Reminiscere: Remember o LORD +

Posted on February 27, 2021 by Wilhelm Weber
Rearview of the reformation altar in the city church of Wittenberg: St. Marys

Tomorrow is the 2nd Sunday in Lent and is called “Reminiscere” (Remember!). This is a reference to the Introit from Psalm 25. It invites us to call upon the triune God, pleading him to remember his tender mercies and loving kindnesses, which endure forever. The above altar by Lucas Cranach jr (1548) depicts three such pointers to God´s mercies and gracious favors.

Remember your compassionate and faithful deeds, O Lord,
My God, I trust in you.
Please do not let me be humiliated;
do not let my enemies triumphantly rejoice over me.
Make me understand your ways, O Lord.
Teach me your paths.
The Lord is both kind and fair; that is why he teaches sinners the right way to live.
The Lord always proves faithful and reliable to those who follow the demands of his covenant. For the sake of your reputation, O Lord, forgive my sin, because it is great.

Psalm 25,6.1f.4.8.10f

This divine compassion and loving kindness is exemplified in the Gospel of St. John with our Lord´s story of the elevation of the bronze serpent (see the right panel of the reformation altar above), whereby he points us to his own elevation on the cross:

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed.  But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God.

The holy Gospel according to St. John 3:14-21

The truly amazing part of this story is that God´s showed us his gracious favor and loving kindness – when we were still sinners! That´s the message of the epistle lesson:

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have also obtained access into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

St. Paul´s letter to the Romans 5:1-11

It´s on this backdrop, that the true monstrosity of sinful abomination and rejection of God´s loving graces becomes clear. He, who does all and everything for us and our salvation, comes to realize time and again that his loving pursuit is in vain and attains horrible opposition. God´s prophet Isaiah puts this into dramatic words in his song of God´s vineyard – and that´s the assigned sermon text for this Sunday: Isaiah 5:1-7.

So we will join the Christian church in singing pastor Paul Eber´s hymn, which is translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878):

1 When in the hour of deepest need
We know not where to look for aid;
When days and nights of anxious thought
No help or counsel yet have brought.

2 Then is our comfort this alone
That we may meet before Your throne;
To You, O faithful God, we cry
For rescue from our misery.

3 For You have promised, Lord, to heed
Your children’s cries in time of need
Through Him whose name alone is great,
Our Savior and our advocate.

4 And so we come, O God, today
And all our woes before You lay;
For sorely tried, cast down, we stand,
Perplexed by fears on ev’ry hand.

5 O from our sins, Lord, turn Your face;
Absolve us through Your boundless grace.
Be with us in our anguish still;
Free us at last from ev’ry ill.

6 So we with all our hearts each day
To You our glad thanksgiving pay,
Then walk obedient to Your Word,
And now and ever praise You, Lord.

Posted in Hymns, Lent, Old Latin School in Wittenberg, psalms and spiritual songs | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Virtual visit to Blankenburg (Harz)

Posted on February 27, 2021 by Wilhelm Weber
  • Blankenburg (Harz)

Blankenburg (Harz) is not quite two hours drive from Wittenberg – in a beautiful setting at the foot of the Harz hills in central Germany.

It´s history is interlinked with Michaelstein Abbey and the philosopher Oswald Spengler – author of the influential “Decline of the West” was born here in 1880.

Here the notes from “Deutsche Kunstdenkmäler Sachsen-Anhalt. Ein Bildhandbuch” (Leipzig 1993)

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You will understand … Lenten service 2

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Wilhelm Weber
  • 7 weeks with God
  • John 13 (Lucas Cranach sr)
  • Lk.22,7-23
Jesus replied: “You do not understand what I am doing now, but you will understand after these things.” (Jo13,7)

The 2nd Lenten Service is coming up. We´re following the propers of the local lectionary. The Introit starts us off with the 2nd penitential Psalm:

