LÖHE ON LUKE 24:13-17

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

EmmausNow that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. (Luk 24:13-17 NIV)

Yesterday’s gospel tells about Easter morning, today’s gospel talks about that evening. What a morning and what an evening – and all the difference made by Jesus Christ’s victorious resurrection from the dead. Two disciples are going to Emmaus mourning and crying. Asked by the stranger concerning their sorrow, they give an Easter answer, but without the joy of Easter. They are crying while spreading joyous seeds, which had not yet sprouted to their own rejoicing. In this way you can be rich without knowing about those boxes of treasures – hungry in spite of all your wealth. But this is to change quite dramatically. The stranger can call these sorrowing men out of their distress and bring them to the hopeful glory by his insight into matters. Their hearts start to burn. It was the fire of hope for an eternal life and the resurrection of the body, which even today still has the power to kill all sorrow, kindle comfort and awaken peace and in this way vitalize the soul with eternal joy.

Two disciples go with longing across the veld to Emmaus; their eyes are full of tears, theirs souls full of regrets and they’re sharing words of mourning, but Lord Jesus close already close by to dispel all misery.

Oh, so many hearts are caught up in despair, bewailing own pain and hurt while going forward heavily burdened – yet Jesus is already quite close by to dispel all misery.

If two souls are in discourse Jesus is the third. He knows all hurts, but has the cure too. He won’t fail us even as we are at a loss without hope, but does all to comfort and to heal.  (Johann Neunherz, 1653-1737)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday, the 2nd Holiday of Easter. It is found on Pg. 160 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for 2nd Holiday of Easter: Monday, the 1st April 2013

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Caravaggio-The-Supper-at-Emmaus-1600-01Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4 NIV)

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2.Corinthians 9:15 NIV)

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LÖHE ON MARK 16:6

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

resurrection“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. (Mar 16:6 NIV)

The joyous gospel of Easter is the theme for our lives in good and bad days. If this message is not fully recognized then the living lack the proper sanctity for their hallowed bodies and souls and the dying miss out on the comfort carrying them through death’s dark vale. Yet if the joyful proclamation of Easter is heard and taken to heart and has kindled faith there, then there’s courage to face death and profound peace in us too. Then we can depart from the deathbed of a fellow Christian as the disciples left the Mt. of Olives after their Lord’s glorious ascension with longing in their hearts for the eternal kingdom and promised homestead in heaven but with comforted faith and hope that they were to follow him where he would lead them until he would finally take them to where they would join up with him once again in the heavenly realms and eternal salvation. So we too can know that if once again a faithful brother or sister has preceded us to this glorious destination, we too can hang on here comforted and at peace with true joy that death no longer has cruel power over us, but rather that life and gladness have taken precedence thanks to the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and that we too will follow him there – our dearest Lord and Saviour – even if we are still required to hang on for a while according to God’s most loving, merciful and gracious will. Our prayer now is that we don’t pass away before we have come to the true faith and trust in the gospel of Easter – the victorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from death and the grace conquering for us the powers of evil, sin and the devil forever – and thus have entered the new life in Jesus Christ. There’s lots we can miss out on without great loss in this life and even in death, but this one word: “The Lord is risen” – that’s vital and necessary. We can’t miss out on that one if we want access to life eternal with him and his holy Church.

O Lord Jesus Christ, you were dead and are alive again. You have the keys of death and hell. We sing our Hosannas and Hallelujahs for you. Have mercy on us in the hour of our passing, death and dying and also in our resurrection by the power of your death and because of your resurrection + Amen.

Good Christian friends, rejoice and sing!  Now is the triumph of our King! To all the world glad news we bring: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! The Lord of life is ris’n this day; Bring flow’rs of song to strew His way; Let all the world rejoice and say: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Praise we in songs of victory That love, that life which cannot die, And sing with hearts uplifted high: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!  Your name we bless, O risen Lord, And sing today with one accord The life laid down, the life restored: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!  (Cyril A. Alington 1872-1944)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the high Holiday of Easter. It is found on Pg. 159 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Easter, the 31st March 2013

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

empty graveHis faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. (Psalm 91:4 NIV)

The angels said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?
He is not here; he has risen!  (Luk 24:5-6 NIV)

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Lutheran Order of service in English, isiZulu and seTswana

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Noli me tangere - Duccio“Jesus Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!” The Lutheran Order of Service for the high Holiday of Easter is available here in English, Zulu and seTswana. Today it comes with my sermon based on the gospel of Saint John in the 20th chapter verses 11-18 (2013 Easter John 20,11-18)and translated as usual by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN) into both isiZulu (wz1321130331 wokukhumbula ukuvuka kweNkosi)and seTswana(wt1321130331 ka moletlo wa go gopola tsogo ya Morena).

