EASTER DAY

April 20, 2025

 

Isaiah 65:17–25

1 Corinthians 15:19–26

Luke 24:1–12

Christ’s Resurrection Is the Firstfruits of the New Creation

The Lord has promised to “create new heavens and a new earth” (Is. 65:17), in which His people shall abide in peace and joy. That new creation has begun in the bodily resurrection of Christ Jesus. All the baptized belong to that new creation. Reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, they are “the offspring of the blessed of the Lord” (Is. 65:23). The Lord rejoices and is glad in them; He hears and answers their prayers. For “if in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor. 15:19). But Christ Jesus has been raised, “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20). We may be “perplexed about this” (Luke 24:4), perhaps even frightened and brought to our knees, because it seems like an “idle tale” (Luke 24:11). But faith clings to the Word of Christ and finds His resurrected body — not in the tomb, but in His Holy Supper.

 

EASTER ACCLAMATION

P  Alleluia! Christ is risen!

C  He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

 

CONFESSION                                                                    LSB 184

P   O almighty God, merciful Father,

C   I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

 

ABSOLUTION                                                                LSB 185

P   Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

 

PSALM 16

MEN: Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
WOMEN:  I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

MEN: As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.

WOMEN: The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

MEN: The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
WOMEN: The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

MEN: I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also, my heart instructs me.
WOMEN: I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

MEN: Therefore, my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
WOMEN:  For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

MEN: You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

ALL:  Glory be to the Father and to the Son
    and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
    is now, and will be forever.  Amen.

 

Collect of the Day

P   Let us pray.

Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us. Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

 

OLD TESTAMENT READING                               Isaiah 65:17–25

17“Behold, I create new heavens
    and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
    or come into mind.
18But be glad and rejoice forever
    in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
    and her people to be a gladness.
19I will rejoice in Jerusalem
    and be glad in my people;
no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
    and the cry of distress.
20No more shall there be in it
    an infant who lives but a few days,
    or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the young man shall die a hundred years old,
    and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
21They shall build houses and inhabit them;
    they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22They shall not build and another inhabit;
    they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
    and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23They shall not labor in vain
    or bear children for calamity,
for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord,
    and their descendants with them.
24Before they call I will answer;
    while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
    the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
    and dust shall be the serpent’s food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
    in all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord.

 

 

EPISTLE                                                          1 Corinthians 15:19–26

    19If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

    20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

 

HOLY GOSPEL**                                                        Luke 24:1–12

    1On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8And they remembered his words, 9and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

 

Sermon by Pastor David Matthews:

Grace, Mercy, and Peace to you from God our Father, and from Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The text for our mediation this morning is from our Epistle lesson, 1 Corinthians, chapter fifteen. 
"For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive."  If any of us remained in the Old Adam, we would all perish.  But by a second Adam, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the one who was promised from Genesis chapter three, verse fifteen, which reads, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."

And Jesus did his on Good Friday.  Jesus certainly bruised the head of Satan, with a heavy wooden cross.  Jesus did no just bruise the head of the serpent. He conquered him, and also sin and death.  Today is that victory.  For Christ has arisen.  Our victorious Lord and Savior, coming out of the tomb, and proclaiming victory over sin, death, hell, and Satan himself.

Yet it is hard for many to trust in this promise of eternal life and salvation.  If you look at the demographics of the world, people who say they are Christian are a little over a third of the population of the world, around 33.5%.  Roughly that means 66.5% of the world's population will not be in Heaven.  Which is why it is highly important that we share this Good News of Christ's Resurrection.  This is because Christ's Resurrection is a precursor to our own resurrection.  

Satan is no longer in control of your lives.  And that is the very promise that was proclaimed when the pastor handed you or your parent a white garment at your baptism, and said this from the baptism liturgy, "Receive this white garment to show that you have been clothed with the robe of Christ's righteousness that covers all your sin.  So shall you stand without fear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the inheritance prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

In baptism you were declared righteous before God.  In baptism you were made an heir of Your Father in Heaven.  Satan can no longer touch you.  He will certainly try to tempt you, but His stubby little hands will not be able to devour you like a lion, wating for his prey.  No, in Baptism, you were made righteous.  You have an inheritance that is inherently better than any earthly inheritance.