How blessed is the one whose rebellious acts are forgiven,
whose sin is pardoned.
How blessed is the one whose wrongdoing the Lord does not punish,
in whose spirit there is no deceit.
When I refused to confess my sin, my whole body wasted away, while I groaned in pain all day long.
For day and night you tormented me; you tried to destroy me in the intense heat of summer. (Selah)
Then I confessed my sin;
I no longer covered up my wrongdoing.
I said, “I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord.”
And then you forgave my sins. (Selah)
For this reason every one of your faithful followers should pray to you while there is a window of opportunity.
Certainly when the surging water rises, it will not reach them.
You are my hiding place; you protect me from distress.
You surround me with shouts of joy from those celebrating deliverance. (Selah)
I will instruct and teach you about how you should live.
I will advise you as I look you in the eye.
Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule, which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.
An evil person suffers much pain, but the Lord’s faithfulness overwhelms the one who trusts in him.
Rejoice in the Lord and be happy, you who are godly!
Shout for joy, all you who are morally upright!

Psalm 32

The Old Testament lesson is the account of the institution of the Passover (Exodus 12,1.3.7-8.12-14.26-27) and the Gospel lesson from St. Luke takes us to our Lord´s institution of His Holy Supper in the night He was betrayed and during their celebration of the Passover feast:

Then the day for the feast of Unleavened Bread came, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.  Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us to eat.” They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?” He said to them, “Listen when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters, and tell the owner of the house,‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large furnished room upstairs. Make preparations there.” So they went and found thing just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

Now when the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table and the apostles joined him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves.  For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”And in the same way he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

“But look, the hand of the one who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man is to go just as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” So they began to question one another as to which of them it could possibly be who would do this.

Gospel of St. Luke 22,7-23

The sermon text supplements this most perfectly:

Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that his time had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end.  The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray Jesus. Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, he got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around himself.  He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself. Then he came to Simon Peter. Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but you will understand after these things.” 

Gospel of St. John 13,1-7

Together with the church of old we sing in the translation of Robert Campbell (1814-1868):

1 At the Lamb’s high feast we sing
Praise to our victorious King,
Who has washed us in the tide
Flowing from His piercèd side.
Alleluia!

2 Praise we Him, whose love divine
Gives His sacred blood for wine,
Gives His Body for the feast–
Christ the victim, Christ the priest.
Alleluia!

3 Where the paschal blood is poured,
Death’s dread angel sheathes the sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.
Alleluia!

4 Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal victim, paschal bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we manna from above.
Alleluia!

5 Mighty Victim from the sky,
Hell’s fierce pow’rs beneath You lie;
You have conquered in the fight,
You have brought us life and light.
Alleluia!

6 Now no more can death appall,
Now no more the grave enthrall;
You have opened paradise,
And Your saints in You shall rise.
Alleluia!

7 Easter triumph, Easter joy!
This alone can sin destroy;
From sin’s pow’r, Lord, set us free,
Newborn souls in You to be.
Alleluia!

8 Father, who the crown shall give,
Savior, by whose death we live,
Spirit, guide through all our days;
Three in One, Your name we praise.
Alleluia!

Lutheran Service Book 633

And here is the German order for this Lenten Service: II Passionsandacht (26.2.2021). We use the hymnal of our sister church (SELK): Evangelisch-Lutherisches Kirchengesangbuch

  1. Eingang: „O Mensch, bewein Dein Sünde groß…“ (54,1)
  2. 2. Bußpsalm: Psalm 32 (614)
  3. Exodus 12,1-3.7-8.12-14.26-27 (Einsetzung des Passamahls)
  4. Lied des Tages: „Das Wort geht vom Vater aus…“ (161,1-6)
  5. Evangelium nach Lukas: Lk.22:7-13 (Abendmahl)
  6. Martin Luthers Erklärung des 2.Artikels: „Ich glaube, dass IX… „ S.1267
  7. „Ehre sei Dir Christe…“ (57,7)
  8. Predigt-Meditation: Joh.13,1-7 (Fußwaschung)
  9. Litanei: „Kyrie eleison…“ 138
  10. Gebet zur Passionszeit/Vater unser & Segen
  11. Ausgang: „So laßt uns nun ihm dankbar sein…“ (54,2)
Lucas Cranach jr 1567: “The Lord´s Supper” as found on the altar of St. Marys (Lutherstadt Wittenberg)
Posted in Bibel und Übersetzung, Hymns, Lectionary etc, Lent, Old Latin School in Wittenberg, You comfort me + | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

B for “Ballenstedt im Harz”

Posted on February 22, 2021 by Wilhelm Weber

Well, we´re on to B for now. B for Ballenstedt!

