Wrestling with Theology

''So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples (Matthew 28:8).'' Having seen the angel, the women rushed from Jesus' empty tomb. Joyous that Jesus had been raised from the dead. He was alive! Now they needed to tell the disciples. While they were excited over the news, any angelic appearance causes fear. A heavenly being gives you a message. It's fr...

O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! (Psalm 38:1) O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! (Psalm 39:4)

''Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you" (Matthew 28:7).'' Jesus said that His journey's end through His Passion would end in the same place it began. Galilee. In the area around the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Around Capernaum. The mountain of Transfiguration. Hi...

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''He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay (Matthew 28:6).'' He told you He wouldn't be here. That's the angel's message. He has risen from the dead. He is no longer in the tomb. Many people make pilgrimages to the Holy Land. They worship in the Church of the Sepulchre. Jesus' burial place. But He's no longer there. Just as He wasn't there on Easter morning. W...

''But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified (Matthew 28:5).'' Who are you looking for? The women at the tomb were looking for the dead Jesus. But Jesus wasn't there. He had been raised. But they did not know that yet. The women came to the tomb because they were listening to the prophets. Isaiah had once said, "Seek the LORD while He may b...

Even though the adversaries claim the name of the Church for themselves, we know that Christ' Church is with those who teach Christ's Gospel, not with those who defend wicked opinions contrary to the Gospel. (Ap V 279)

Liturgical Date: Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 17B) Calendar Date: August 29, 2021 Location: Our Savior, Milford, IL Order of Service: Hymn Sing with Divine Service 4 Hymns: WHM #228, "Old Rugged Cross" #566, "By Grace I'm Saved" #458, "Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands" #781, "We Give Thee But Thine Own" #801, "How Great Thou Art" #861, "Christ Be My Leader" #622, "Lord Jesus C...

''Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can." So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard (Matthew 27:65-66).'' Once again, Pilate tells the chief priests and Pharisees to do it themselves. He wanted them to take care of Jesus. When they wouldn't, he washed his hands of the whole affair before sentencing Jesus to death....

''The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise.' Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud w...

The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. The LORD will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial. Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. (Psalm 37:32-34)

''And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away (Matthew 27:59-60).'' Joseph's faith in and reverence for Jesus is shown in his provisions for burial. Wrapping His body in a clean linen shroud. Placing His body into His own tomb. Joseph had this tom...

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''He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him (Matthew 27:58).'' Emboldened by his faith, with none of the Apostles' permission, Joseph goes before Pilate. He asks for Jesus' corpse. Being wealthy, he would be allowed an audience with the governor. Even in the first century, money talks. Joseph stands before the Roman governor as a simple Jew seekin...

''When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus (Matthew 27:57).'' Joseph of Arimathea was a shy disciple. He wouldn't publicly profess his belief in Jesus while Jesus was alive. Out of fear, he kept quiet as the rest of the Sanhedrin plotted to put Jesus to death. But after Jesus' crucifixion, Joseph was emboldened. He came forward as th...

Here the adversaries reply that eternal life is called a reward and that, therefore, it is merited in a wholly deserving way by good works. We reply briefly and plainly. Paul calls eternal life a "gift" (Romans 6:23), because by the righteousness presented for Christ's sake, we are made at the same time sons of God and coheirs of Christ. (Ap V 235)

''There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee (Matthew 27:55-56).'' The women who had been so close to Jesus in His ministry now stood off at a distance. They wanted to be there for Him at the end as well. They were...

''When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:54)'' The Gospel writers make a concerted effort to show faith among the unlikely. Especially since the established religious authorities had no faith in Jesus. It is the most unlikely that express their...

Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! (Psalm 35:1) How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. (Psalm 36:7)

''And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many (Matthew 27:51-53).'' When Jesus breathed His last, not only was the Temple curtain torn. The entire earth shook. Rocks were split. Graves were opened. This...

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''And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51).'' A curtain separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in Temple. Through that curtain only one person could pass. And only once a year at that. One specific day. One specific time. An intricate ritual preceded the high priest being able to pass through the curtain. What was so special about this cu...

''And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His Spirit (Matthew 27:50).'' "It is finished" (John 19:30). Jesus cried out with all that He can muster with one of His final breaths. Salvation had been attained. Sin had been atoned for. Jesus had nothing else to live for. He had suffered everything that He needed to suffer to satisfy God's wrath. Then He yielded up His Spirit. "I hav...

Liturgical Date: Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 12B) Calendar Date: August 15, 2021 Location: Our Savior, Milford, IL Order of Service: Divine Service 3 Hymns: #842, "Son of God, Eternal Savior" #696, "O God, My Faithful God" #624, "The Infant Priest Was Holy Born" #625, "Lord Jesus Christ, Life-Giving Bread" #633, "At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing" #655, "Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your W...

We are regenerated and receive the Holy Spirit for the very reason that the new life may produce new works, new dispositions, the fear and love of God, hatres of lustful desires (concupiscence), and so on. (Ap V 228)