You get to your Lord and Savior on the Last Day, because He will rise you.  For Scripture says, "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with in a resurrection like his.  We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.  For one who has died has been set from sin.  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him."

And since our Lord and Savior has tasted death, and has conquered all sin, death, and the devil, we will be resurrected.  For Jesus went into the Jordan River, to be baptized.  In our baptism we were united with Him.  And then Jesus went into the wilderness where Jesus then faced all of our temptations, and those temptations were conquered on the cross.  For Jesus tasted death as a punishment for all our sins, even the ones that we want to hide.  As we are united in Jesus' baptism, we are also united to His Resurrection.

You poor miserable sinner, get to arise, and be with you Lord on the Last Day.  That is a promise we hold dear to on Easter Sunday.  For every Easter and every Sunday we prepare ourselves for the feast that happens on the Last Day.  Our Savior lives, and will for eternity.  You also, dear saint in Christ, will live for eternity as well.

Chris is risen! He has risen indeed! Alleluia!

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Now may the peace of Christ which surpasses all human understanding, guard and keep your minds on Christ Jesus, until life everlasting.  Amen.

PALM SUNDAY / CONFIRMATION

April 13, 2025

 

John 12:12–19 (Palm Sunday Procession)

Deuteronomy 32:36–39

Philippians 2:5–11

 Luke 23:1–56

 

The Cross and Passion of Our Lord Are the Hour of His Glory

The King of Israel comes into His royal glory by the path of humble obedience “to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:8). He “goes as it has been determined” (Luke 22:22), according to the Scriptures, willingly submitting to His Father’s plan for the salvation of sinners. “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name” (Phil. 2:9). His suffering and death open the way of repentance for the forgiveness of sins because He goes to the cross bearing the sins of the world. In His resurrection, God the Father vindicates His people and has compassion on His servants (Deut. 32:36). He kills to make alive; He wounds in order to heal. In remembrance of Him, we praise God, confessing “that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:11).

 

GREETING

P    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C    Amen.

P    Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

C   Hosanna to the Son of David.

 

 

PROCESSION OF PALMS

P Most merciful God, as the people of Jerusalem, with palms in their hands, gathered to greet Your dearly beloved Son when He came into His Holy City, grant that we may ever hail Him as our King and, when He comes again, may go forth to meet Him with trusting and steadfast hearts and follow Him in the way that leads to eternal life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

C Amen.

 

READING:                                       Luke 19:28–44

P   A reading from St. Luke, the nineteenth chapter.

 

    28And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

    41And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

 

P   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

P   Let us go forth in peace,

C   in the name of the Lord.

 

VOTUM

P   Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

C   Hosanna in the highest.

 

INVOCATION                                                                     LSB 151

P   In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

P   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

 

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION                                LSB 151

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

P   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name.  Amen.

P    Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

 

INTROIT:                         Psalm 24:7-10; antiphon: Psalm 118:26

P Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
    C We bless you from the house of the Lord.
P Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
    C that the King of glory may come in.
P Who is this King of glory?
    C The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!
P Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors,
    C that the King of glory may come in.
P Who is this King of glory?
    C The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!

C Glory be to the Father and to the Son
            and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
            is now, and will be forever. Amen.
P Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
    C We bless you from the house of the Lord.

 

OLD TESTAMENT:                                  Deuteronomy 32:36-39

36 The Lord will vindicate his people
    and have compassion on his servants,
when he sees that their power is gone
    and there is none remaining, bond or free.
37Then he will say, “Where are their gods,
    the rock in which they took refuge,
38who ate the fat of their sacrifices
    and drank the wine of their drink offering?
Let them rise up and help you;
    let them be your protection!

39“See now that I, even I, am he,
    and there is no god beside me;
I kill and I make alive;
    I wound and I heal;
    and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.”

