Wrestling with Theology

''Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. (Matthew 26:36-37)'' Gethsemane. Chaldean for "oil press." Where our Lord was pressed under sorrow and deep distress. We talk about being '''VERY''' upset. Months a...

''Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." (Matthew 26:34)'' What heart-breaking words Peter heard that Thursday night. The prophecy of his denial of Jesus. Not just once but three times. Three times Peter would be asked if he was one of Jesus' disciples. Three times Peter would say, "I don't know the man." Three times Pe...

"We teach that rewards have been offered and promised for the works of believers. We teach that good works have merit, not for forgiveness of sins, for grace, or for justification (for these we receive only through faith), but for other rewards, bodily and spiritual, in this life and after this life." -- Ap V 73

''Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble." ... Then Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" (Matthew 26:33-35)'' St. Peter was always the boastful sort. His frequent boasts and arrogance help to see him as Andrew's older brother. Probably the oldest of the four Bethsaida fisherman disciples....

''And the sheep of the flock will be scattered (Matthew 26:31)'' Sheep love their shepherd. When the Shepherd is smitten, the sheep scatter. Just as the Apostles would do when Jesus is arrested. Without the shepherd, the sheep don't know where to go. They have no one to follow. So they go to the four corners. Any direction that would take them away from the wolves. The greatest betrayal was that o...

What are the acceptable words and meditations? Those that are God-pleasing. These three psalms give  us great examples of the words and meditations that God accepts.

''I will strike the Shepherd (Matthew 26:31)'' Stricken. Smitten. Afflicted. No. I'm not bringing Lent back just yet. Still a few months until we once again spend time remembering our Savior's suffering.  But as we walk through St. Matthew's Passion narrative, we see that every day is a day to remember our Lord's suffering. Jesus quotes Zechariah's prophecy of Jesus' betrayal (13:7): "Awake,...

Contract Extension: Jesse James Armstrong (March 23) The Illinois Heavyweight Title and a Deadly Dozen tournament to crown the first champion were announced at the beginning of this card. Twelve qualifying (DDQ) matches for the tournament were held tonight. All twelve men will face each other in a massive round-robin tournament. The wrestler with the most wins throughout the tournament will be cro...

''Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night" (Matthew 26:31).'' On the night that was to be their greatest challenge in faith, all the disciples failed. Failed miserably. They stumbled when Judas and the mob came to get Jesus. That night, they didn't want to be counted with Jesus. They wanted nothing to do with Jesus. How many nights is that your issue?...

Even though the Roman Church declares that Baptism takes away original sin and therefore the need for Jesus as Mediator after Baptism, Christ is still the Christian's Mediator. We can never get around the accusations of the Law. All of our righteousness before God comes solely for Christ's sake. His mediation and intercession brings us that righteousness.

''I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom (Matthew 26:29).'' In Heaven, we will be in a perfect communal relationship. In Heaven, all the divisions of the denominations will be gone. In Heaven, everyone will be in altar fellowship with everyone else. We know this because Jesus says He will drink the wine of His...

This morning's meditation are the Words of Institution as found in St. Matthew's Gospel, chapter 26, verses 26-28: Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, w...

''Judas, who would betray him, answered, "Is it I, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You have said so" (Matthew 26:25).'' Sometimes there are questions that you don't ask because you don't want the answer. You're afraid of the answer you might get. With the same trepidation as the other Apostles, Judas asks Jesus. Judas had already been influenced by Satan. Even possessed by Satan. And yet he is still ther...

Psalm 18 is a wonderful Psalm that speaks of God being our Fortress, Refuge, Strength, Shield, and many other things. This Psalm was used as the liturgy for an Advent Midweek service in 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Slayton, MN. In this episode, listen to the reading of the Psalm and the sermon that was preached in 2012.

''The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born (Matthew 26:24).'' The primary thought of the suicidal is that it would be better for everyone if he or she had not been born. That God made a mistake with them. This is the plot of "It's a Wonderful Life" and all its derivatives. Wou...

World Tag Team champions Bobo Brazil and S.D. Jones face a gauntlet against four teams. Each match has them defending their titles and their winning streak: 'Fallen Angel' Christopher Daniels & Steve Corino Billy Gunn & Jimmy Golden Chris Candido & Rick Rude Iceman King Parsons & Brickhouse Brown 'Dirty' Dutch Mantell and David von Erich, seeking to have one more shot at the World...

''Jesus answered, "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me" (Matthew 26:23).'' The questions swirled. Each of the Twelve asked Jesus if he would betray Jesus. Jesus answers the group with a vague statement. "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me." Each of the Twelve had dipped their hand in the dish with Him. They all had dipped their bread into the oil. Each of them...

Liturgical Date: Pentecost Calendar Date: May 23, 2021 Location: Our Savior, Milford, IL Order of Service: Service of Prayer & Preaching Hymns: #503, "O Day Full of Grace" #498, "Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest" #496, "Holy Spirit, Light Divine" #643, "Sent Forth by God's Blessing" Sermon Theme: Filled with the Holy Spirit Sermon Text: Acts 2:1-21 Other Lectionary Readings:  Ezekiel 37:1-...

''When it was evening, He reclined at table with the Twelve. And as they were eating, He said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me" (Matthew 26:20-21).'' Imagine being one of the Apostles. You're sitting at the table with your closest friends. Your rabbi is celebrating the greatest of all Old Testament feasts. As you're eating, He says, "One of you will betray Me." A friend's betrayal...

If anyone doubts whether sins are forgiven him, he dishonors Christ. For he judges that his sin is greater or more effective than Christ's death and promise, even though Paul says, "Where sin increased, grace increased all the more" (Romans 5:20). This means that mercy is more comprehensive than sin. -- Ap V 28

''Jesus said, "Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples'" (Matthew 26:18).'' "My time is at hand," Jesus finally says. Other times He says the opposite. But this time, walking into Jerusalem on Thursday morning, His time is at hand. His time of manifesting God's mercy and love on the cross is a...

''Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?" (Matthew 26:17)'' The time of Jesus' sacrifice coincides with the annual Passover. Much is said around Easter about the Passover. But Passover is only the first day of a much larger feast. The Feast of Unleavened Bread.  A week-long feast of fasting. Th...

''And from that moment [Judas] sought an opportunity to betray Him (Matthew 26:16).'' We talk about people being an opportunist. Seeking the opportunity to enhance themselves at the expense of another. So Judas seeks the opportunity to betray Jesus into the hands of the chief priests and elders. What was Judas' motive? Was it greed? Or was it something a bit more understandable to the rest of the...

Only four matches on the card! TELEVISION TITLE MATCH: 'Dirty' Dutch Mantell (c) vs Jimmy Golden AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: Jesse James Armstrong (c) vs Goldust WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES MATCH: Bobo Brazil & S.D. Jones (c) vs Sawyer Brothers EIGHT MAN TAG TEAM CAGE WAR:   Strong Army (Jesse James Armstrong, Eric Embry, State Patrol) vs Gunns 4 Hire (Billy Gunn, Jimmy Golden, PG-13)

''Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?" And they paid him thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-15).'' Judas sneaks off from the rest of the disciples and arranges to be paid to betray Jesus. How much was Jesus' life worth to Judas? Thirty pieces of silver. If we were to take these pieces at...