Ballenstedt

This is where Johann Arndt, the author of “Four books of true Christendom” with considerable influence in Russia (!) was born on the 27th of December 1555 – or perhaps it was in Edderitz. In the German version of Wikipedia we read more about him:

Fürst Joachim Ernst nahm die Konkordienformel von 1577 nicht an, sondern erließ 1585 eine gesonderte Bekenntnisformel. Im Jahr 1589 verlangte sein Nachfolger, Fürst Johann Georg von Anhalt, die Abschaffung des Exorzismus in der Taufe. Arndt lehnte dies ab und weigerte sich, sich dem neuen Bekenntnis zu unterwerfen. Am 10. September 1590 gab Arndt eine entsprechende Erklärung ab. Wenige Tage später wurde ihm das Amt entzogen und er wurde des Landes verwiesen. Arndt vermutete zu Recht, dass dieses Bekenntnis nur der erste Schritt zum Übertritt des Fürstentums Anhalt zum Calvinismus sein würde. 1596 führte Fürst Johann Georg den Calvinismus ein. 1590 nahm Arndt deshalb eine Pfarrstelle an der Nikolaikirche in Quedlinburg an, wo er bis 1599 blieb. Anschließend wirkte er als Pfarrer und Autor in Braunschweig (bis 1609), in Eisleben und von 1611 bis 1621 als Generalsuperintendent in Celle.

Inscription under his portrait reads: “Christ has many servants, but few followers”. That´s the German and Russian cover of his famous book: “Vier Bücher vom wahren Christentum”

The romantic Caspar David Friedrich (*5.9.1774 Greifswald +7.5.1840 Dresden) used the landscape in Ballenstedt for his famous “Gartenterrasse” (1811):

Here are some more impressions from Ballenstedt:

Ballenstedt: Go see for yourself – it´s beautiful.

So, as long as the sun shines: Safe travelling – even if it´s just virtual from home 😉

Posted in Gedankensplitter, Saxony-Anhalt, Travels, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Biblestudy before the 2nd Sunday in Lent: “Reminiscere”

Posted on February 22, 2021 by Wilhelm Weber

Our Bible study is coming up and it´s all about the triune God´s passionate pursuit of His people:

I will sing to my love — a song to my lover about his vineyard.
My love had a vineyard on a fertile hill.
He built a hedge around it, removed its stones, and planted a vine.
He built a tower in the middle of it, and constructed a winepress.
He waited for it to produce edible grapes, but it produced sour ones instead.

So now, residents of Jerusalem, people of Judah, you decide between me and my vineyard!
What more can I do for my vineyard beyond what I have already done?
When I waited for it to produce edible grapes, why did it produce sour ones instead?

Now I will inform you what I am about to do to my vineyard:
I will remove its hedge and turn it into pasture,
I will break its wall and allow animals to graze there.
I will make it a wasteland; no one will prune its vines or hoe its ground, and thorns and briers will grow there.
I will order the clouds not to drop any rain on it.

Indeed, Israelis the vineyard of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
the people of Judah are the cultivated place in which he took delight.
He waited for justice, but look what he got—disobedience!
He waited for fairness, but look what he got—cries for help!

Isaiah 5:1-7

Further reading:

Dr. Martin Luther´s Commentary: LW 16Download
Concordia CommentaryDownload
Exposition from the Pulpit CommentaryDownload

Gospel of St. Mark 12,1-12

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Psalm 91,15: Invocavit…

Posted on February 21, 2021 by Wilhelm Weber

Ready for church on this 1st Sunday in Lent (Invocavit). “Invocavit” means “He has called” and refers to our God´s promise: “When he calls out to me, I will answer him. I will be with him when he is in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him honor.” (Psalm 91,15) So, we come to Him this morning to call and cry to Him in all our trouble. We trust, that He will rescue us – just as He always has through Jesus Christ, His Son and our Lord and God, who rules and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit – one God – now and always. Amen.