 

EPISTLE:                                                               Philippians 2:5–11

    5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

VERSE

C   He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

 

HOLY GOSPEL:                                                          Luke 23:1–56

    1Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2And 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.” 3And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

    6When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

    13Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16I will therefore punish and release him.”

    18But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

    26And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

    32Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

    39One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

    44It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

    50Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.

    On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

 

Sermon by Pastor David Matthews

Grace, Mercy, and Peace to you from God our Father and from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Today is a Sunday like no other.  At the beginning of the service the children of our congregation waved Palm branches around.  Jesus does no come into Jerusalem in a pompous manner, He comes into a humble manner.  He does no come on the back of a great white war horse, but on the back of a donkey, a beast of burden symbolizing peace and humility.  And donkey's had a great significance.  In fact in the Old Testament, riding on a donkey is how kings would come into a city.

"And the king said to them, "Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my mule, and bring him down to Gihon. And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel.  The blow the trumpet and say, 'Long live King Solomon!' . . . So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and hand Solomon ride on King David's mule and brought him to Gihon.  There Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon.  Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, 'Long live King Solomon!'" (1 Kings 1:33-34, 38-39).

Jesus coming into Jerusalem was also him fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, you king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

Instead of blasting a trumpet, the crowd shouted, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

The sad thing is that they have their celebration for the wrong thing.  They rejoiced and gave praise to God "with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen."  The people are celebrating, yet they are completely missing the mark.  Which is why at the end of the Gospel lesson, Jesus is seen weeping.  He knows that their unbelief will be their demise.  For Jesus says, "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes."

And that is what Jesus came to do.  He came to proclaim peace not on a war horse, but on a donkey.  From the very beginning of Jesus' life, Jesus came to proclaim peace in humble means.  For we all know that Jesus was born, wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manager.  He obediently followed the orders of His Father, Our Father in Heaven, where He went into the waters of the Jordan River, to be baptized in not clear water, but murky water.  He was cast into the wilderness, and triumphed over all the sins that we have or will ever face.  And now He is on a donkey, with people placing palm branches as He marches to His death.

If you notice though, Jesus was placed on the donkey, not by His own strength, but by the disciples whom He instructed to go find the donkey.  This is quite significant, Jesus is placed as an object on the donkey, which is a precursor to Jesus being placed as an object on the cross.  Both times Jesus is not under His own power, but by others.

There is another significant portion of our text this morning.  You may not know where the Mount of Olives is located on a map, but theologically it is important to highlight.  This is the same mountain that Jesus will ascend into Heaven, on Ascension Day, which is always 40 days after Easter.  This is also the same mountain where the Garden of Gethsemane is, which all of us remember, is the place Jesus was praying before the Roman guards came to arrest Jesus.  Jesus throughout His ministry had retreated to the Mount of Olives or Olivet, to teach his disciples, and to pray.

Whey is all of this important you may ask?  If you think about it, Jesus came into the world to die, but He also came to rise from the dead.  Jesus came from His majestic throne in Heaven to redeem all of us, poor, miserable sinners. But He would also come to ascend back into Heaven to be even closer to us, through the Lord's Supper.  Likewise Jesus descends the mountain to die, to end sin, death, and hell.  And this event sets in motion, that Jesus will march to His death.

And thee Pharisees are shaking in their boots.  They know that the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, is going to come to fruition, but they cannot accept it.  They want to rebuke the crowd giving praise for the wrong reason, but Jesus rebukes them, saying, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out."  For Jesus knows that if the crowd was silent, nature would cry out.  And if you think about it.  Nature will cry out, and you can see that on a daily basis.  Creation crys out the glory of God, yet many people are blind to that fact.  Just look outside, God's creation is crying out in various ways; bird chirping, the thunder and rain, the wind blowing, and many other ways.

There is also another reason that Jesus refers to stones crying out.  For Jesus, is the cornerstone that has been rejected.  Yet St. Peter writes, "you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen, and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.'"

