Midweek Lenten Sermon for 06 March 2013 before Compline

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ Drawn from the Four Gospels (LSB/ESV)

III. THE PALACE OF THE HIGH PRIEST

Wednesday of Lent III, 06 March 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ Drawn from the Four Gospels    

III. THE PALACE OF THE HIGH PRIEST

Those who had arrested Jesus brought him to the high priest’s house, where the scribes and elders were assembled. Peter followed him afar off, and so did another disciple. That disciple was known to the high priest and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So that other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. He went in and sat with the servants to see the end. He was warming himself at the fire they had kindled in the middle of the courtyard.

Meanwhile, the chief priests and the whole council were seeking evidence that might make the case for a death sentence, but they could not find any. Many bore false witness against him, but their statements did not agree. Two stepped forward and said, “We heard him say, ‘I shall destroy this temple made with hands and after three days I shall build another, not made with hands.’ “But even on this point their evidence did not agree.

Then the High Priest stood up, moved to the center, and put this question to Jesus, “Do you have no answer? What is this evidence they have given against you?” But he was silent and gave no answer. Again the High Priest put a question to him and said, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am. You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of God’s power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” The High Priest tore his garments and said, “Do we still need any witnesses? You have heard this blasphemy. What is your opinion?” They all agreed that he was deserving of death.

Then some of them began to spit on him; they blindfolded him, struck him, and said to him, “Prophesy to us, O Christ, who is it that struck you?” The guards beat him as they took him away.

Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maidservants of the High Priest came and saw Peter warming himself. She looked at him closely as he sat in the light of the fire, and said, “You also were along with the man from Nazareth, that Jesus.”

Peter denied it and said, “I do not know what you mean.” He went out to the forecourt. Another maidservant saw him there and said to those who were standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Peter denied it again with an oath, “I do not know the man.” A little later those standing around said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them. You are a Galilean. Your accent gives you away.” Peter started calling down curses on himself and swore, “I do not know the man.”

And immediately while he was still speaking, the cock crowed a second time, and the Lord turned and looked on Peter. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” Peter broke down, and went out, and wept bitterly.

As soon as it was morning the chief priests with the elders and the scribes held the court session with all the Sanhedrin. Then they bound him, led him away, and turned him over to Pilate. Then Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, was sorry and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned. I have betrayed innocent blood.”

They said, “What is that to us? That is your affair.” Judas threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed. He went and hanged himself.

The chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.” They took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field to bury strangers in. That is why to this day that field has been called “the field of blood.”

In this way was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by the children of Israel, and gave them for the potter’s field.”

Here ends the Reading.

By grace you have been saved. This is what St. Paul wrote in Ephesians. This is a good Word of the Lord to remember. With our candles burning tonight, one can almost picture Peter, outside the Palace of the High Priest, warming himself.

Tonight’s reading contrasts Jesus, Judas, and Peter.

Jesus, He who brings grace and truth, was put on trial late at night against Jewish law. False witnesses are brought forward to testify. He is accused of blasphemy. No grace for Him. No benefit of the doubt. He accepts the cup the Father has prepared for Him.

Judas appears surprised by the consequences of his actions. We are not used to asking questions about where our impulsive, selfish, sinful decisions will lead us until we see the shocking results.

Did Judas think the leadership would just punish Jesus, tell Him to be quiet, and let Him go? Did he even care? We witness his remorse, the return of the blood money, and his death, but Judas does not repent. He did not remember Jesus’ words of hope and life.

By grace you have been saved. That means it isn’t about you or what you do or some bit of goodness left within you. The Law promises salvation if it is kept perfectly. Every second of every day for a lifetime. One sin—just one—messes up that whole system. Yet many continue to pursue that road, from Rome to Geneva and Salt Lake to Pasadena.

By grace you have been saved. And so was Peter. He was as much of a sinner as Judas was. Peter denied His Lord three times. How foolishly he had boasted before about going with Jesus to die with Him! Now Peter would not even acknowledge knowing Jesus. Peter wasn’t any holier than Judas. So what made the difference?

