Acts 5:12-32; Revelation 1:4-18; John 20:19-31

Dear brother and sisters in Christ,

No one locks a door without reason. A locked door becomes a barrier between you and everything else. It gives us a sense of safety and protection since people can’t randomly access us through a locked door. It also offers privacy to do whatever we want without interruption. 

When we lock a door, we don’t expect anyone to enter through that barrier. It’s the entire point of why a door would be locked in the first place. We keep others out and ourselves in. For we know the laws of nature won’t let us pass through such a barrier without breaking the door. 

Imagine then the disciples surprise when a guest shows up in a room with the doors locked. The disciples gather together on the evening of Jesus’ resurrection and we’re told that “the doors [were] locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews,” John 20:19. Of course, the disciples had many reasons to lock the door. They believed the Jews would come for them next, the mobs would come after them too, or any other number of intruders to their gathering. But the actual “intruder” isn’t who they thought it would be either. Jesus comes among them through locked doors and says to them, “Peace be with you,” John 20:19b. Our resurrected Lord breaks through the barriers they placed so he may be with them.

There’s a problem with this gathering though. There’s someone missing. Only ten of the eleven disciples (remember Judas is gone) have gathered together. After Jesus speaks with them, they’re all abuzz with joy and excitement. But Thomas isn’t so easily convinced. These ten go to tell Thomas who was missing, but Thomas responds, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe,” John 20:25. Of course, this is the reason why we call him “doubting” Thomas, though such a name is misleading. But Thomas is also one with whom we can relate in our doubts.

Only one week later, these disciples gather together again; and this time, Thomas is with them. Here again, the doors were locked. But just like the first time, such a barrier caused no issues for our resurrected Lord. Jesus comes among them, saying again, “Peace be with you,” John 20:26. Then he turns to Thomas and addresses his doubts directly. “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe,” John 20:27. Our resurrected Lord doesn’t discard the marks of his passion. Rather, he’s known by them. Jesus is eternally known by his cross, his death for you, and now his resurrection from the dead. Sometimes, we may have doubts like Thomas. We may wish to “see” as the disciples have. And when we do, Jesus comes among us too… through his Word and Sacraments. Jesus is present through his Word. Everything Jesus did is recorded for our benefit, our faith. “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name,” John 20:31. When in doubt, let us turn again to God’s word… and there we’ll see Jesus who holds out his nail-scarred hands to us that we may have eternal life! 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Isaiah 65:17-25; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; Luke 24:1-12

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We’ve focused on hands for the last several weeks. We’ve seen how they work, how they comfort, how they care. We know the scope of what our hands can do. But it wasn’t necessarily our hands that we were watching. Rather, it was God’s hand that piqued our interest. It was the very hands of Jesus.

Let us continue to observe these hands this week. For we’ve seen Jesus heal diseases, cast out demons, comfort the lowly, raise the dead, and forgive sins. But that was just the beginning. Jesus shall lead his disciples to the upper room where his hands shall take bread, bless it, break it, and give it. So too shall his hands bless the cup and pass it around for all to drink. And as he does this, he tells us, “This is my body,” and “This is my blood.” We see his hands do a new thing, taking ordinary food and making it a feast of forgiveness and life!

Yet, on that same night, the hands that blessed shall be the hands that are tied. The hands that healed are the hands in chains. The hands that taught the disciples, the crowds, and all the people shall be betrayed by one of his own. Jesus shall be handed over to the Jews, the Pharisees, the high priest. They will charge him with blasphemy and false teaching, claiming it’s his hand that have done great evil! But notice his hands... they are still. He doesn’t fight back. He doesn’t flail for his freedom. He doesn’t even raise a finger against his accusers.