Jesus wants us to know that we are stones that should not be proclaiming the excellencies of Christ.  We ought not be as boneheaded as the Pharisees, who have less faith, than a stone.  Rather we should confess with our words and actions that we believe that Jesus has come into this world to die for the sake of the whole world.  If you live a life that is not Christian, and you say you are a Christian repent.  We have to be unified in doctrine and belief.  We cannot miss the mark that Jesus had died for our sins, and gives us eternal life and salvation.  To miss that is to be like a Pharisee, one without faith and hope.

Jesus came into the world in a humble manner, and Jesus marches to the cross in a humble manner.  Let us keep our eyes on Jesus as He marches to His death, and never forget the reason why.  To redeem you, a lost and condemned person, from sin, death, hell and Satan himself.

In the Name of Jesus.  Amen.

FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT

April 6, 2025

 

Isaiah 43:16–21

Philippians 3:(4b–7) 8–14

Luke 20:9–20

 

God’s Beloved Son Has Redeemed Us

Our life and works apart from Christ, no matter how they may glitter to the eyes of the world, are ultimately rubbish and have no righteousness. Rather, in the scandalous cross of Jesus, we find our righteousness alone “through faith in Christ” (Phil. 3:9). By such faith, we “know him and the power of his resurrection” (Phil. 3:10). For the same God who brought Israel out of Egypt has done a “new thing” for us in Christ Jesus (Is. 43:19). He has sent His beloved Son into His vineyard to be killed by sinful men and to become “the stone that the builders rejected.” Yet, the One rejected by men “has become the cornerstone” of His Church (Luke 20:17). Through the waters of Holy Baptism, He provides us daily refreshment in our earthly pilgrimage, “a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Is. 43:19).

 

INVOCATION                                                                     LSB 151

P   In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

P   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION                                LSB 151

P   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P    Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

 

INTROIT                                              Psalm 3:3-6; antiphon: v. 8

P Salvation belongs to the Lord;
    C your blessing be on your people!
P But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
    C my glory, and the lifter of my head.
P I cried aloud to the Lord,
    C and he answered me from his holy hill.
P I lay down and slept;
    C I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
P I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
    C who have set themselves against me all around.
C Glory be to the Father and to the Son
    and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
    is now, and will be forever. Amen.
P Salvation belongs to the Lord;
    C your blessing be on your people!

 

COLLECT OF THE DAY**                                              LSB 156

P   Let us pray.

Almighty God, by Your great goodness mercifully look upon Your people that we may be governed and preserved evermore in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 C   Amen.

 

OLD TESTAMENT READING                               Isaiah 43:16–21

16Thus says the Lord,
    who makes a way in the sea,
    a path in the mighty waters,
17who brings forth chariot and horse,
    army and warrior;
they lie down, they cannot rise,
    they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
18“Remember not the former things,
    nor consider the things of old.
19Behold, I am doing a new thing;
    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
    and rivers in the desert.
20The wild beasts will honor me,
    the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness,
    rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
    21the people whom I formed for myself
that they might declare my praise.”

 

EPISTLE                                                               Philippians 3:8–14

    8Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

    12Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

VERSE OF THE DAY

C    The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

 

HOLY GOSPEL**                                                       Luke 20:9–20

P   The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the twentieth chapter.

C   Glory to You, O Lord.

     9[Jesus] began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. 10When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. 13Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” 17But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:

‘The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone’?

18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

    19The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. 20So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.

 P   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C   Praise to You, O Christ.

 

Sermon by Pastor David Matthews

Grace, Mercy, and Peace to you from God our Father and from Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hear the words of Christ, "And he began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for  along while."

Today, we gather to hear a parable spoken by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, from the Gospel of St. Luke.  In this parable, we encounter a vineyard, a landowner, and  a series of tenants who abuse their responsibility and reject the rightful authority of the one who sent them.  Jesus uses this parable not only to speak to those who stood before Him in His day but also to reveal the spiritual truth about God's Kingdom, His justice, and His mercy.

In this parable, Jesus begins by telling of a man who planted a vineyard, rented it out to tenants, and went away on a long journey.  The vineyard, of course, is a symbol of God's people, Israel.  The owner of the vineyard, the landowner, represents God.  The tenants represent the religious leaders and the people who are entrusted with the care of God's kingdom on earth.

