of Israel who will be King forever. 

            The King has come, but instead of heading for the palace in Jerusalem, Jesus is passing through the land of Zebulun heading to Capernaum on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee in what was the territory of Naphtali.  Once in Capernaum Jesus preaches John the Baptist’s sermon.  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  Indeed the kingdom of heaven is at hand because the King has come.  He begins to gather disciples, not from the religious leaders, but starting with fishermen brothers Andrew and Simon Peter, and James and John.  He calls them from being fishers of fish to being fishers of men. The great light shines in the darkness as Jesus reveals who He is to all Galilee by… Matthew 4:23 (ESV) 23 …teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.”

            The light of glory has arrived, and the people flock to hear Jesus teach and to receive healing.  Matthew 4:24–25 (ESV) 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.”  Great crowds come and Jesus preaches to them the Sermon on the Mount.  At the end of Jesus’ sermon… Matthew 7:28–29 (ESV) 28 …the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” 

Who is this who has authority to heal every disease and affliction?  Who is this that has authority over demons?  Who is this who has authority to give new teachings?  Only God has that kind of authority.  Jesus does not look like God, but He is God.  He is the one come to save His people from their sins.  And His people are not just Jews, but all people. This is clearly shown by beginning His ministry in Galilee of the nations; Galilee of the Gentiles. 

            Many believed in Jesus and followed Him, but others rejected Jesus because He was not the Messiah they expected.  Even after Jesus is crucified and risen from the dead and ascended into heaven there is trouble caused by people seeking something more glorious, more exciting, more relevant than Jesus.  They want something different…something better…something more flashy than God in flesh sacrificing Himself on the altar of the cross for the forgiveness of their sins. 

            Paul addresses this kind of trouble in our Epistle reading from 1 Corinthians.  There are factions developing to follow different teachers and Paul warns that these teachers are not their savior.  Do not follow a teacher…follow Christ.  And then Paul describes what He was sent by Jesus to do as a traveling evangelist to the Gentiles. 1 Corinthians 1:17 (ESV) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”  A good sermon should not impress with great eloquence, cleverness and poetry.  A good sermon should bring you Christ, crucified for you. 

            As unlikely as it might seem to unbelievers, the power of your salvation is in the cross of Christ.  To unbelievers, the cross makes no sense.  How could this man — suffering and dying on a cruel, humiliating cross — accomplish anything?  That is not how the world works.  To the world, Jesus’ humble suffering and death is not glorious, but for you, who have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, you know the truth.  You know that Jesus is not just some man; He is God incarnate, God in flesh.  You know Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  You know that this one man walking alone on the road to Capernaum is light dawning on the land of darkness.  You know He is the one sent by the Father to rescue all people from their sins. 

Glory and victory can come in unexpected ways.  Gideon defeats the Midianites with torches and trumpets.  Walking into Galilee, Jesus is the glorious light to the Gentiles.  Jesus’ blood shed on the cross saves you from your sins and gives you eternal life.

            Life as a Christian can seem mundane and boring — just doing what you have been given to do and receiving God’s gifts over and over and over.  The world too often is looking for earthly glory and excitement and entertainment which are all so fleetingly temporary and ultimately unsatisfying. 

            You live in a dark world but you are not alone. Jesus shines light in the darkness in quiet, simple ways.  Even in your darkest days battling despair and disease and grief and oppression, Jesus’ promise to you in your baptism still remains true and brings you joy. You are a redeemed child of God.  Even as you struggle with the darkness of sin and temptation trying snuff out your joy, Jesus is there, with you, giving you forgiveness that you do not deserve.  As you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, the light of Jesus’ glory comes to you in the simple, unexciting ways Jesus promised it would come; in His Word, in the waters of baptism, in the bread and wine of Holy Communion.

            In the depths of their darkness, the prophet Isaiah promised relief to the people of Galilee.  Jesus comes for them.  Jesus comes for you also.  Even though you dwell in a land of deep darkness, on you the light of Christ shines.  Amen. 

