Herrenhuter readings for Monday, the 7th March 2016

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

The Lord your God commands: “Honor your father and your mother!” (Exo 20:12 NIV). And the apostle St.Paul admonishes: „Let children learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.” (1Ti 5:4 KJV)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you + now and always +

Dear friends of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ: Revolutions turn God given structures upside down and on their head. Something like those enthusiasts at Münster, who took infants and crowned them king. Their terrible end in those iron cages hanging from the torrents and city walls speaks for itself. In our time and age, where secularity is having a heyday and people far too easily go about their daily life as if God was no longer, this takes its severe toll in families and homes. Piety is pushed on the backburner. Good norms no longer structure daily living. Things are falling apart, because the god-fearing centre doesn’t hold. Father and mother don’t play their roles anymore and the children are at a loss. Fathers are turned into caricatures and mothers are not liberated after all. Children are left disorientated and practically hanging out to dry. Insubordination is the order of the day and thus God’s commandment is disregarded and his wrath incurred, blessings forsaken and the promises lost. Frightful examples are the student revolts of 68, but also the uprisings against all parental control and educational/governmental supervision as we had it locally in the mid-70’s.

Immediately after the three commandments concerning God – as the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household:

  • Thou shalt have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
  • Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.
  • Thou shalt sanctify the holy-day. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it.

We have this the Fourth Commandment, which today is the Herrenhuter Losung/Reading: Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long upon the earth. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not despise nor anger our parents and masters, but give them honor, serve, obey, and hold them in love and esteem.

This is the first commandment, which has a divine promise added. This adds weight and dignity to it. Thus God would want us to take it even more serious and gladly obey it from the very bottom of our heart. Positive examples are the young David even after he was anointed to be king by the prophet Nathan, he still honoured and revered king Saul, not lifting a finger up against him in rebellion or with murderous intent, because he was the Lord’s anointed. God points out, how this was good, meet and salutary. Or our Lord Jesus Christ, who lived in Nazareth and showed respect and honour to saint Joseph the carpenter and holy mother Mary. He subjugated himself under their parental direction and obeyed them as every child should obey his parents for God’s sake. This is good and acceptable in the eyes of God.

We know this holds true not only for our bodily parents, but also for those, who are in their place, who represent them and ultimately God himself. Our educators and teachers, but also the police and governmental powers, who have been called and ordained by God to promote peace and goodwill amongst all people. Lastly it encompasses our pastors and teachers, who are special vicars of Christ himself and are our fathers in the faith. Honour, respect, obedience and subordination is their rightful due – and not only the fair and friendly, but even the harsh and strange. As the apostle St. Peter writes: “Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.” (1Pe 2:18 NIV) Obedience and subordination for the Lord’s sake is indeed good, meet and salutary. It doesn’t fit nicely with our ideas of human liberation and political emancipation, but it very definitely has its rightful place in God’s good will and discipline for us and our salvation. Amen.

The peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you always + Amen.

“The Law of God Is Good and Wise”
by Matthias Loy, 1828-1915

1. The Law of God is good and wise
And sets His will before our eyes,
Shows us the way of righteousness,
And dooms to death when we transgress.

2. Its light of holiness imparts
The knowledge of our sinful hearts
That we may see our lost estate
And seek deliverance ere too late.

3. To those who help in Christ have found
And would in works of love abound
It shows what deeds are His delight
And should be done as good and right.

4. When men the offered help disdain
And wilfully in sin remain,
Its terror in their ear resounds
And keeps their wickedness in bounds.

5. The Law is good; but since the Fall
Its holiness condemns us all;
It dooms us for our sin to die
And has no power to justify.

6. To Jesus we for refuge flee,
Who from the curse has set us free,
And humbly worship at His throne,
Saved by His grace through faith alone.

Hymn #295
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ps. 19: 8
Author: Matthias Loy, 1863
Tune: “Erhalt uns, Herr”
1st Published in: Geistliche Lieder
Town: Wittenberg, 1543

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Predigt zu Psalm 84

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

Hier eine Predigt von Professor Dr. Werner Klän (LTH Oberursel i.T) zu Versen aus Psalm 84 gehalten an Lätare, dem 4. Sonntag in der Passionszeit: Predigt Lätare 2016 Pretoria

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Herrenhuter readings for Saturday, the 5th March 2106.

Posted on March 5, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

The prophet recalls: „Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.“ (Isaiah 49:4) Our Lord Jesus Christ explains in the gospel of St.Mark: „And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.“ (Mk 4:26-28)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you +

Dear friends of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ + The great prophet of the Old Testament Isaiah puts into words the lament of the Lord’s servant about working in vain. It’s the penalty of sin and for our fallout with our God in the first place: „Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee … In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread…“ (cf Genesis 3). God’s messengers are not exempt from this fallout. They too suffer the pain and anguish of working in vain and labouring for nothing. It’s not just the prophet of old, but our Lord and master Jesus Christ himself cries outside Jerusalem: „O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!“ (Mt.23:37) and he wept over Jerusalem: „ And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.“ (Lk.19: 41f)

According to the principles of economics this would have been deemed a failure. Not worth pursuing and better get out sooner than later. Engineers would of course propose another plan – more elaborate, more efficient and practical: „Just do it!“ For every problem there is a solution even if we don’t know it yet. Conquering the world and being masters of the universe is just a question of getting it right. That’s a fallacy though. True wisdom knows that there are very real mishaps, failures and things that just don’t work out. Vanity, injury and loss speak volumes. Going mad and despairing are not the only consequence of human hubris to storm the heavens by their own worthiness and merit. The revolt of nature is very real (Marcuse). Yes, perhaps the time wasn’t ripe. Perhaps the means were not there to carry out the building of the tower or to cover the costs of going to war. However lastly God himself might have prevented it.