The candles are burning. The table is set and we´re full of great expectations to celebrate our Lord´s victory of sin, death and devil. He did just that to fulfill his mission: For this purpose  the Son of God was revealed: to destroy  the works of the devil. (1.Joh.3,8b)

  • Lucas Cranach (1564)

We got weighty lessons on the menu today:

  • Psalm 91,1-6.9-12
  • Genesis 3,1-19 (20-24)
  • Hebrews 4,14-16
  • Matthews 4,1-11
  • John 13,21-30 (Sermon)

And some very special hymns too:

We´ll be using the Prayer provided by our sister church for this Sunday:

Almighty God, You led Your ancient people through the desert and brought them to the Promised Land. Guide the people of Your Church, that following our Savior, we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, You disdain nothing that You have made. Create in us new and contrite hearts, that lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, we would receive Your absolution with true penitence. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, because we are dust, stretch forth the right hand of Your majesty and defend us from those that rise up against Your Church. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, preserve all catechumens and their teachers, all children and their parents, and every Christian home from the assaults of the evil one. As Your Son overcame Satan in the desert by the Word of God, so also give us the victory through Christ and His Word. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, since we sojourn in the wilderness of this earth, look upon our desire for peace, and by Your mighty power defend us and our nation against all our enemies. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, send Your holy angels to protect and keep us in Your ways, that no evil may befall us. Graciously behold the needy, the sick and the troubled [especially _____________]. Satisfy us with long life, and show us Your salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, You covered the sin and shame of our first parents with animal skin and foreshadowed Your perfect sacrifice in the shedding of Your Son’s blood, by which we are cleansed and clothed. Give us the garments of repentance and faith, that we may receive Your Son’s body and blood for the forgiveness of all our sins. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, heavenly Father, inasmuch as the adversary continually afflicts us and as a roaring lion walks about, seeking to devour us: We implore You for the sake of the suffering and death of Your Son, Jesus Christ, to help us by the grace of the Holy Spirit and to strengthen our hearts by Your Word, that our enemy may not prevail over us, but that we may evermore abide in Your grace and be preserved unto everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Wishing You and Yours are very blessed Sunday +

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To destroy the works of the devil…

Posted on February 20, 2021 by Wilhelm Weber

Looking forward to the 1st Sunday in Lent: “Invocavit”, which gives us the purpose of our Lord´s going up to Jerusalem, suffering and dying on the cross:

For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil.

1.John 3,8b

This serious theme is introduced in the Introit for this Sunday and emphasized by its various lessons:

As for you, the one who lives in the shelter of the Most High, and resides in the protective shadow of the Sovereign One – I say this about the Lord, my shelter and my stronghold, my God in whom I trust – he will certainly rescue you from the snare of the hunter and from the destructive plague.
He will shelter you with his wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall. You need not fear the terrors of the night, the arrow that flies by day, the plague that stalks in the darkness, or the disease that ravages at noon. Though a thousand may fall beside you, and a multitude on your right side, it will not reach you. Certainly you will see it with your very own eyes – you will see the wicked paid back.
For you have taken refuge in the Lord, my shelter, the Most High. No harm will overtake you; no illness will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you in all you do. They will lift you up in their hands, so you will not slip and fall on a stone. You will subdue a lion and a snake; you will trample underfoot a young lion and a serpent.
The Lord says, “Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he is loyal to me. When he calls out to me, I will answer him.I will be with him when he is in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him honor. I will satisfy him with long life, and will let him see my salvation.

Psalm 91

The Sermon outline goes like this: The Lenten season is one of temptation, struggle and warfare, but thanks be to the triune God – the deed is done and Jesus has conquered. His victory is ours. Amen.