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Epiphany 2 2026
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
January 18, 2026
Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Cor. 1:1-9, John 1:29-42a

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            On that fateful Thursday, eating the Passover with His disciples, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit after He departs. John 15:26 (ESV) 26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” 

            Jesus tells them He must go away and they will have sorrow because of it.  John 16:7 (ESV) 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” 

            The Holy Spirit will come to the disciples only after Jesus departs.  Why is that? What is going on with the Holy Spirit? Why will He only come after Jesus leaves?

            We get insight into this by going back to the beginning of the Gospel of John when Jesus arrives at the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist.  John 1:29 (ESV) 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

            This is truly an astonishing title for someone.  “The Lamb of God.”  This brings up remembrance of the lambs whose blood was painted over the doors in Egypt to protect the children of Israel from the plague of the death of the first born.  It brings to mind the lambs sacrificed at the Tabernacle and the Temple to purify these places of worship before God’s presence entered in.  It reminds us of the lambs sacrificed at the Temple as sin offerings to God.  “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”  Jesus is a sacrificial Lamb like no other.  He is the perfect final offering as we read in…  Hebrews 10:10 (ESV) 10 …we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” 

            Jesus’ identity as the Son of God is confirmed for John the Baptist because he was told by God that… John 1:33b (ESV) 33…‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’”

            Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world — and He baptizes with the Holy Spirit. 

            After His crucifixion and burial and resurrection, on the evening His resurrection day, He comes and stands among the disciples in a locked room and shows them His hands and His side and says to them… John 20:21–23 (ESV) 21 … “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 

            Jesus sends the disciples to continue what He began and He gives them the Holy Spirit by breathing on them.  The words for spirit in Hebrew and Greek also mean breath or wind. The Spirit is the breath of God.  As God breathed life into Adam, so Jesus breathes life into the disciples with the Holy Spirit.  Jesus sends them out with authority to forgive and retain sins by the power of the Spirit.  This is a private, preliminary bestowal of the Spirit, commissioning the disciples as apostles; sent ones, to bring the Good News of forgiveness of sins through the blood of the Lamb to the whole world.  The powerful, public bestowal of the spirit comes 50 days later.  Acts 2:1–6 (ESV) 1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.” 

            The sound of this powerful bestowal of the Holy Spirit draws a crowd of thousands to hear the Word of God preached by the disciples who are empowered to speak many languages.  Peter preaches a sermon which he concludes with this convicting statement. Acts 2:36 (ESV) 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 

            The crowd responds to Peter’s sermon.  Acts 2:37–39 (ESV) 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 

            The apostles of Jesus have the Holy Spirit and the Spirit spreads to others.  How does the Spirit spread?  Through the Word of God and baptism.  Repent, and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The forgiveness of the Lamb of God is delivered to you in baptism and hearing the Good News.  You are cleansed of your sin.  Like the Tabernacle and the Temple purified by burnt offerings, your body is purified by the blood of the Lamb in order to receive the presence of God — the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. 

As Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3, in baptism you are born from above by water and the spirit.  As Jesus taught at the last supper, the Spirit will bear witness about Jesus.  He points you to Jesus and gives you faith. As we read in… 1 Corinthians 12:3 (ESV) 3 …no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.”

The Spirit is a bit of a mystery because the Spirit does not amplify Himself. As Jesus teaches… John 16:13 (ESV) 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”  The Spirit is not about self-promotion; rather He points you to Jesus. 

            You are cleansed by the blood of the Lamb of God who washes away all your sin.  Jesus fills you with the Holy Spirit to make you holy and keep you in true faith unto eternal life.  The Holy Spirit’s presence sanctifies you.  He makes you pure and holy — righteous, innocent and blessed.  God dwells in your purified body.  The Spirit also sanctifies you each day to resist sin and temptation, to grow in faith and live a holy life according to God’s will. The Spirit fills you so the evil one cannot take up residence in you — he can only tempt you from outside.  Resist the devil, the world and your own sinful nature and live as one enlivened by the Spirit.  As Paul writes in… Ephesians 4:30–32 (ESV) 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

