Posted On: March 09th, 2006 at 5:29 am
Wednesday of Lent I Trinity Lutheran Church 8 March 2006 Murdock, NE
+ Jesu Juva +
The Passion of Our Lord Drawn From the Four Gospels: The Lord’s Supper (Lenten theme: “I believe in Jesus Christ my Lord.”)
Jesus is Lord. Lord of lords. King of kings. The theme for Wednesday Vespers is: “I believe in Jesus Christ my Lord.” What kind of Lord is He?
He is a Lord that suffers. Chief priests and scribes, theological thugs, are planning to murder Lord Jesus. One of His own apostles, Judas Iscariot, makes a deal with the theological thugs to put a hit on the Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus suffers this apostle to be Satan’s instrument. And then Lord Jesus suffers strife among the twelve apostles. They argue about who among them will be the greatest. The Lord Jesus suffers to be a servant. Washing His disciples feet. Then Lord Jesus celebrates the Passover like it belongs to Him. He says things that never were spoken at a Passover. Like: “This bread is my body. Given for you.” And: “This cup is my blood of the new testament. Shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
Do you believe in this Lord Jesus? Or would you prefer another Lord Jesus?
What would another Lord Jesus look like? He certainly would not be betrayed by an apostle. Or when betrayed by Judas Iscariot, Jesus would take him out to the wood shed. He wouldn’t allow His disciples to argue. He would never stoop so low to act like a butler and wash His disciples’ feet. Most of all, He’d never allow Himself to be murdered! The brutal plans of the chief priests and scribes would come to nothing. And He’d in no way suffer His body and blood to be imprisoned in a loaf of bread and a cup of wine. No suffering Servant Lord Jesus here.
Prefer that kind of Lord Jesus and you have no Savior. You’re history. Unforgiven. Dead. Damned.
But Jesus is Lord. Suffering Servant Lord. The Lord who suffers murderous plots, betrayal, strife, and unbelief.
He gives His body into suffering and death. He gives His body with bread to eat. He gives His blood with wine to drink. For the forgiveness of all sin. Yours. Mine. The world’s. Judas Iscariot’s. Peter’s.
What a Lord! A forgiveness Lord. A Lord who forgives you. He suffers and dies for you and all sinners. Who redeemed you a lost and condemned person. Purchased and won you from all sin, death and the power of the devil. Not with gold or silver. But with His holy precious blood and His innocent suffering and death.
What a Lord! He gives you His crucified body and blood to eat and drink for you for the forgiveness of your sins.