We thank the Lutheran Heritage Foundation for supporting the distribution of hard-copies of these orders of worship and sermons throughout Southern Africa. If you also want a copy please do not hesitate to subscribe by writing to EAWWeber@bundunet.co.za.

I pray you have a very blessed Easter Sunday and have time to meditate on the watchword of our Lord Jesus Christ recorded in the Revelation of St. John in the 1st chapter. Jesus Christ says: I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Rev 1:18 NIV) The liturgical colour is white and the Church rejoices with Hallelujahs, the Magnificat and the Gloria in exelsis.

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Rundbrief der Luther Gesellschaft

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

vivit Luther GesellschaftDie juengsten Nachrichten aus der Luther Gesellschaft in ihrem: Frühjahrsrundbrief 2013

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The latest information from the VELKD

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

VELKD-Informationen-Nr_139_download velkd

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LÖHE ON ISAIAH 53:8

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

marys-watch-at-the-tomb-of-jesusBy oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. (Isa 53:8 NIV)

Death is overcome and life has been gained. The Lord has come to peace and his soul is amongst the blessed saints in paradise. However holy Scripture does not say anything about such joyous celebrations and exultations after the triumphant victory of Christ. He promised a blessed reunion in paradise to the robber on the cross. So it should not be doubted that Christ fulfilled this promise precisely. If however the Lord introduced that forgiven robber there, there can’t be any doubt that the rejoicing would have been overwhelming in the heavens on his arrival. Just imagine the jubilation and heavenly delight after all the sorrow, suffering and dying – yes after our Lord’s glorious harrowing of hell!

While the body is resting in the grave belonging to Joseph of Arimathia and waiting for the resurrection on the third day we too are pausing and taking a big breath. This is a wonderful peace the Lord has won for us! Sin is forgiven, death is overcome and the devil is finally bound and rendered harmless. That’s a real Sabbath’s rest for Christ’s own – the Christian Church – and who would have thought that after those dark hours starting in Gethsemane?  Thanks be to the triune God now and forever. Amen.

So rest–my Rest! Thou ever blest! Thy grave with sinners making, By Thy precious death, from sin My dead soul awaking! Here hast Thou lain, After much pain, Life of my life, reposing! Round Thee now a rock-hewn grave, Rock of Ages, closing. Breath of all breath! I know from death Thou wilt my soul awaken! Wherefore should I dread the grave, Or my faith be shaken? To me the tomb Is but a room, Where I lie down with Jesus! Who by death hath conquered death, Safely there receives us! The body dies and lies In dust, until victorious From the grave, it shall arise Beautiful and glorious! Meantime I will, My Jesus, still Deep in my bosom lay Thee, Musing on Thy death; in death Be with me, I pray Thee! (Salomon Frank 1685 translated by Richard Massi)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after Good Friday (Karsamstag). It is found on Pg. 158 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Saturday, the 30th March 2013

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

empty cross“I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15 NIV)

You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. (Acts 10:36 NIV)

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Lutheran Order of service in isiZulu/seTswana and English

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

IX am KreuzThe Lutheran Order of Service for Good Friday is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon written by Revered Kurt Schnackenberg (Shelly Beach LC, KwaZulu/Natal) based on the gospel of Saint Matthew chapter 27 verses 31-54 (we1320130329 Sermon_Mt27_33-50_Good Friday_2013) an translated into seTswana (wt1320130329 ka la go gopola papolo le loso lwa Morena) and isiZulu (wz1320130329 usuku lokukhumbula ukubethelwa nokufa kweNkosi) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN).

We thank the Lutheran Heritage Foundation for supporting the distribution of hard-copies of these orders of worship and sermons throughout Southern Africa. If you also want a copy please do not hesitate to subscribe by writing to EAWWeber@bundunet.co.za.

I pray you have a very blessed Good Friday and have time to meditate on the watchword by our Lord Jesus Christ recorded in the gospel of St. John in the 3rd chapter: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Joh 3:16 NIV) The liturgical colour is purple/black, there are no decorations/elaborations.

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