By grace you have been saved. In Paul’s letter to the Galatian Christians, Paul recounts that he had to call Peter to repentance using the Word of God. That is what made the difference after the cock crowed. Peter remembered Jesus’ words and wept bitterly. He would be restored. In Jesus there is always hope, always grace, always salvation. But not without repentance and faith.

Again, we rejoice that the Lord brings forth faith within you. He calls you to repentance and brings it about through His word of Law. And yes, sometimes it feels like a guilt trip, especially when the sin is one of long-standing that we don’t want to give up.

What did Judas’ sin give him? Thirty pieces of silver that went to buy a potter’s field, akeldama, a field of blood.

In contrast, you were purchased and won from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil not with gold or silver, but with Jesus’ holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death that you may be His own. By grace you have been saved.

Next week, we follow our Lord to THE PRAETORIUM. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Sermon for 03 March 2013, Third Sunday in Lent C

Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

God Is Faithful

Third Sunday in Lent, 03 March 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

God Is Always Faithful. We are not. About the Cover: Despite the troubles and trials that flood your life, despite the heartaches and sorrows, the tears and struggles, God is faithful. With every temptation you endure, He will provide “the way of escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13). That doesn’t mean that in this life everything will make sense, nor that you and those you love will never suffer. It does mean that He will never leave you and will supply you strength to endure.

That is the message St. Paul shares in 1 Corinthians chapter 10.

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

If you find a passage on water in the Scriptures, ask yourself if it has a connection to Holy Baptism. The miracle God performed through Moses in getting Israel as a nation across dry ground while the waters were held at bay doesn’t seem to be about baptism—until Paul says it is. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night was the Lord’s abiding presence with His people. The spiritual food and drink that they fed on was of Christ. The spiritual rock that followed them was Christ. God was faithful. And, as Paul clearly says, “Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.” The people spent forty years in the wilderness as a consequence of their unfaith, disobedience, and sin. The Lord raised up a new generation who would take possession of the Promised land under Caleb and the prophet Joshua.

St. Paul tells us that these are not merely idle tales. They are not dry and dead history. He says: Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

St. Paul is pithy. He continues: Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

Scripture was recorded for you. We are all given to imitate the examples of the faithful according to our common vocations. We are to all learn from the counter examples of every unfaithful thought, word, and deed. God is faithful. We must not put Christ to the test in our unfaithfulness.

This section of 1 Corinthians 10 concludes with a regularly-misunderstood passage.

Does God promise to never give you more than you can handle? Be careful in paraphrasing the promises the Lord gives us.

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Does God promise to never give you more than you can handle? Not exactly.

He will not let you be tempted / beyond your ability to resist the temptation / with a way of escape / that He alone provides. That sounds a lot different than the common paraphrases that float around the internet and come as intended comfort from the mouths of friends.

Not one of us is so strong, so wise, so popular, so pious that he or she is incapable of falling into sin. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to mankind. Yet, there is a big difference between being presented with a temptation and giving in to temptation. We pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” James tells us that “God tempts no one.” We do know that the Lord tests our faith. Translators have offered alternatives to “Lead us not into temptation.” A common one in progressive Christian circles is “Save us from the time of trial.” Like it or not, it is a valid alternative translation. Still, it doesn’t sound right. “Save us from the time of trial” sounds too different. Consider: “Do not allow us to be led into temptation.” It is not as brief, but it makes the same point and sounds similar enough to “Lead us not into temptation.”

God is faithful where we are not. Jesus resisted Satan’s own temptation after forty days and forty nights in the wilderness. He remained faithful when Israel was unfaithful, and, as a result, spent forty years in the wilderness.