  • That conflict starts in paradise (Gn.3)
  • Continues in the desert – in isolation and quaratine (Mt.4)
  • Goes on in community, even the most holy circles (Joh.13,21-30)
  • It was decided in Jesus favor on Golgotha. He is the only victor + (Hebrews 4)
  • Thanks to Him we are free to live in the light of Easter and anticipation of His return in glory!

Thus encouraged by God´s victory and mighty promises, we sing with the Christian Church:

Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us, We tremble not, we fear no ill, They shall not overpow’r us. This world’s prince may still Scowl fierce as he will, He can harm us none, He’s judged; the deed is done; One little word can fell him.

Martin Luther 1528
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Father, forgive them + Lenten Service 1

Posted on February 19, 2021 by Wilhelm Weber

Today´s our first Lenten service after Ash Wednesday. We´re following the propers from the local lectionary. That starts off with the first penitential Psalm:

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger.
Do not discipline me in your raging fury.
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am frail.
Heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking.
I am absolutely terrified,
and you, Lord—how long will this continue?
Relent, Lord, rescue me!
Deliver me because of your faithfulness.
For no one remembers you in the realm of death.
In Sheol who gives you thanks?
I am exhausted as I groan.
All night long I drench my bed in tears;
my tears saturate the cushion beneath me.
My eyes grow dim from suffering;
they grow weak because of all my enemies.
Turn back from me, all you who behave wickedly,
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
The Lord has heard my appeal for mercy;
the Lord has accepted my prayer.
They will be humiliated and absolutely terrified.
All my enemies will turn back and be suddenly humiliated.

Psalm 6

The Old Testament lesson is the account of the original fall (Genesis 3) and the gospel lesson is the sermon text, which supplements that of coming Sunday´s (John 13,21-30) excellently:

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. The chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find some way to executeJesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve. He went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard how he might betray Jesus, handing him over to them. They were delighted and arranged to give him money. So Judas agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus when no crowd was present.

Luke 22:1-6

The first Word of our dear Lord and God Jesus given for our meditation is His comforting prayer:

Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.

Luke 23:34a

And we pray with Claudia F. Hernaman (1838-1898) and Gilbert E. Doan (1930)

O Lord, throughout these forty days
you prayed and kept the fast;
inspire repentance for our sin,
and free us from our past.

You strove with Satan, and you won;
your faithfulness endured;
lend us your nerve, your skill and trust
in God’s eternal word.

Though parched and hungry, yet you prayed
and fixed your mind above;
so teach us to deny ourselves
that we may know God’s love.

Be with us through this season, Lord,
and all our earthly days,
that when the final Easter dawns,
we join in heaven’s praise.

Lutheran Service Book 418

And here is the German order for this Lenten Service: I Passionsandacht (19.2.2021). We use the hymnal of our sister church (SELK): Evangelisch-Lutherisches Kirchengesangbuch

  1. Lied zum Eingang: „O Mensch, bewein Dein Sünde groß…“ (54,1)
  2. 1. Bußpsalm: Psalm 6
  3. Lesung aus dem Alten Testament: Genesis 3
  4. Lied des Tages: „Jesu, Deine Passion will ich jetzt bedenken…“ (67)
  5. Lesung aus dem Evangelium nach Lukas: Lk.22:1-6
  6. „O wir armen Sünder! Unsre Missetat…“ (57,1-4)
  7. Martin Luthers Erklärung des 2.Artikels: „Ich glaube, dass IX, wahrhaftiger Gott… „ S.1267
  8. Lied vor der Predigt: „Des solln wir uns trösten gegen Sünd und Tod…“ (57,5-7)
  9. Meditation: „O Du armer Judas…“ (Hermann Bonnus 1542)
  10. Litanei: „Kyrie eleison…“ 138
  11. Gebet zur Passionszeit/Vater unser…
  12. Gruß und Segen
  13. Lied zum Ausgang: „So laßt uns nun ihm dankbar sein…“ (54,2)
  • Judas receives 30 dinari
    (Lippo Memmi 1291-1356)
  • Lord´s Supper
    (Lucas Cranach jr 1564)
  • Judas repentant (Almeida jr 1850-1899)
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Though hordes of devils fill the land…