See, our boundaries and limitations are part of being human. We are not God. We can’t create out of nothing. All we do is but working and crafting and designing with what God has in his goodness and mercy provided all along. As soon as people think, they can just go about things as if there is no God, but themselves, then they are bound to fail. The history in this regard is endless. The tower in Babel. The Titanic. The socialist or fascist revolutions with its ongoing human design and social constructions. Frankenstein’s monsters are out of the bottle long ago – and nobody can get them under control again. So the wizard’s apprentice complaint is heard again and again: „I can’t get rid of the spirits that I called!“ 

Years ago the Afrikaner nationalists were bragging about their prowess compared with that of the rest of Africa. They were so assured of themselves that they alone could take care of this continent, feed it, manage it and transform it from the dark to the enlightened continent. They had hardly proclaimed this publicly that the drought struck this southern part of the continent and they had to import maize for the very first time. See, God does not bear impudence and pride and indolence lightly. We Germans say: „Hochmut kommt vor dem Fall!“ (Pride precedes falling.) Gene Veith wrote a telling story in this regard yesterday: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2016/03/thus-passes-the-glory-of-the-world/

The triune God does not want us to forget or disregard him ever. He want’s us to not trust so much in our prowess, but rather look up to him for help, rescue, life and salvation every single day of our life. It is he from whom all blessings flow. He is the creator, giver and preserver of all good things. If he would but withdraw his caring, loving and merciful hand, we would be like the morning dew in the harsh sun light – gone in a wink, nothing left, dead, out and condemned to nothingness. Yet he does not do that. Without any merit or worthiness on our side, he richly provides daily bread, keeps us in all situations and protects us from all evil too. In his hands we rest assured and nothing can tear us from him. He lets it rain over good and evil. He alternates the seasons for our best and for the flourishing even of the fallen world, which together with us moans and groans for salvation, but which still reflects his masterful and beautiful design and fatherly goodness and favour for his children.

Just as the dry and barren lands flower and bloom after summer rains and the desert landscapes become rolling fields of lushest green and many colours, so God let’s his word, which passes like those very summer rains, bring forth bountiful fruits of love, hope and faith when and where it pleases him in those, who hear the gospel. It’s a wonder to behold. It’s dependant entirely on God’s goodness and mercy. He’s the one, who does it all. He builds his church as he did in the past so also in future. No persecution can stop him doing this. The blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church. We don’t know how, but it is clear for all to see. The Church has covered the globe. There are christians everywhere. The faith has flourished even behind iron curtains, prison walls and in most dire circumstances.  And he said: „So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.“ Yes, heaven and earth will pass, but God’s Word remains in eternity. Those prophets of old and the most holy apostles, evangelists and martyrs of the church – they are not gone and missing, for nobody is put to shame, who trusts in the Lord! – no, they are gathered around the throne of the Lamb, dressed in the white garments of baptismal grace, washed with the very blood of the one on the throne, cleansed, sanctified and they behold, what they here hoped for: The Living God in all his glory and goodness, love and forgiving mercy! And they laud, praise, thank and worship him forever and ever. That’s where we’re going too by his gracious calling and doing. Therefore Praise be to him, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who lives and reigns now and forever. Amen. 

The peace of the Lord be with you always + Amen.

1.  Preach you the Word and plant it home
        To men who like or like it not,
     The Word that shall endure and stand
        When flow’rs and men shall be forgot.
2.  We know how hard, O Lord, the task
        Your servant bade us undertake:
     To preach Your Word and never ask
        What prideful profit it may make.
3.  The sower sows his reckless love
         Scatters abroad the goodly seed,
     Intent alone that all may have
        The wholesome loaves that all men need.
4.  Though some be snatched and some be scorched
         And some be choked and matted flat,
     The sower sows; his heart cries out,
        “Oh, what of that, and what of that?”
5.  Of all his scattered plenteousness
        One-fourth waves ripe on hill and flat,
     And bears a harvest hundredfold:
        “Ah, what of that, Lord, what of that!”
6.  Preach you the Word and plant it home
        And never faint; the Harvest Lord
     Who gave the sower seed to sow
        Will watch and tend His planted Word.
(Martin H. Franzmann 1907-1976)
At the Parent’s meeting of the Day-Care-Centre I spoke more about Mark 5:26-29. You can listen to that here: 
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4th Sunday in Lent: Laetare

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

“Rejoice, Jerusalem! Be glad for her, you who love her; rejoice with her, you who mourned for her, and you will find contentment at her consoling breasts.” This Sunday is known as Laetare Sunday and is a Sunday of joy: A small Easter during Lent already. Lent is half over, and Easter is enticingly near. This Sunday is called “Laetare Sunday” since its mood and theme was one of hope and rejoicing that Easter was near.

The readings for this Sunday are:

  • Old Testament:       Isaiah 54:7-10
  • The Epistle:            2.Corinthians 1:3-7
  • The Gospel:            John 12:20-26

The liturgical colour for this time of lent is purple.