When you are in the midst of a temptation, flee. Don’t be alone. Find another Christian. Until you can, and especially after you have found the company of another believer, pray. Pray the Lord’s Prayer. Pray from your heart and off the top of your head. Pray faithful printed prayers. Pray the Psalms. Fill your mind and heart and time with God’s Word. Read it aloud. Pray it. Pray in response to it. Resist the devil and He will flee from you. And in all of these actions of fleeing, finding Christian company, hearing Scripture, and praying, we are relying on the Lord’s strength, the Lord’s Word, the Lord’s Spirit, even the God the Holy Spirit Himself.

Does God promise to never give you more than you can handle? Not exactly. He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability to resist the temptation with a way of escape that He alone provides. That way is Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Him. Cherish His Word. Remember your Baptism into Christ. Repent. Be reconciled to God. Prepare to receive the Lord’s Supper at your next opportunity. God is faithful where we are not. When and where you have been unfaithful, God is faithful to forgive you and increase your faith. God Is Faithful. Amen.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Midweek Lenten Sermon for 27 February 2013 before Compline

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ Drawn from the Four Gospels (LSB/ESV)

II. GETHSEMANE

Wednesday of Lent II, 27 February 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ Drawn from the Four Gospels    

II. GETHSEMANE

When they had sung a hymn, he went out, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all be offended because of me this night; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.”

Peter answered and said to him, “Even if all the others deny you, I will never deny you.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you that this night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But Peter said more vehemently, “If I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the others said likewise.

They went over the brook Kidron and came to a place which was called Gethsemane. There was a garden there, and he went into it with his disciples. Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. And when he was at the place, he said to them, “Sit down here, while I go on ahead and pray. Pray that you do not enter into temptation.”

He took with him Peter and James and John and began to be full of sorrow and turmoil. Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Wait here, and watch with me.” He went on a little from them, about a stone’s throw. He fell on his face and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”

An angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him; and he prayed, saying, “O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” In agony, he prayed more earnestly, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.” His sweat fell on the ground like great drops of blood.

When he got up from prayer, he came to his disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, your will be done.” When he returned, he found them asleep again; for their eyes were heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour is come; behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. Look, the one who betrays me is here.”

Even while he was saying this, Judas, one of the Twelve, came with a detachment and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They came to the place with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon him, went out to them and said, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.”

Judas, who betrayed him, had taken his stand with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Whom do you seek?” They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I told you that I am he. If I am the one you seek, then let these others go.” This was to fulfill the word he had spoken, “Of those you gave me I have lost none.”

Now he that was betraying Jesus had given them a sign, saying, “The one whom I shall kiss, that is he; seize him and be sure to take him away securely.” He went straight up to Jesus and said, “Hail, Master,” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come? Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

They came then and laid their hands on Jesus and took him. When those who were about him saw what would happen, they said to him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

Jesus answered, “No more of that.” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath. All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Do you imagine that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he will send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so? The cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink of it?”

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, and the captains of the temple, and the elders who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a thief, with swords and clubs to take me? When I was with you day after day teaching in the temple, you did not lay your hands on me; but this is your hour and the hour of the power of darkness. All this has happened that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.

There was a certain young man who followed along. He had only a linen cloth about his naked body. They laid hold on him, but he slipped out of the linen cloth and fled away naked.

Then the detachment and its captain and the officers of the Jews seized Jesus, and bound him, and led him away to Annas first; for he was the father in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year. Now Caiaphas was the one who gave counsel to the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Here ends the Reading.

The purpose of Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, and death is clear: “He was delivered over to death for our sins.” A Lamb had to be delivered over for our trespasses, or we would still be dead in our trespasses and sins. Who delivered Him over? Tonight’s Passion reading answers that question well.

Even with all of their bold words, Peter, James, and John allowed Him to suffer in silent prayer alone. They were asleep.

Jesus prayed to the Father in agony: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus delivered Himself according to the Father’s will. The Father, who so loved the world, gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Judas betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver. Judas delivered Jesus with a kiss to those who wanted him dead.

All the disciples forsook Him and fled.

Caiaphas was the one who gave counsel to the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

We too, delivered Him over to death. If we had no sins, we would not have had to die. We are not allowed to just blame the Romans, the Jews, or the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day. All of humanity is responsible, from Adam and Eve, to us, to all of humanity living and dead when the Lord returns in glory on the last day.