Posted on February 15, 2021 by Wilhelm Weber

The next bible study is coming up. After our Lord´s annunciation this Sunday (Estomihi), that he´s going up to Jerusalem (Lk.18,31), we on this first Sunday in Lent (Invocavit) hear what that suffering and dying is all about:

For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3,8b

The Old Testament lesson Genesis 3,1-19 (20-24), shows that this struggle started with the fall of our forebears there in paradise. They, who did not withstand the temptation of the evil one, hear the divine promise of the coming Messiah, who would finally conquer the satanic foe and restore us all to our original holy.

Now the serpent was shrewder than any of the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Is it really true that God said, ‘You must not eat from any tree of the orchard’?”The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit from the trees of the orchard; but concerning the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the orchard God said, ‘You must not eat from it, and you must not touch it, or else you will die.’” The serpent said to the woman, “Surely you will not die, for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open[l] and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

When the woman saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food, was attractive to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some of it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the orchard. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” The man replied,“I heard you moving about in the orchard, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” And the Lord God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave me, she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it.”So the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman replied, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.”

The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all the cattle and all the living creatures of the field! On your belly you will crawl and dust you will eat all the days of your life. And I will put hostility between you and the woman
and between your offspring and her offspring; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

To the woman he said,“I will greatly increase your labor pains; with pain you will give birth to children. You will want to control your husband, but he will dominate you.”

But to Adam he said,“Because you obeyed your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you,‘You must not eat from it,’ the ground is cursed because of you; in painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, but you will eat the grain of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat food
until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

Genesis 3:1-19

This is no joyride as the Gospel notes. Forty days and nights our Lord goes without food. The devil takes advantage of this and tempts our Lord with crafty schemes – but fails dismally. Our Lord remains steadfast und faithful to His calling. The angels come and serve him. Just as they comfort him later in the hour of great affliction in the garden, the night he was betrayed.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  After he fasted forty days and forty nights he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” But he answered,“It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Once again it is written: ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’”Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to his needs.

Matthew 4,1-11

This struggle is not the Lord´s alone, because the fiend tackles his disciples and followers too. Some fall. Some lose faith. Some get lost. Like Judas. It´s the first part of his betrayal, that our sermon text for Sunday illustrates with the words recorded by the evangelist St. John chapter 13,21-30.

When he had said these things, Jesus was greatly distressed in spirit, and testified,“I tell you the solemn truth, one of you will betray me.” The disciples began to look at one another, worried and perplexed to know which of them he was talking about. One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was at the table to the right of Jesus in a place of honor. So Simon Peter gestured to this disciple to ask Jesus who it was he was referring to.  Then the disciple whom Jesus loved leaned back against Jesus’ chest and asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus replied, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish.” Then he dipped the piece of bread in the dish and gave it to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son. And after Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him,“What you are about to do, do quickly.” Now none of those present at the table understood why Jesus said this to Judas. Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him to buy whatever they needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor. Judas took the piece of bread and went out immediately. Now it was night.

John 13,21-30

The Epistle reading gives us reason to rejoice and hope, and encourages us to be steadfast in the true confession too, because the victorious savior is with and for us all the way. His glorious triumph was for us and in our stead. His vicarious conquest set us free – once and for all. He is gracious and merciful, whenever we need help.

Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help

Hebrews 4,14-16

That´s why we sing boldly in all affliction:

Though hordes of devils fill the land
all threat´ning to devour us,
We tremble not, unmoved we stand;
They cannot overpow´r us.
Let this world´s tyrant rage;
In battle we´ll engage.
His might is doomed to fail;
God´s judgment must prevail!
One little word subdues him

Martin Luther 1528

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Let us ever walk with Jesus…

Posted on February 9, 2021 by Wilhelm Weber

Its Tuesday – and time for our in-house Bible study. This time around, there´s quite an exciting mix of topics in the lectionary for our contextual setting. See, coming Sunday is the last Sunday before Lent (Estomihi) – and usually its bells rings in the final stretch of exorbitant reveling of the carnival season.  To add to this is the current celebration of St. Valentines Holiday as a secular love feast.