Watchword: Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (Joh 12:24 NIV)

Collect: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

If you are called to preach this weekend, may the triune God give you joy and strength, enthusiasm and wisdom, knowledge and insight – and the true words and pictures to preach his holy will faithfully according to his most precious revelation of his will and promises in both the Old and New Testament! However if you are not preaching, but listening – then listen as if God is talking to you + His precious gospel is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Rom 1:16 NIV)

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Herrenhuter readings for Friday, the 4th March 2016

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

King Solomon prayed to God in the temple of Jerusalem: “Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men.” (1Ki 8:39 KJV) And the apostle St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians: “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (2Th 2:16-17 NIV)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you + now and always +

Dear friends of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ: King Solomon prays to the living God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He does so with confidence and faith, because he trusts the forgiving goodness of our God. Although he knows of the divine omniscience and that no thought of any heart or mind is hidden from the heavenly Father, still he approaches God and pleads with him – not on account of this or that, but only in the hope that God will forgive, pardon, exonerate and absolve all blame, sin and disbelief that we have heaped up so readily from our earliest childhood, yes from the very beginning of our being, which roots in the sinful beginnings of humanity in most primeval times. Still the triune God is good, gracious and merciful not because he doesn’t know us, but although he knows us perfectly indeed, yet and still he is willing to forgive and be gracious to us and to grant us his saving favour – for Jesus Christ our redeemer’s sake.

In this ancient and exemplary prayer King Solomon is a good and saintly model for us and our daily prayer and devotion. Just as the Augsburg Confession teaches us in the twenty-first article: “Scripture sets before us the one Christ as Mediator, Atoning Sacrifice, High Priest and Intercessor. He is to be prayed to. He has promised that he will hear our prayer. This is the worship that he approves above all other worship, that he be called upon in all afflictions. ‘If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father’ (1Jo2:1).”

St.Paul shares this saving faith with King Solomon and the one holy Christian Church. That is why he commends not just Israel, but all of God’s people in his Church to God’s caring love and grace for Christ our saviour’s sake: “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (2Th 2:16-17 NIV) He too knows, that God is not in the dark about us and our true sinful being and evil tendency and aptitude for going astray and contrary to God’s will, law and prescription. He knows our sinfulness full well, for his Son bore all of that himself on the cross. He carried our entire burden of godlessness, impiety and iniquity. He knows it even better than we ourselves do. For we are often so blind for even our worst calamities and evils, bluffing ourselves and making as if we’re ok. Still he knows. There is nothing hidden from him. We can’t bluff him. He’s informed perfectly well and in depth and at length. For he sacrificed himself as a propitiation for this very reason and burdensome load of which we ourselves couldn’t rid ourselves from. He knows it and in his caring love and grace has forgiven all our sins. That encourages us no end. That is why we have all reason to be hopeful and rejoice gratefully. For we have been forgiven.

Yet that is not all. We are forgiven, so that we can now live as God’s children in righteousness and holiness – every day of our life. We are comforted and strengthened by God himself for good works and deeds. These good works and deeds are part of God’s plan for us. He created us initially and then again in holy Baptism to do those good works and deeds, which he has prepared for us to do. We are called by him to do them so that they may benefit not only our fellow men, neighbours, family, friends and next of kin, but even our enemies and those that harm and persecute us.

God is good and hears and answers our prayers. That is why we don’t need to despair if we look at the good works waiting for us to do them, but rather be full of hope, encouraged by him and his faithfulness, that he will not only grant willingness, but also the necessary and required action and success. It is he, who deserves all laud and praise from us the recepients of all his goodness, grace and mercy day in day out. Thanks be to him now and forever. Amen.

The peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you always + Amen.

Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me
By: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-76

  1. Jesus, Thy boundless love to me
    No thought can reach no tongue declare;
    Unite my thankful heart to Thee,
    And reign with-out a rival there!
    Thine wholly, Thine alone, I am;
    Be Thou alone my constant flame.
  2. Oh, grant that nothing in my soul
    May dwell, but Thy pure love alone;
    Oh, may Thy love possess me whole,
    My joy, my treasure, and my crown!
    All coldness from my heart remove;
    My every act, word, thought, be love.
  3. This love unwearied I pursue
    And dauntlessly to Thee aspire.
    Oh, may Thy love my hope renew,
    Burn in my soul like heavenly fire!
    And day and night, be all my care
    To guard this sacred treasure there.
  4. In suffering be Thy love my peace,
    In weakness by Thy love my power;
    And when the storms of life shall cease,
    O Jesus, in that final hour,
    Be Thou my rod and staff and guide
    And draw me safely to Thy side!

 

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Herrenhuter readings for Thursday, the 3rd March 2106.

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

The prophet asks rhetorically: „Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength?“ and God answers him: „I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.“ (Isaiah 63,1) The apostle St. Paul writes in his epistle: „… by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.“ (Romans 5:18)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you +

Dear friends of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ + The prophet Isaiah sees the destruction and mayhem caused amongst the nations. The warlord is great in his strength, but terrible in his wrath. His garments are drenched in blood that they appear crimson even while still displaying his glory. Just as one of the first prophets of God on high – the sycamore farmer Amos – pronounces the glaring truth, that there is not one evil in the city that the Lord doesn’t do, so here one of the latest prophets Isaiah also describes God as the one, who is marching to war and leaving his enemies devastated and in ruin. His description is dramatic and dripping with blood. He continues to write in God’s name: „I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.“ (Isaiah 63:3-6) Although such war-talk is no longer deemed politically correct, we should not overlook what relief and joy this brings to those suffering innocents, who have been discriminated against, persecuted and hard pressed by the tyrannical enemies and evil warmongers. Their only hope of salvation is that a stronger warrior and more valiant army may appear and come to their rescue even while they are being harrassed and tormented by the bloodthirsty and cruel enemies. Thank God, that he does not desert the lonely, downtrodden and helpless victims. 