All throughout the night, Jesus will stand trial. He’ll be beaten, insulted, spit upon. All who desire to lay their hands on him won’t find any resistance. Even with all this against him, Pilate will declare these hands innocent three times! But three times still won’t be enough. For the hands of the Jews shall point at him and yell, “Crucify him!” The hands which have held the world will now carry a cross. Bloodied and beaten. Weak and innocent. His hands shall bear the splinters of the wood, only to then be nailed to it. The Romans shall nail his hands and his feet to the cross.

His hands will be pierced for us. His hands will carry our sins for us. His hands shall feel death for us and be put into a tomb. Yet, this is the week that we see the hands of Jesus do his greatest work of all. For on the third day, the hand of God shall come down to roll away the stone. The hands of Jesus shall not remain lifeless but shall be raised up to life eternal! Now, in the hands of Jesus are the very keys of death and the grave. He has conquered so that his hands may open to us the gates to life everlasting! 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

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

Deuteronomy 32:36-39; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 19:28-40

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The Lord has need of it. There was no questioning from the owner beyond this, or any inquiry about compensation. The disciples simply walked up, loosed the rope and left, with these few words. This has always been the strangest part of the story for me. It doesn’t seem likely that someone would loan out their colt with such little explanation. After all, donkeys were beasts of burden. They were used regularly for tilling fields and hauling freight. They were far too valuable an animal to give away so easily.

We have limited supplies after all. We must always think about our needs first, right? We can’t give away food if that means we have none left. Nor can we hand out every penny we earn without withholding a portion for our needs. Indeed, our needs are important too. So why should someone else’s need trump mine? It just doesn’t make sense. 

Needs, though, as opposed to wants are difficult to decipher sometimes. We need food and water to survive, but without shelter, we wouldn’t fair well either. We need a job, but not just any job will do. So, where is the line drawn then between needs and wants? Can we make that difference? I think we find, our needs are so often tainted by our sinful wants. We never are willing to settle for the simple needs, but rather hide all our sin in the disguise of human need. Yes, sin has made us “needy” people. 

Think again though about who claims “need” over this colt. It’s not just any needy person. It’s “the Lord.” He’s the one who created the world in seven days, who formed life out of nothing. Why does he need an animal so lowly? 

The Lord has need of it. That was the end of the discussion… because that was enough. With so few words, Jesus communicated through his disciples the coming of the messiah. For it was long foretold that the true King of Israel would ride not on a stallion for battle, but on a donkey, a colt, a beast of burden. The Lord needed his donkey. He needed the ride… because he would carry an even heavier load. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that day, he rode that he may carry every sinful desire to the cross. Indeed, Jesus was the true “beast” of burden. For he allowed himself to become burdened with all of our sins. But he would unload them. He would remove them, by his death. For they would be carried with him to the grave where they would remain forever. The Lord had need of that colt because he had need for you! By Jesus’ death on the cross, he frees us from our load that we may sing his praise now and forevermore!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Isaiah 43:16-21; Philippians 3:4b-14; Luke 20:9-20

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Many people will say that respect isn’t given, it’s earned. A fancy title, a big desk, and a nice office aren’t enough to demand respect from people if it isn’t also given. It’s true that respect is a two-way street. We won’t give people respect if we don’t feel that we’re getting it in return. Respect is more than the common decency we show everyone. Respect is a willingness to listen, to obey, or to follow.

This is why we often say it must be earned. We are very cautious to follow or to listen to someone if they haven’t already proven they’re worthy to listen to. Someone needs to display that they are a capable boss or leader before we will fully respect them. That kind of respect must be built up over time.

For in our Gospel lesson this week, Jesus tells us another parable. A man rents out his vineyard to tenants and then goes away for a long time. When the time comes for the harvest, he sends servants back to the vineyard to receive his share of the harvest. However, the tenants act wickedly by beating and tossing out the servants empty-handed. After three failed attempts, the owner of the vineyard says, “What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him,” Luke 20:13. To be fair, the servants deserved respect also. The son deserves respect too. But these tenants not only treat him shamefully but even go so far as to kill him. 