“O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” It is not an easy thing to pray “Thy will be done.” Such a prayer takes our present and future out of our hands—out of our control. But were either really in your control in the first place?

“Thy will be done” is a prayer that can only be prayed in faith—complete trust that the Lord is gracious and merciful, and that He knows what is best for you in the long term, no matter what happens to you in the short term.

Bad things often happen to good people. Look at what happened to the only perfect man who ever lived! Jesus was killed for claiming to be who He really was.

Your Lord does allow things to happen to you. He does it to strengthen your faith and trust in Him. As James says, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4. All things are possible, but not all things are beneficial. Your Father in heaven knows best. He cares for you!

“Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.” Jesus actively obeyed the Ten Commandments. He kept the Law where we could not. We see also His passive obedience. He did not run away from Jerusalem. He set His face toward Jerusalem. He did not resist those who came to arrest them. He did not call for legions of angels. He did not put the Sanhedrin, high priest, Herod, or Pilate in their place at His feet. He did not come down from the cross. As a sheep before the shearers is silent, so was He. There had to be a death to atone for our sins. And there was! Even in Lent, you can rejoice in the forgiveness of sins.

Next week, we follow our Lord to THE PALACE OF THE HIGH PRIEST. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Sermon for 24 February 2013, Second Sunday in Lent C

Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Jeremiah 26:8-15

Thus Says the Lord

Second Sunday in Lent, 24 February 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

About the Cover: “You shall die!” they thundered at Jeremiah. They thought the prophet had spoken blasphemy, but he had spoken only the truth God put in his mouth. Jesus, too, is threatened with death (by Herod, “that fox” [Luke 13:31–32]), but our Lord is undismayed. He still has work to do, and He knows He will not die until the appointed time and at the appointed place: Jerusalem, when the lambs are slain.

We should set the stage for the death threat against Jeremiah. This text has something to say to us here and now.

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: ² “Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word. ³ It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds. ⁴ You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you, ⁵ and to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened, ⁶ then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.’ ”

⁷ The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord.

It sounds pretty straight forward doesn’t it? The Lord told His prophet to proclaim His word. The Lord wanted His people to repent, listen to His prophets, and repent. It sounds straight forward enough, right? If they choose not to listen or choose not to obey, then, the Lord says, “I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.” “A curse” we at least understand. What does the Lord mean about Shiloh? Shiloh was destroyed. It had once hosted the Ark of the Covenant. When the people there began to think of it superstitiously, as only a “good luck charm,” the Ark was temporarily lost to the Philistines and the city itself was destroyed.

And here is where today’s Old Testament text picks up the account:

⁸ And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall die! ⁹ Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

Let’s pause and understand what is going on. Jeremiah did what the Lord told him to do. The priests and other prophets and all the people did not believe what Jeremiah said from the Lord. They didn’t want to hear it. They didn’t want to do it. Their solution was to get rid of the person, Jeremiah, who had offended them. Now the government gets involved.

¹⁰ When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the Lord and took their seat in the entry of the New Gate of the house of the Lord. ¹¹ Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, “This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.”

Where is the king in all of this? He sent his officials. The priests and prophets appealed to the officials to put Jeremiah to death, not because he spoke unfaithfully, but because Jeremiah proclaimed the Lord’s own judgment against them and their city. There’s a big difference between the two, of course. What would Jeremiah say?

¹² Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. ¹³ Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. ¹⁴ But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. ¹⁵ Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”

Jeremiah proclaimed the Lord’s Word. The Lord wanted His people to repent, listen to His prophets, and repent. Instead, the people call for Jeremiah’s death. That is where the reading on the back of your bulletin ends. It is our point of connection with the text. What do you do with God’s Word? You have heard it today. You are hearing it explained, proclaimed, and applied to you here and now. What will you do with it the rest of this day? What will you do with it the rest of this week? This month? This year? The Lord calls for you to repent so that you may benefit from the delivery of His life, salvation, and forgiveness. His Word is good seed that can remain hidden or dead, or it can be planted and bear fruit. Which will it be for you?