God himself is surprised, that there is nobody else to take the side of those, who need it most. Nobody else is standing up against the evil doers. Nobody else is daring to put up a fight against the powers that be. They have quitted, given up, thrown in the towel: „Can’t do anything against these mighty forces. We just have to fit in, accept the status quo, accommodate ourselves and watch out for ourselves.“ Reminds a bit of the cowardly denial around the warming fire: „I don’t know him. I’ve got nothing to do with him. Who is he anyway!“ So it is the living God alone, who comes to the rescue of his people. He doesn’t forget them, but stands up for them in good time. He goes to war for them, to free them from their oppressors and to trampel down their enemies in righteous vengeance and terrible wrath and just punishment and furious retribution. The evil will be avenged, it will be removed and it will all be right, meet and salutary once again. Thus the one living God establishes right, justice and peace by himself and for his own people, who look to him alone for help and refuge, life and salvation. He is truly might to save. There is none, who can stop him. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. He is the fair legistlator, harsh excecutor of justice and thus the protective King, Judge, Lord and Saviour of all. Although he is alone, that is quite enough. His might suffices. He can save even though he is the only one, doing something about it. For he is God after all and he can help, save, liberate and grant life, righteousness and justice – once and for all. That’s what he does. That is his mission. He is our God alone.

During lent we remember our Lord Jesus Christ, who on his own, willingly and mightily went to war against sin, death and devil. With his bare hands he fought for justice, peace and righteousness again. There on Gabatha before Pilate he suffered much. He too was drenched with precious and most holy blood, not just his garments, but for the whole world.  It was however not the enemy’s blood, but his very own. There on Golgotha the rest of it poured forth – for you and your salvation: “This is my true blood shed for you for the remission of your sins!” He alone bore the punishment, wrath, blows, whips and pangs of death himself – for us and our salvation. Drew all the wrath of God on himself. Bore it all. There was no bitterness or punishment or retribution or revenge that he did not absorb and take on himself. He was pierced and tormented most severly – until the fury of the righteous judgement from on high abatted, the sun lost it’s light and the earth trembled and shook. He bore it all patiently like a lamb brought to the slaughter. He was obedient to the very end and thus he made peace – everlasting. His mission was accomplished. He finished it all successfully. There’s nothing outstanding. He returned justice and peace. It was his very prayer to the Father that gave us this everlasting peace that passes all understanding: „Father, forgive them, for they do not know, what they are doing!“

Thus he turned not just the other cheek, but his entire life as a sponge for our evil rebellion, uprising against God and rejection of his holy and innocent and good ways. He absorbed it all and thus drew the evil poison of death, sin and devil into himself and died as a result. Yet, because of this, the power of sin, death and devil are spent. They have spent it on Christ. He however was not overcome with it. Yes, he died, but he died to free us from death. His death was our victory. He died, punished for us, the innocent one for the sinful. His perfect and efficacious righteousness is but his alone, but he gave it as the free gift to all men and women, old and young, rich and poor and to serve unto justification of life everlasting. This righteouosness remains his and outside of us, but it is ours now and he has given it to us as a free gift, present and most precious treasure and heirloom. 

Thus although he died, he took this very opportunity to harrow hell and clean out the dungeons of Satan and his ilk. He could not be bound or held by them for long. Rather on the third day he rose again to proclaim his victory to all nations and to the very ends of the world. His victory is final. There is no turning back now. Rather he lives and we shall live also – saved by his innocence, righteousness and loving mercy and goodness. He has brought back justice and peace between God and mankind. We are no longer at war with him. Rather he has brought us life and salvation.

All wars and tribulations in our world and time are but signs of the end times. He’s coming again to fulfil his glorious and holy mission. Heaven and earth will pass away, but his word will remain in eternity. We trust in this his promise and therefore lift up our heads and wait for his final deliverance. He’s coming soon. He’s near and therefore we can rejoice and give thanks and look forward with confidence. Do what is right and trust that belonging to him is not vain, but the very essence of life and our true destiny. So even if there is nothing else to do, but to throw oneself into the spokes of the huge and intimidating wheels of power like Bonhoeffer did, it’s not in vain or just an act of desperation, but rather one of hope and trust in the one, who can help and who will help – by much or little, just as it suits him and at the right time. Nobody who trusts in him will be put to shame. For He truly is our Lord and King, our Judge and Saviour, our Redeemer and Liberator. Praise be to him now and always: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.  The peace of the Lord be with you always + Amen.

“Lord of Our Life and God of Our Salvation
by Matthaeus A. von Loewenstern, 1594-1648
Translated by Philip Pusey, 1799-1855

1. Lord of our life and God of our salvation.
Star of our night and Hope of every nation,
Hear and receive Thy Church’s supplication,
Lord God Almighty.

2. See round Thine ark the hungry billows curling;
See how thy foes their banners are unfurling.
Lord, while their darts envenomed they are hurling,
Thou canst preserve us.

3. Lord, Thou canst help when earthly armor faileth;
Lord, Thou canst save when deadly sin assaileth;
Lord, o’er Thy Church nor death nor hell prevaileth;
Grant us Thy peace, Lord:

4. Peace in our hearts, our evil thoughts assuaging;
Peace in Thy Church where brothers are engaging;
Peace when the world its busy war is waging.
Calm Thy foes’ raging.

5. Grant us Thy help till backward they are driven;
Grant them Thy truth that they may be forgiven;
Grant peace on earth or, after we have striven,
Peace in Thy heaven.