The Fight Between Carnival and Lent by Pieter Bruegel the Elder in 1559.

Well, this time around, we´re in quarantine and not just voluntarily due to ascetic and even celibate desires. Rather, the epidemic shut-down is taking its toll across the board. It affects the religious and profane quite differently, but both dramatically, I´m convinced. Just think about how they both respond to times of abundance and celebration, but then also to those, when we have to let go, bid farewell, fast, give up this or that, suffer loss respectively.

The bible text allocated for preaching:

“Shout loudly! Don’t be quiet!
Yell as loudly as a trumpet!
Confront my people with their rebellious deeds;
confront Jacob’s family with their sin.
They seek me day after day; they want to know my requirements,
like a nation that does what is right and does not reject the law of their God.
They ask me for just decrees; they want to be near God.
They lament,‘Why don’t you notice when we fast?
Why don’t you pay attention when we humble ourselves?’
Look, at the same time you fast, you satisfy your selfish desires, you oppress your workers.
Look, your fasting is accompanied by arguments, brawls, and fistfights.
Do not fast as you do today, trying to make your voice heard in heaven.
Is this really the kind of fasting I want?
Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves,
bowing their heads like a reed
and stretching out on sackcloth and ashes?
Is this really what you call a fast,
a day that is pleasing to the Lord?
No, this is the kind of fast I want:
I want you to remove the sinful chains,
to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,
to set free the oppressed,
and to break every burdensome yoke.
I want you to share your food with the hungry
and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people.
When you see someone naked, clothe them!
Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood.
Then your light will shine like the sunrise;
your restoration will quickly arrive;
your godly behavior will go before you,
and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard.
Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond;
you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’

Isaiah 58,1-9a

Much in line with the traditional lesson from Amos 5,21-24 it puts us on track to consider true and false fasting, good and bad sacrifice, holy and sinful loves, desires, hopes all in the framework of true faith or corrupt ideology, which runs roughshod over our fellow men, our neighbors even and those in direst need for our personal attention and help. It´s our Lord, who points us ahead and shows us the way forward as His faithful followers in Sunday´s gospel lesson according to St. Mark – bearing our cross and following Him on the narrow path, He leads us along the lines of fasting, sacrifice and giving up good and beloved things of love and life:

Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke openly about this. So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But after turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”

Then Jesus called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and because of the gospel will save it. For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life? What can a person give in exchange for his life? For if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Mark 8:31-38

And His apostle St. Paul summarizes the true essence of love in that celebrated section of his first letter to the Corinthians:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit.

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be set aside. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways. For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1. Corinthians 13

Following Him and His calling, we will sing and pray:

1 Let us ever walk with Jesus, Follow His example pure,
Flee the world, which would deceive us And to sin our souls allure.
Ever in His footsteps treading, Body here, yet soul above,
Full of faith and hope and love, Let us do the Father’s bidding.
Faithful Lord, abide with me; Savior, lead, I follow Thee.

2 Let us suffer here with Jesus, To His image e’er conform;
Heaven’s glory soon will please us, Sunshine follow on the storm.
Though we sow in tears of sorrow, We shall reap with heav’nly joy;
And the fears that now annoy Shall be laughter on the morrow.
Christ, I suffer here with Thee; There, oh, share Thy joy with me!

3 Let us also die with Jesus. His death from the second death,
From our soul’s destruction, frees us, Quickens us with life’s glad breath.
Let us mortify, while living, Flesh and blood and die to sin;
And the grave that shuts us in Shall but prove the gate to heaven.
Jesus, here I die to Thee There to live eternally.

4 Let us gladly live with Jesus; Since He’s risen from the dead,
Death and grave must soon release us. Jesus, Thou art now our Head,
We are truly Thine own members; Where Thou livest, there live we.
Take and own us constantly, Faithful Friend, as Thy dear brethren.
Jesus, here I live to Thee, Also there eternally.

Sigismund von Birken (1626-1681)
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