All of this may seem extreme to us. No one believes now that they can gain an inheritance simply by killing the heir (Luke 20:14). But the premise behind it remains the same. Will we respect the Son or not? Will we listen to him willingly or do we also seek his death? So often, like those tenants, we too disrespect the Son by not listening to his word, by not following him, by treating him shamefully in our own lives. Our sins are the disrespect we show to Jesus by telling him that we want the inheritance without the heir. And rightly, those wicked tenants found only condemnation for their actions. “[The owner of the vineyard] will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others,” Luke 20:16. 

Respect isn’t given, it’s earned, we say. But how much more shall the Son do for us before we respect him? For Jesus is that Son, the heir to the kingdom of God. He has come to us to teach us how to live a blessed life. He has comforted us in our distress, healed us of our diseases, and forgiven us of our sins. Jesus has given himself up for us, allowing himself to be treated shamefully by our hands, even going so far as to nail Jesus to the cross! It’s only by respecting the Son that we gain the inheritance. It’s only through listening, obeying, and believing in Jesus that we also gain the eternal kingdom! God has given the vineyard to us, that we may return to him the very fruits of faith! 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

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

Isaiah 12:1-6; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Lost and found. There’s always that little bin that accumulates forgotten things over the year, things people left on accident and never realized it was gone. Going through a lost and found bin is also an interesting endeavor to see what kinds of things people no longer want. For in truth, the important things are always retrieved. They may not even make it into a lost and found bin before they’re recovered. Car keys, wallets, cell phones, important papers and so on. Even if they’re left, they will instantly be sought.

What happens, though, when it’s a son who is lost? For now, we have someone who not only is lost, but doesn’t want to be found. The younger of the two sons demands his inheritance from his father, and by doing so, is saying it would be better for his father to be dead. Against all reasonable expectations, though, the father gives it to him! And off the younger son goes. Into a far country, the son spends everything with reckless abandon. 

Like the prodigal son, we too end up lost at times. How often we stray from the path God sets out for us. We wander off into sin and reckless living with no desire to be found. It even seems well and good for a while. It might not even seem like we’re lost. But lost we are. We’ve squandered God’s good gifts with our sinful ways. We spend them on our own pleasure… gluttony, greed, lust, and so on. We’ve run away from his house with little desire to return. Until… we hit rock bottom. Until we feel like those items left in the lost and found bin, wondering if anyone is searching for us.

Lost. Yes, that’s a good way to describe this younger son… and us. And when we come to realize this, there’s only one response left. “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son,” Luke 15:21. Notice the difference between the son’s rehearsal and his actual confession. When he comes home, he is surprised, amazed, even overwhelmed to learn… his father was still looking for him. He wasn’t one of those forgotten things as he believed, having to work his way back into the family. No, the Father has mercy and forgives his son and welcomes him back with open arms! Just as God does with you. No matter how much we sin, no matter how far away we run, God is always waiting, searching, seeking you to welcome you back with open arms!

But that’s not the end of the story, now is it. There’s still the older brother. The older brother is severely scandalized by his father’s forgiveness. The brother wishes there would be a stricter punishment for such an “immoral” brother. When there is a feast going on, celebrating the return of a “lost” son, this brother shows he’s also lost. He may not have run away, but he’s lost himself in his own self-righteousness. And the amazing thing is, the Father forgives him too. He goes out to him and speaks with him. The father seeks out both his sons that they may join in the feast. Soo too, God does with you, whether you find yourself more as a prodigal or an older brother, God seeks you out to bring you into the feast of Christ’s body and blood, where God rejoices over you!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

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!

Ezekiel 33:7-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Should it stay or should it go? This is what I’m often asking myself when it comes to gardening. Now, the whole gardening thing is new to me as I only recently have a yard in which to garden. But already, I have three plants that I stare at and wonder, “Should I dig them up and replace them (because they’re dead) or do I wait to see if they revive over the coming weeks?”