Hymn #258
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ps. 79:9
Author: by Matthaeus A. von Loewenstern, 1644
Translated by: Philip Pusey, 1840, alt.
Titled: “Christe, du Beistand”
Composer: Johann Crueger, 1640
Tune: “Herzliebster Jesu”

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Herrenhuter readings for Wednesday, the 2nd March 2016

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

The prophet Isaiah lauds the lovely service of preaching the gospel and sharing God’s good gifts: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”” (Isa 52:7 NIV) And the apostle St. Paul admonishes the Ephesians: “Keep your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” (Eph 6:15 KJV)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you + now and always +

Dear friends of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ: From the very beginning of time the office of the ministry has been most glorious and precious in the sight of the Lord, bringing divine grace, peace, goodwill and favour to those, who are sitting in darkness and shadow of death. From the very fall from grace and into our dire sinful state, mankind has been desperate for the good, meet and salutary words from the mouth of our God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Eating bread in the sweat of our brow was just not enough for living. God’s Word itself was required to live, grow and flourish. Without it we were but passing shadows and fleeting breaths. The hunger for God’s Word is far worse than any other famine we can imagine. God knew this. That is why from the very beginning, he has in his fatherly compassion and kindness of heart sought out Adam and Eve, called them back into his presence and soothed the self-inflicted pain of faithlessness and idolatry with the hope of redemption, restoration, repair and lastly renewal.

The good news from the beginning for us is that “God reigns” and that despite our opposition, rebellion and desertion God carries out his reign in our favour and for our ultimate salvation. That is the purpose of the gospel from the very beginning, to strengthen our hope and faith in the one, who will come and bring back peace, goodwill and eternal salvation. It’s Jesus Christ – the promised Messiah, the only begotten Son of the Father, light of light, very God of very God, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried and rose again from the dead, lives and reigns at the right hand of the Father, whose kingdom will not end. At his birth peace and goodwill were proclaimed by those angelic hosts, they brought the good tidings to the shepherds, who again shared it with all whom they met after they saw that it was true and that the Saviour of the world had been born. This news has spread across the globe. There are saints of the Christian church all over the world. They live by this message. It’s this proclamation that sustains them day in, day out. It’s what helps them overcome all despair, lack of hope, dark times and most severe suffering.  For they know with Zion of old: “Our God lives and reigns forever!” He lives and we shall live also. He is coming to bring us home and therefore we need not give up, but rather can lift up our faces and wait patiently and content even in most serious depravation, trials and temptations.

Even more, we don’t just sit and wait and twiddle our thumbs, but rather follow the admonition of the apostle St.Paul, the greatest missionary of all: “Keep your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” As long as it is day and as long as there are still people without this message of deliverance and hope, Christians as holy Saints of the Church are prepared, have studied and were equipped to share, spread, teach, preach and instruct this gospel of peace beyond the narrow confines of the church, beyond the borders of faithful believers, right in the public square be it secular, pagan or blatantly antichristian even. The Christians are not the enemies of the state nor of the people of this world. On the contrary, they come with words of peace, peace that passes all understanding and which carries through thick and thin and despite all odds. Even where they are prosecuted, they pray and do good; where they are cursed and blasphemed they bless and spread goodwill and peace + They truly are the light and salt of the earth. Freely they have received and freely they share and give, what they have. Praise be to their God, Lord and king now and always, who has prepared himself such a beautiful and lovely bride in the middle of this world and time. Amen.  The peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you always + Amen.

I Leave All Things to God’s Direction
By: Salomo Franck

I leave all things to God’s direction,
For he loves me in wealth or woe;
His will is good, and his affection,
His tender love is true, I know.
My strength, my fortress rock is he:
What pleases God, that pleases me.

My God has all things in his keeping,
He is my ever faithful friend;
He gives me laughter after weeping,
And all his ways in blessing end.
His love endures eternally:
What pleases God, that pleases me.

The will of God shall be my pleasure
While here I live life’s interim;
My will is wrong beyond all measure,
It does not will what pleases him.
The Christian’s motto then must be:
What pleases God, that pleases me.

God knows what must be done to save me,
His love for me will never cease;
And all my sins my Lord forgave me
With purest gold of loving grace.
His will supreme must ever be:
What pleases God, that pleases me.

My God desires each soul’s salvation,
My soul he too desires to save;
Therefore with Christian resignation
All earthly troubles I will brave.
His will be done eternally:
What pleases God, that pleases me.

Hymn # 429
Lutheran Worship
Author: Georg Neumark
Tune: Wer Nur Den Lieben Gott
1st Published in: 1685

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Sermon during Morning Prayer: 1 Peter 1,13-19   

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

In Nomine Iesu. Amen  13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action,[a] and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

“We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Those are the famous words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or FDR as he affectionately came to be known by the American people. In the depths of the Great Depression, when people everywhere feared for their lives and their livelihoods, when times were lean, hunger was great, money was little, and work was scarce, FDR spoke these iconic words at his inaugural address, words that inspire the American people to this day. “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” It is perhaps because of words such as these that fear has come to take on such a negative connotation in the globalized society of today. Fearful people are despised; confident, fearless people are admired. Fearful people are not self-confident, fearful people are somehow imperfect, they need to approach their fears, take them to a psychologist and deal with them, or – they should be ashamed of them. Fearlessness, on the other hand, has come to be idolized as the mark of courage, strength, and determination. The only thing true heroes should fear is fear itself.