            The Lamb of God was sacrificed on the altar of the cross to take away all your sin.  Jesus transforms the Passover into the Lord’s Supper where He delivers to you the Body and Blood of the Lamb to continue to cleanse you of your sins and strengthen and preserve you in true faith.  You live in the Kingdom of God under the New Testament, the New Covenant, in the blood of Jesus.  You are, right now, a holy saint of God purified by the blood of the Lamb with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Like those in the church of Corinth in our Epistle reading, Paul could address you… 1 Corinthians 1:2 (ESV) 2 To the church of God that is in [Hamilton], to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:” 

            What a great blessing to live with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in this time between Jesus’ ascension and His return in glory.  The Spirit is God’s deposit, His seal on you; guaranteeing you a place in the Heavenly City. The Spirit comforts you and guides you.  He reveals and upholds the truth.  The Spirit makes you a child of God and gives you wisdom. 

Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world — and who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. You have been purified by the blood of the Lamb and born again in water and the Spirit.  Amen. 

The Martyrdom of the Holy Innocents, Gustave Dore, 1868

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Christmas 1 2025 Holy Innocents
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
December 28, 2025
Isaiah 63:7-14, Galatians 4:4-7, Matthew 2:13-23

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            Christmas is such a wonderful celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Christ, in Bethlehem, which is announced by angels to nearby, lowly shepherds.  Christmas is full of warm, sweet feelings of joy and togetherness.  “Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her king.” You gather with family and friends and enjoy food and fellowship and exchange gifts.  As Andy Williams said in his song, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”  And then we get to December 28th and we are hit in the face with the dark side of Jesus’ arrival.  Today we remember Herod the Great’s slaughter of the Holy Innocents; the baby boys of Bethlehem.  Jesus’ birth brings awful, tragic violence.  Jesus’ birth causes the devil great alarm and the devil tries to destroy Jesus using Herod as his instrument. 

            The devil knows that Jesus is coming and devil knows what this means for him and so as John relates in…  Rev. 12:4b ESV the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.”

            Jesus’ incarnation, His life, His death and His resurrection crush the head of the serpent and the Devil’s status in heaven changes as recorded in the continuing apocalyptic language of Revelation 12:7–9 (ESV) 7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”  The devil could not destroy Jesus because Jesus will die when His time has come.

            John continues the Revelation 12:13-14, 17 ESV 13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time… 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.”

            After the magi depart, God sends an angel to warn Joseph in a dream to immediately depart for Egypt.  Shortly after, under orders from Herod, a band of armed soldiers invade Bethlehem going house to house brutally killing helpless children.  Jesus is safe, but all the other baby boys two years old and younger in Bethlehem are killed in the Devil’s attempt to destroy the Christ, leaving behind weeping, and loud lamentation.  This is such a disturbing account of raw, wicked violence and it comes so close on the heels of the celebration of Jesus’ birth.  It is hard to fathom this kind of evil; killing babies to protect political power.  Jesus’ time on earth is a dark and violent time. 

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the one who has come to bring peace between God and man, also causes violent reactions as the darkness tries to snuff out the light. Simeon warns Mary of this at the Temple. Luke 2:34–35 (ESV) 34 … “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”  And Jesus also warns of this, Matthew 10:34 (ESV) 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”  The devil’s opposition to Jesus and His followers brings death and destruction in the world.

            It is a dark and violent world still today.  The devil could not destroy Jesus so now he continues to make war on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.  The devil promotes chaos and destruction.  He brings war and famine and devastation.  He brings violence and addiction and death.  Watching the news you see death and destruction all around the world, and death and destruction close to home.  You see how evil destroys — people and families and nations and churches. This past week, just before Christmas, a man speeding on River Road without any thought of the safety of others, crossed the center line and instantly killed a ten-year-old boy and his parents.  Evil brings death and destruction.