Now, as the time for harvest approaches, the landowner sends a servant to collect the fruit of the vineyard - these servants represent God sending His prophets to Israel to call His people to repentance, faith, and righteous living.  But what happens?  The tenants, those who were entrusted with God's vineyard, mistreat the servant.  They beat him and send him away empty-handed.

So the landowner, sends another servant, and the tenants do the same thing - beating him, treating him shamefully, and sending him away.  The landowner then send even a third servant, and they do the same to him.  Now, at this point, one might expect the landowner to send an army to take strong action against the tenants.  But instead, he decides to send his beloved son, saying, "perhaps they will respect him."

But what to the tenants do?  They plot to kill the son, thinking that by doing so, they will seize the inheritance for themselves.  They then kill the son and throw him out of the vineyard.  Jesus then asks the question, "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?" He answers, "He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others."  The people listening couldn't believe their ears, and they say, "Surely not!"

But then Jesus, quotes Psalm 118:22-23, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."  He makes it clear that He, the Son of God, is the one whom the religious leaders and the people of Israel are rejecting.

Here is the heart of the parable.  The tenants were entrusted with the vineyard, but they did not honor the landowner.  When the son-the heir-came, they rejected him because they did not want to acknowledge his authority over them.  Instead, they plotted to destroy them.

This is exactly what the religious leaders were planning to do to Jesus.  He was the one sent by God, but they were rejecting His authority.  And, sadly, the rejection of Jesus was not a new phenomenon-it was a part of Israel's history.  The prophets whom God had sent to call Israel to repentance were often rejected, mistreated, and killed.  And now, the ultimate Prophet, the Son of God Himself, stood before them, and they too would reject Him and plot His death.

The parable ends with the religious leaders recognizing that Jesus was speaking about them.  But rather than repent, they were filled with anger and wanted to arrest Him.  They were determined to silence Him, to put an end to His challenging words.  But they feared the people, for the people recognized Jesus as a prophet.

Jesus' words here are not just a condemnation of religious leaders of His time.  They are a warning to all people who reject His authority and His call to repentance.  The vineyard, which represents the kingdom of God, will be given to others, those who receive the gospel with joy, those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

As we reflect on this parable, we must ask ourselves: Are we like the wicked tenants, rejecting the authority of the Son? Or do we recognize Jesus as the rightful heir, the Savior, the Lord of our lives?

There is an important lesson here for all of us.  The Kingdom of God is not ours to control.  It belongs to God.  And He has given us the responsibility to tend His vineyard to live as His faithful people, to proclaim His Word, and to bear fruit in keeping with repentance.  But when we reject God's authority, when we refuse to listen to His Word, we are no different than the wicked tenants in the parable.

God has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to redeem us from our sin, to die for us on the cross, and to rise again for our justification.  And yet, there are many who continue to reject Him, to live as though they are the masters of their own lives, not recognizing the authority of Christ over them.

But here's the good news: Even though the tenants rejected the son, the landowner did not abandon the vineyard.  Even though the people of Israel rejected Jesus, God's plan of salvation continued.  And even though we have sinned and fallen short of God's glory, God continues to invite us into His kingdom.

The question before us today is: Will we respond in faith, recognizing Jesus as the Son of God and our Savior? Will we receive the gospel with joy and gratitude? Will we bear fruit in keeping with repentance, living lives that reflect God's love and grace?

God calls us to repentance and faith.  He calls us to turn away from our sins and to trust in the promises of the gospel.  And He calls us to live as faithful stewards of the vineyard He has entrusted to us.

Dear beloved Saints in Christ, let us no be like the wicked tenants who rejected the Son.  Instead, let us receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  Let us bear fruit in His kingdom, living lives that honor Him in all we do.

As we go about our daily lives, let us remember the vineyard is not ours, it is God's And He has called us to serve His faithfully, to bear fruit, and to share the good news of His kingdom with all people.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.