That’s all good and well, but you run into a problem pretty quickly when you start reading the Bible. Because it keeps talking about “the fear of the Lord.” The funny thing is that even though it is still common to speak of faithful Christians as “God-fearing people,” the whole notion of fearing God seems to have become downright unpopular. It would seem that the fear of fear and nothing else has been adopted and quasi-baptized by much of generic Protestant Christianity today, to the point that preachers who speak about ‘fearing God’ can expect to be challenged on the issue. I remember very clearly one Sunday, after speaking about the first commandment “we should fear, love and trust in God above all things” – it says it there, right, “we should fear… God” that I had a congregation member come up to me afterwards and try to argue me out of it. “No pastor, that’s Old Testament theology… We should not fear God. Christ has liberated us from fear. We Christians don’t need to fear God. We should love God. Doesn’t it say in 1 John 4: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (V.18) So you see, pastor, you shouldn’t talk about fearing God like that. All we need to do is love God.” Well, what do you say to that? In many ways, I am glad that this member talked to me, because now I have a much better idea of what many other people are thinking. Their thinking is expressed in the other common phrase: “I’ll put the fear of God into you!” It’s the idea that the fear of God is the fear of hellfire and destruction, the primal fear of the ontological scream, that the fear of God is for wicked reprobates only, that fear really has no place in the true Christian faith for the forgiven child of God. Why should you fear your Father? And after all, doesn’t 1 John 4 back this up?

Now, as interesting as it would be to look at this issue from the perspective of Freudian or Jungian psychology, as helpful as it might be to approach it from the perspective of modern childraising techniques and a history of sociological thought, we simply do not have the leisure to do that. We also face a few far more immediate problems. For one thing, Luther speaks in his explanation to the First Commandment about fearing and loving God in the same breath. Also, the New Testament itself speaks about the fear of God, and in ways that take nothing away from the severity of the Old Testament verses on the issue. We need think only of Matthew 10 where Jesus says: 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, or perhaps the Lukan parallel where Jesus says: But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!

Dear saints, this is not just hyperbole, not just a figure of speech. The New Testament also directs you to fear God, and it does so not least here in 1 Peter 1:[17]. Peter’s argument is rather straightforward. He says: Remember whom you worship. You are obedient children, he says; but whosechildren are you? Remember that you are children of the Holy God. His holiness means that he is indeed perfect, wholly different to any false god or idol in this world. Remember also that He is not satisfied with His own holiness, but that He calls you to be holy also, just as He is holy. You too are to be different, set apart, pure and whole like He is, you too are to be perfect – and this applies to your entire conduct, He says. You call Him Father – good! Remember who He is! You call on Him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds. God judges you on the basis of His perfect holiness. And that is why, says Peter, you have reason to conduct yourselves with fear. Now when you look at yourself in the mirror of the Law, you will find that your conduct is marred, flawed, and thus entirely unholy. If Peter had stopped here, you would have no hope. You would be left in abject terror of the Holy One of Israel, the God of Luther’s nightmares, the God before whom Luther shivered and shook, trembled and quivered, whom he could never appease with his own acts of righteousness. You would be left with the angry, wrathful God who destroyed the earth with the flood and who made the earth open up its mouth to swallow Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and all the wicked people who subscribed to their rebellion, and their fate would be yours, your end theirs. Reason for fear indeed, as natural religion proves.

Thanks be to God, this is not where Peter stops. Christ has the last Word. And so Peter goes on to speak of Christ. Now, to preempt Peter, this does not mean that the Christian need no longer fear God. And by the way, that is not what 1 John 4 says either. No, it simply means that your fear is qualified. You see, the Bible frequently speaks of a fear of God that is very proper for the believer, in fact, that is most necessary to have: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, the key to wisdom. This does not mean to be afraid of God, like Luther was for a time, in the sense of terror and dread, but rather the fear of reverence and awe and worship and trust, the being cognizant of who God has revealed Himself to be as you live the life of faith, a humble appreciation and awareness of your place before God. Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack! (Ps. 34)

Now what gives you the right to fear God in this way, instead of shivering before Him in abject terror and existential dread? It is, as Peter says, the fact that the demands of God’s perfect holiness have been perfectly met in Christ, the perfect offering, the perfect Lamb of God, without blemish or defect. It is because forgiveness is yours in the blood of Christ that you may reverently fear God as the holy judge of righteousness, for you know that Christ’s righteousness is yours in baptism, that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers – bought, paid for in full, redeemed out of, purchased away from, acquired, procured, obtained, ransomed away from heathen beliefs, from the love of sinning, from pagan errors, from idolatry, from ancestral spirits, from primal fears, from fear of the unknown and fear of the unknown God, from fear of being loyaed and from curses and from pointing and the evil eye, from fear of powerful evil spirits and those who serve them. Those things you serve no longer, and you need fear no longer. No, you have been bought out of them – not with the diamonds of Cullinan and Kimberly, not with the bullion of the reserve bank, but with something far pricier, in fact, with the most expensive currency this universe will ever know: The blood of God. Luther writes: “Just one drop of this innocent blood would have been more than enough for the sin of the whole world. Yet the Father wanted to pour out His grace on us so abundantly and to spend so much that He let His Son Christ shed all His blood and gave us the entire treasure.” So the treasure of the church then is not the superabundant works of Mother Theresa and the saints, but the priceless blood of Christ, yours for the believing and the covering.

