Wrestling with Theology

  And those who passed by derided Him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the Cross." (Matthew 27:39-40)  Crucified! It was a somber highlight for Passover. Pilate had planned a triple crucifixion to take place. Even though it was quite somber, many people turned out to v...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" Small Catechism: Lord's Prayer, Introduction Large Catechism: III 17-23 Scripture: Psalm 103 Commentary: Fulgentius of Rupse, On the Forgiveness of Sins 2.10.4

  And [the soldiers] stripped [Jesus] and put a scarlet robe on Him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head and put a reed in His right hand. And kneeling before Him, they mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" (Matthew 27:28-29)  Mocked! The movie "The Passion of the Christ", I've been told, depicts this mocking of Jesus in very graphic detail. Truly, it...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright" Small Catechism: Apostles' Creed, Third Article Large Catechism: II 61-65 Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-6 Commentary: Jerome, Ephesians 1.1.4

  The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" And they said, "Barabbas." (Matthew 27:21)  Twist of Fate It was a quirky twist of fate that Jesus had on the morning of Good Friday. Here the crowd was faced with a choice. Do they release the Son of God or the notorious criminal named Barabbas (whose name means, "Son of the Father")? No matter who t...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "When All of God's Singers Get Home" Small Catechism: Apostles' Creed, Third Article Large Catechism: II 51-56 Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-12 Commentary: Oecumenius, Commentary on 1 Peter

Sermon from the "Hosanna to the Son of David" series Order of Service: Responsive Prayer 2 Hymns: #357, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" #525, "Crown Him with Many Crowns" #549, "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" Sermon Theme: It's Good to Be the King! (Adonijah) Sermon Text: 1 Kings 1:1-31 Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church 4201 Regent Ave N Robbinsdale, MN

Common Ground: Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 198-421 First Article of the Apostles' Creed

  And throwing down the pieces of silver into the Temple, [Judas] departed, and he went out and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:5)  Hanged! Judas was sorrowful--not truly repentant--but sorrowful that Jesus had been condemned and things weren't going the way he had hoped. He tried to reason with the chief priests and elders, but they weren't interested in releasing Jesus. There was nothing e...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Our God, He Is Alive" Small Catechism: Apostles' Creed, Third Article Large Catechism: II 35-39 Scripture: Psalm 139:7-10 Commentary: 1 Clement 28

  When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death. And they bound Him and led Him away and delivered Him over to Pilate the governor. (Matthew 27:1-2)  Bound, Led and Delivered The overnight trial over, the chief priests and elders decided it was best to put Jesus to death. He refused to defend Himself so there was no o...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "The Day Is Surely Drawing Near" Small Catechism: Apostles' Creed, Second Article Augsburg Confession: XVII Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Commentary: Ambrose, On Belief in the Resurrection 2.47-48

  And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:75)  Denied! It's one of the worst feelings in the world. You've betrayed one of your best friends by saying you don't know who they are. It points to your integrity, your friendship and your backbone. This is what St. Peter suffered as Jesus...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" Small Catechism: Apostles' Creed, Second Article Large Catechism: II 31-33 Scripture: John 20:1-10 Commentary: Hesychius of Jerusalem, Easter Homily 5-6

  And the high priest arose and said to Him, "Do you answer nothing? What is it these men testify against you?" (Matthew 26:62)  Silent Before the Sanhedrin Caiaphas, the high priest in Jerusalem, was woken from his sleep by news that excited him greatly. Jesus of Nazareth had been arrested. Now, the Sanhedrin wanted a trial before dawn so that there wouldn't be such an uproar in the cit...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle" Small Catechism: Apostles' Creed, Second Article Large Catechism: II 26-30 Scripture: John 1:1-14 Commentary: Athanasius, On the Incarnation 9.1-4

  Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him." (Matthew 26:48)  Betrayed! "Betrayed by a kiss." That's how the Passion of Christ began. That's how we'll begin our devotions this Lenten season. Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, one of Jesus' closest associates, betrayed Jesus into the hands of those who wanted Him dead. One of Jesus' hand-p...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Beautiful Savior" Small Catechism: Apostles' Creed, First Article Large Catechism: II 12-19 Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-3 Commentary: John Chrysostom, Hebrews 22.1-2

Wrestling Profile: Review of the March 22, 1986 episode of World Championship Wrestling on TBS. Video posting on Green Friday Wrestling on Facebook on March 29, 2019 at noon CST. Confessional Corner: Augsburg Confession I-III (God, Original Sin, Jesus Christ)

  [Jesus said:] "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." (Matthew 5:13-20)  "Not to Abolish the Law" After the Beatitudes, Jesus continues to admonish and encourage His disciples about the life we are to lead. He does not burden us with a new Law. Instead, He gives us reassurance. He says, "I have not come to...

  "Seeing the crowds, [Jesus] went up on the mountain, and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him." (Matthew 5:1-2)  The Great Discipler Our meditation this morning shows Jesus as the Great Discipler. This is the beginning verse of the Sermon on the Mount--one of the greatest sermons that we have from the lips of the Savior. Jesus was walking around, teaching His disciples when He s...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" Small Catechism: Tenth Commandment Smalcald Articles: II IV 9-14 Scripture: James 1:12-18 Commentary: Bede, Epistle of James

  "The people dwelling in darkness   have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned" (Matthew 4:16; Isaiah 9:2)  "The People Dwelling in Darkness" Isaiah's prophecy rings loud and clear as Jesus begins His ministry in the bustling seaport of Capernaum. This city in the region of Galilee had become quite dark in the preac...

"Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by." Office Hymn: "Here We Are but Straying Pilgrims" Small Catechism: Ninth Commandment Large Catechism: I 300-308 Scripture: 1 Kings 21:1-16 Commentary: Ambrose, On Naboth 1.1

  The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said,   "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)  "Behold, the Lamb of God" The day after John the Baptist baptized Jesus, he was teaching his disciples. He saw Jesus from a distance and tells his disciples, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" The symbolism is this state...