Perhaps, it’s because I just don’t want to spend money right now that I leave them be and give them time. But I also understand, I need not condemn the plant already to being thrown away if it will yet grow back. Indeed, we know this well when it comes to plants, but the same is true for us with God. 

In our Gospel lesson this week, Jesus speaks this parable of a tree that fails to produce fruit. It’s pretty much as good as dead. Thus, the master of the vineyard wants to cut it down and throw it away because it’s good for nothing. However, the vinedresser responds to the master, “Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down,” Luke 13:8-9. The tree receives mercy from vinedresser who allows it to have more time to produce fruit. However, the fate of the tree is never specified. Will it bear fruit or not?

This is how we know that every day is a gift to us. We are the answer to that question because we’re the tree to which Jesus refers. Are we going to bear fruit or not? We know that to believe in Christ means we will also bear fruit. The fruits of faith naturally flow from our belief in Jesus. God gives us time that our faith may bear fruit as he desires. Yet, we also know that no day is guaranteed. Disasters, tragedies, and other such events are all too common in our world. We never know when one might befall us and our time be cut short.

Jesus was asked about such things also. When disasters befall our world, such as tornadoes, school shootings, wars, and so on, they’re not because those affected deserved such a tragedy. Rather, Jesus tells us, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish,” Luke 13:2-3. Disasters are a sign of our general sinfulness. We all have sinned and fall short of God’s holiness. We all deserve death and condemnation. However, God has forestalled his judgment for our sake. It’s only because of God’s mercy that he doesn’t bring the world to an end already. Rather, God punishes our sins by sending Jesus to the cross. He draws us to repentance, turning us toward himself, that we may avoid perishing eternally. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we’re given the time to come to repentance; and by repentance, to find eternal salvation! 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Jeremiah 26:8-15; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Sometimes I dream about what it would be like to live in a mansion. Having more space than you know what to do with. I’ve heard others joke that they would switch which room they slept in each night, or which wing of the house they “lived” in for the day, week, or month (depending how large it is). Yes, the American dream has long been getting a bigger house than you have use for, just to say you can. But, knowing for many people, it’s a dream too far out of reach.

Think, though about that large house of your dreams. What’s in it? Do you have your own pool? A movie theater, a bowling alley, your own personal library? If it had everything you wanted, how long would you be happy? But you see, a house is only a house. If you got that mansion of your dreams but were left alone in it, you might start to wonder if it was worth it. No matter how nice the house, the most important part are the people inside it. 

For this brings us to our Gospel reading this week. Jesus is warned by some Pharisees that Herod wants to kill him. Jesus laments about the “house” of Jerusalem. He laments that they would not be gathered into God’s “house”. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is forsaken,” Luke 13:34-35. Jesus came, seeking to gather Jerusalem together. Yet, Israel and Jerusalem would reject Jesus. 

A forsaken house is an empty house. That was the curse, Jesus spoke. Because of man’s rebellion, his stubbornness, his refusal to be gathered to God, Jesus tells Jerusalem that she is forsaken. The city that used to bear the name of God does so no longer. God has left Jerusalem to herself so that she is all alone in her own house. She is abandoned by God because she abandoned God. Thus, her house is forsaken.

In Lent, this becomes our cry: “Do not abandon us, O Lord.” Do not leave us forsaken… alone, isolated, cut off from Your grace and mercy. Forgive us, O Lord… for all the times we run away and are not gathered to you. Even so, we see. Jesus continues on his course. He was not deterred by Herod. Rather, he goes to Jerusalem to finish his course. Yes, God is still at work in gathering together his children, “as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.” For Jesus goes to perish in Jerusalem. He goes to the cross so that your house may not be forsaken, but forgiven! See even today how God’s work of gathering his children continues as He gathers his children before the cross of Christ and nourishes them in Word and Sacrament! In this house, we shall indeed say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!