“Therefore,” continues Luther, the Lord “does not want us to make light of and think little of such great grace; but He wants us to be moved to conduct ourselves with fear, lest this treasure be taken away from us.” This fear is therefore more than appropriate for the baptized believer who receives the righteousness of Christ. Fearing God is the beginning of wisdom, fearing God is by God’s grace the keeping of the first commandment, fearing God goes hand in hand with loving God and trusting in Him above all things. No matter what the culture or what popular Christian culture might say, the Lord still looks for, enables, and approves of God-fearing Christians. Taking FDR out of context, we would have to say that “We have nothing to fear but fear itself” is incorrect. Rather, by the grace of God, by the blood of Christ, by the love of the selfless Lamb, you may fear God in reverence and faith and confidently say: “Whoever fears God has nothing to fear.” Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria – Pastor Karl Böhmer

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Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 1st March 2016

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber
Don’t think that you will get to heaven ahead of those already passed away, because the living Lord Jesus Christ will raise them in the flesh so that they too will be with him in eternity +

The Psalmist encourages us: “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” (Psa 31:24 KJV) Even as our Lord does too: “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Mar 13:13 KJV)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you + now and always +

Dear friends of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ: Christians – just like all people – are well advised to keep the end in mind. Our mortality is a good educator. Keeping that in mind gives good perspective and proper measure too. The Psalmist sees this as a way to attain wisdom: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psa 90:12 KJV) Surviving the end and to remain standing in the last judgement is what it finally boils down to. Salvation in that divine reckoning is crucial and absolutely vital.

This is only possible in the Lord and by his favourable judgement and gracious verdict. Hoping on his forgiveness and mercy is the only way past that hurdle, which is coming up for every one without fail. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the unfailing advocate, who has the ear of the Father and in unison with him declares us free from all sin and truly forgiven. The Holy Spirit too stands in for us. He testifies for us and intercedes unfailingly for us and for our salvation. That is a sure foundation for our hope to not succumb to all evil counting against us and all the sinful baggage weighing heavily on us. Rather we are assured by the holy Trinity itself, that we are redeemed and restored as true children of God through the divine forgiveness of all our sins. That grants us courage to live our lives faithfully as children of the highest and strengthens us in all affliction and tribulation and suffering on the way there. Even the most bitter hatred and enmity by our opposition and offenders can’t harm us, nor can it steal it from us either, because God himself ensures, guards and guarantees it for us in eternity. Here already he strengthens our heart and makes us confident and bold to trust his goodness and favour and mercy thus not giving up or despairing, but rather lifting up our countenance to him and taking courage for our salvation is drawing near. Yes, it is much closer already than when we came to Christ at first. Rather we are nearly there and it’s not going to be long now. Our Lord Jesus Christ is near. Yes, Lord Jesus come soon! Amen.

The peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you always + Amen.

“Who Knows when Death May Overtake Me”
by Aemilie Juliane, 1637-1706

1. Who knows when death may overtake me!
Time passes on, my end draws near.
How swiftly can my breath forsake me!
How soon can life’s last hour appear!
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

2. The world that smiled when morn was breaking
May change for me ere close of day;
For while on earth my home I’m making,
Death’s threat is never far away.
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

3. My end to ponder teach me ever
And, ere the hour of death appears,
To cast my soul on Christ, my Savior,
Nor spare repentant sighs and tears.
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

4. Help me now set my house in order
That always ready I may be
To say in meekness on death’s border:
Lord, as Thou wilt, deal Thou with me.
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

5. Reveal the sweetness of Thy heaven,
Earth’s galling bitterness unfold;
May I, amid this turmoil riven,
Thy blest eternity behold.
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

6. My many sins blot out forever
Since Jesus has my pardon won;
In mercy robed I then shall never
Fear death, but trust in Thee alone.
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

7. Naught shall my soul from Jesus sever;
In faith I touch His wounded side
And hail Him as my Lord forever.
Nor life nor death shall us divide.
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

8. Once in the blest baptismal waters
I put on Christ and made Him mine;
Now numbered with God’s sons and daughters,
I share His peace and love divine.
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

9. His body and His blood I’ve taken
In His blest Supper, feast divine;
Now I shall never be forsaken,
For I am His, and He is mine.
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

10. Then may death come today, tomorrow,
I know in Christ I perish not;
He grants the peace that stills all sorrow,
Gives me a robe without a spot.
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

11. And thus I live in God contented
And die without a thought of fear;
My soul has to God’s plans consented,
For through His Son my faith is clear.
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

Hymn #598
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ps. 90:12
Author: Aemilie Juliane, 1686, ab.
Translated by: composite
Titled: “Wer weiss, wie nahe mir mein Ende”
Composer: Christian Moeck, 1818
Tune: “Wer weiss, wie nahe”

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Sermon on Monday: John 1:29-42

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

The prophet at the threshold in the middle of God’s salvific history with humankind, welcomes the One Who is deemed to be „the Lamb of God“, and, at the same time, is doomed to b e „the Lamb of God“.

St. John is the first to witness about Christ. This testimony, however, does not come from within John, from his knowledge and his own wisdom. He clearly states that whatever he may say about Jesus was revealed to him by „the One Who sent me“. This is the first lesson we learn from this Gospel: To identify Jesus as the One He really is, is not understood by human imagination. To know or acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, is not achieved by human reason. To realize Him to be the „Lamb of God“, is by no means a matter of rational appeal. Instead, even John the Baptist whom Jesus awards to be „more than a prophet“ (Mt 11:9), was allowed to look at Jesus as the „Son of God“ only by divine revelation. Thus God Himself had to be the One to inform John, the One to grant him to perceive Who Jesus really is. By God’s linking the sending of the Holy Spirit “like a dove” to the announcement that He on Whom the Spirit would descend, would be the One “Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” – in such a way John the Baptist is finally enabled to identify Jesus.