World magazine, 23 February 2013, p. 4: How far and how quickly [our nation has moved on social issues, away from what God’s Word says,] from [declaring something] “taboo/criminal à toleration à acceptance à approval à normalization à protection à preferential treatment.” Indeed, what’s to keep the same pattern from repeating itself with reference to a variety of moral issues? [This is the pattern our old evil foe uses to introduce false teaching to a pastor, a Christian, a congregation, and even a church body. Pray for steadfastness, for faithfulness, for courage to stand firm, for bold, faithful, and winsome proclamation of God’s Word in all of its truth and purity.

This sermon, like any sermon, is unfinished. Faith responds to God’s Word with its “Amen,” looking to Christ alone, breathing forth with good works, good works that are faith’s “thank you” to the Lord, not good works misunderstood as bribes to the Lord. Salvation is in Christ Jesus alone. Period.

Jeremiah proclaimed the Lord’s Word. That is what you and the Lord has called me to do. The Lord still wanted His people that He gathers to Himself and His Word to repent, listen to His Word, and repent. Instead, apathy reigns. So many people don’t want to take even an hour of their time on a Sunday morning to pay attention. Ignorance of the Bible is to be expected in America. It is common for me to meet adults who have never been baptized. It is common for me to meet children who have rarely, if ever, set foot in a church. It is common for me to meet nursing home residents who haven’t been near a preacher in thirty years. It is easy to be distracted even while in the pews. Once the service ends, we all leave this place and go forth into our vocations. What will you do with God’s Word? How will you respond in faith?

I can tell you the rest of the story for the people in Jeremiah 26.

¹⁶ Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.” ¹⁷ And certain of the elders of the land arose and spoke to all the assembled people, saying, ¹⁸ “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and said to all the people of Judah: ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts,          “ ‘Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.’

¹⁹ Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the Lord and entreat the favor of the Lord, and did not the Lord relent of the disaster that he had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great disaster upon ourselves.”

This is another good time to pause. The government officials, representatives of the king affirmed Jeremiah’s ministry and message. And elders of the land spoke to the people from the scriptures. Proclaiming the Law of the Lord, they said, is not a cause to call for the prophet’s death. No. It is time to repent and believe. And the Lord relented on the disaster He had proclaimed as a judgment on unfaithfulness. Finally, these elders said: “But we are about to bring great disaster upon ourselves” [if we do not repent and believe].

These elders knew what they were talking about. They also knew the account of a counter-example: ²⁰ There was another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land in words like those of Jeremiah. ²¹ And when King Jehoiakim, with all his warriors and all the officials, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah heard of it, he was afraid and fled and escaped to Egypt. ²² Then King Jehoiakim sent to Egypt certain men, Elnathan the son of Achbor and others with him, ²³ and they took Uriah from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, who struck him down with the sword and dumped his dead body into the burial place of the common people.

So what happened in this counter-example? Uriah the prophet faithfully proclaimed the Lord’s Word like Jeremiah is doing. He fled to Egypt to escape a death sentence like the people want against Jeremiah. Egypt extradited him back to Jehoiakim who killed him and dishonored his remains. So much for the Lord’s prophet.

What is to become of Jeremiah?

²⁴ But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death.

Jeremiah is rescued. As I mentioned before, Jesus, too, is threatened with death (by Herod, “that fox” [Luke 13:31–32]), but our Lord is undismayed. He still has work to do, and He knows He will not die until the appointed time and at the appointed place: Jerusalem, when the lambs are slain.

TLSB: Faithful proclamation of God’s Word often brings serious, even fatal opposition by the worldly powers. Despite this, [we Christians] faithfully defend those wrongly accused, and pray for fellow Christians who face persecution. God often rescues His people from physical harm, but the greater blessing is that He rescues you from eternal condemnation through Jesus Christ.

Amen.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.