Death came into the world through the lies of the devil in the Garden of Eden and the devil still loves death; he is the father of death.  There are the crass violent deaths the devil promotes through crime and terrorism and warfare.  But the devil also tries to package mass death to make it seem like loving care.  We shudder to think of the slaughter of a couple of dozen innocent baby boys in Bethlehem, but we are told to call the slaughter of millions of unborn infants, “women’s healthcare,” and view it as a fundamental right.  Instead of protecting the most vulnerable among us, tiny babies are sacrificed to the idol of sexual freedom.  The elderly, the handicapped, the chronically ill and the mentally ill need care and protection but there is an increasing movement to allow doctors to end their lives — to put them out of their misery… like an animal.  We are told to call these murders, “Medical Assistance in Dying.”  In Canada close to 5% of all deaths are from the government killing the sick and infirm and depressed.  This legalized murder is now allowed in 17 U.S. states with New York and Illinois being the most recent.  The devil loves death and destruction especially cloaked in the guise of loving care.  The devil wants you to embrace his godless infertility cult of death which is becoming quite popular with so many in our nation.  The devil is out to destroy us.

            Stay alert.  1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  As a follower of Jesus, the devil is coming after you, so know your enemy.  How will the devil attack you? 

            The devil has many and various strategies.  He deceived Eve by getting her to doubt God’s Word and tempting her to become like God.  He will do the same to you.  “Did God really say?”

The devil will tempt you to despair and destroy yourself by convincing you that your sins are too great and God will not forgive you; that the blood of Jesus is not powerful enough for your sins. 

            Or, the devil will convince you are doing just fine. You are good enough and you can rely on your good works.  You do not need a Savior.

            The devil will convince you that you have autonomy and rule yourself.  You do not need Jesus as King.

            The devil will convince you to judge your behavior not by the Word of God, but by your feelings, so you can decide what is sin and what is not.

            The devil has ordained many wolves to stand in pulpits dressed like sheep to lead people away from the truth of God’s Word.  Many will come to hear these wolves because… 2 Timothy 4:3 (ESV) 3 …people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions…”  These wolves give up the preaching of repentance and forgiveness of sins in the blood of Jesus, and instead are instruments of the devil, encouraging people to worship the idols of prosperity, sexual freedom, and friendship with the world. 

            The devil will attack faithful churches by encouraging followers of Jesus to fight with each other instead of staying on guard against Satan and his minions.  Know your enemy.  Know his strategies.

            Jesus has defeated Satan and you belong to Jesus. So, know your enemy and never despair. Remember, you are baptized.  Daily repent of your sins and follow Jesus. Jesus has marked you as His own in Holy Baptism and He feeds you with His Body and Blood in Holy Communion to strengthen you for the fight.  Stay alert and know you are well-equipped for battle.  Paul tells us in…Ephesians 6:10–13 (ESV) 10 … be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

            Stand firm in Christ.  You are safe from the Evil One.  Despite the chaos of the devil’s death and destruction, in Christ you have victory over the evil one.  You know his lies and his accusations.  You have Jesus on your side and with Jesus you will win.  You have the Holy Spirit in you so the devil cannot take control of you; all he can do is pick at you from outside and try to lure you away from Jesus and His Church.  He can send those to harm your body but he cannot harm your soul. You are safe in the Kingdom of Heaven forever.  You are safe for eternity in Jesus.  Fear God, but do not fear the devil.  Matthew 10:28 (ESV) 28 … do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” 

            Christmas is a wonderful celebration of the incarnation of the Son of God as that baby in Bethlehem, but even in those early days of Jesus’ life we get glimpses as to what is to come.  Baby Jesus is wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger — very likely a stone manger with a hollowed out area for animal feed and water. Jesus lies on the stone wrapped in cloth.  Thirty-three years later, six miles north, outside the walls of Jerusalem, Jesus’ dead body is taken down from the cross and is wrapped in cloths and laid on a stone slab in a tomb. The magi bring myrrh as one of their gifts to the newborn King of the Jews.  When Jesus dies, Nicodemus brings 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes to use as they swaddle His body in linen cloths with the spices.  Jesus’ birth points us to His plan for salvation. 

            The devil could not get Jesus and so he is going after you.  Stay safe in Jesus.  Despite the difficulties of this life, despite the devil’s plagues of death and destruction, you are eternally safe in Jesus and His Church.  Christmas is a wonderful celebration, but remember, it is not a promise of an easy life.  It is a promise of eternal life.  Amen.