This is St. John’s destiny, to witness to Jesus and thus to reveal Him to Israel – and beyond that, to all the world. And revelation is needed, even urgently, because in His human and lowly “form of a servant”, it is not self-evident, Who Jesus is. Therefore, John proclaims Him to be the One “Who ranks before me because He was before me”. This remark quite obviously hints a Christ’s pre-existence in eternity. As God’s eternal Son, Jesus was unknown to John. And the same holds true for Christ’s atoning work as the “Lamb of God”, not to mention His baptizing with the Holy Spirit. The three spheres of activities John lists here comprise the whole of Christ’s person and work. The One who always has been with the Father, the One Who alone can be labelled “Son of God” in the true sense of the word, namely the only-begotten Son – while all of us are sons and daughters, God’s children by adoption –, He is, at the same time the “Lamb of God” Who, by sacrificing Himself in the stead of us sinners “takes away the sin of the world”. And likewise, He is the One to have human beings participate in what He has gained and gathered on Calvary’s mountain by bestowing the Holy Spirit upon us. That is the case whenever an infant is baptized; for in exactly this divine action of Holy Baptism, we have received the Holy Spirit to create us anew, to have us reborn as God’s beloved children.

The title by which John has labelled Jesus makes Him apparent as the One Who has come to perform the greatest and most difficult task in all of human history: God’s reconciliation with us, and our reconciliation with God. It was His mission, to carry away the sins of the world, to bear off anything and everything that any human being had committed against God’s holy will, to deal with and to get rid of anything and everything that the human race had perpetrated, in all of history, since Adam and Eve fell. Jesus the Christ replaces the scapegoat that was sent into the desert to carry away Israel’s sin year after year. But the Son of God, the Lamb of God does so once and for all, because His sacrifice is enormously valuable and His blood extraordinarily precious – much more so than the blood of goats. The Lamb of God had to be slaughtered in order to be the Passover Lamb – an expression by which St. Paul (1 Cor. 5:7) alludes to the date and time when Christ died on the cross.

His suffering and dying then effects, and really is the atonement that we are dependent on in terms of our salvation. Martin Luther has commented on this in making Christ speak these words: “You are no longer a sinner, but I am. I am your substitute … All your sins are to rest on me and not on you.” (LW 22:167). And the Wittenberg reformer advises his readers and congregants to proceed like this: “You cast your sins from yourself and onto Christ, to be borne and paid for by Him” (LW 42:12). And Luther teaches us to pray: “Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness, just as I am your sin. You have taken upon yourself what is mine, and have given to me what is yours. You have taken upon yourself what you were not, and have given me what I was not.” This is what Luther calls the “marvellous exchange” between Christ and the believer. Christ receives anything that is rightly ours, like sinfulness, corruption, and depravation, while everything that is Christ’s, His innocence, His mercy, His glory, His holiness is bestowed upon us in faith. This is what the Lamb of God has generated for the benefit of our souls.

When two of John’s disciples heard John label Jesus the “Lamb of God” the next day, this is the trigger to make them follow Jesus. This encounter opened their eyes to make Jesus see as the “Messiah”. The way those two come to identify Jesus, is linked to the Old Testament promises given to Israel. Staying with Him, and most likely talking to Him, rather Him talking to them all day long, they were convinced to have found the “anointed one” – that God-sent man Who “was the one to redeem Israel” (Ps 130:8; Lk 24:21) . It is now Christ Himself Who introduces Himself to them, and by doing so, instructs them in Who He is, and what His mission is about. It is only after this kind of teaching, that St. Andrew invites his brother Peter to also come and see Jesus.

It is fascinating to learn how the parallel use of “Lamb of God”, “Son of God”, and “Messiah” in this bible passage, connects various aspects of the person of Christ and His work. For us and our understanding, it would not be understood that in Christ, God Himself should bring about our salvation by suffering and dying. And it is far from our innate comprehension that Israel’s and the world’s redeemer does not appear as a mighty, powerful, and violent sovereign and  ruler who forces us towards salvation, rather He comes as a humble, lowly, and meek servant to all humankind who invites us to enter His kingdom. In addition, it is way beyond our natural imagination that the Lord of Lords share our fate, moreover He assumes it and makes it His own, so that He in our stead and place becomes the target of God’s wrath and subject to any human atrocity, malice, and wickedness that cause His death.

Yet, Christ is sovereign in His kingdom, and powerful to change people and make them new persons living in connection with Him. This becomes evident and manifest in the way, Jesus renames St. Andrew’s brother, Simon: “You shall be called ‘Cephas’”. Simon, a person whom we all know as having a character like a weather vane, moody, short-tempered, easy to enthuse, yet unreliable, and wavering – this Simon, so very similar to us, is awarded the honorific title of Cephas, Petrus, the rock on which Christ wants to build His Church (Mt 16:18). Although St. Peter will never completely loose those problematic traces of his character, nevertheless, he is created a new person in that very moment. In spite of all his shortcomings, his failures, and his questionable nature, Christ sees in him somebody else. And it is precisely by this seeing, that St. Peter indeed becomes a different person. Why so? Because Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Lamb of God, due to His suffering and dying, has taken away also Peter’s sin, even his denial of Christ on Maundy Thursday. Having taken away the sin of the world, including St. Peter’s sin, Werner Klän’s – my –very sins – and there are heaps, bunches, loads of them, in my heart, in my soul, in my mind, in my body, in my life, in my relationship with other people –, all the students’ sins – having taken away all those sins, Christ is in the position grant forgiveness to all of us, which He does abundantly.

It is exactly this purpose that made the Son of God become the Lamb of God – only for this one and very reason: that we be saved. His holy name shall be praised forever. Amen.

(c) Prof. Dr. Werner Klän, Lutheran Theological Seminary Oberursel, Germany)

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