Sermons

With this parable, Jesus teaches what to expect when the Word of God goes out into this world.

n Baptism, the Lord Jesus Himself washes away our sins, raises us to new life in the faith, and sustains that faith as we journey through this earthly life. This is mercy, not condemnation.

It is the hatred of the world that brings forh the “sword,” not Jesus.

When we can’t find the words to pray as we should, Jesus gives us the perfect prayer. Everything we could ever need in this life is in the Lord’s prayer.

The words “Receive the Holy Spirit” show us that this is indeed a spiritual activity ruled by the Word of forgiveness. As priests of Christ Jesus, we rule by means of grace, mercy, and love.

Sacrifices are good when used according to God’s will. But God rebukes their abuse when our fallen human nature uses sacrifices to appease Him and to earn His blessings. Faith, not sacrifice, obtains the rich blessings of God.

Only God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bring us to everlasting life. God has made His name known to us and He makes himself known in a trinity of persons.

The significance of the “living waters”
is renewal. Spiritual renewal, for they
represent the work of the Holy Spirit.
Recall what Jesus said in the Gospel
Reading, He said, ““If anyone thirsts,
let him come to me and drink… ‘Out of
his heart will flow rivers of living
water.’

Those disciples watched Jesus ascend visibly until He went out of sight in the clouds. Where did He go? He did not merely go to heaven as many do. In heaven this man sat down at the right hand of God. From the right hand of God, Christ Jesus now rules all things. He rules over “angels, authorities, and powers [all which] have been subjected to him. This man governs all things in heaven and on earth.

Christians suffer in many ways for righteousness’ sake, the righteousness of forgiven sin. It is as the Apostle St. Paul says – the Gospel of Christ’s forgiveness is a stumbling block for many and foolishness for others.1 And so, we suffer ridicule, slander, etc. This being the reality Peter urges us to…

Be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks for a reason for
the hope that is in you.

The things which we learn from the Transfiguration confirm our destiny. They guarantee our safety in the arms of God. They create peace in our hearts, and whenever we review the Transfiguration, those events nourish and strengthen that faith and peace.

The good life, that is spiritual life, can be obtained only through Christ Jesus. There is no other door or path under the sun. Many imposters come promising to make life good, but they deliver only destruction. Jesus says, I Am the door. All who hear His voice flee those who would destroy life and they follow Jesus into the truly abundant life.

Jesus says,
“If you forgive the sins of any, they
are forgiven them.”
Jesus is the authority.

The Resurrection of our Lord. The greatest miracle in the bible.

We sing “Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.” It is a powerful prayer, for it prays to Christ Jesus that we may be liberated or rescued from our sins.

We do not see the deep things of God revealed in the natural creation … In nature, we see only relentless decay and death. There is no mercy.

Only in the person and work of Jesus Christ do we see the glory in which death must give way to life. Jesus’ glory is mercy.

… In this passage Satan confronts Jesus. Satan has been the enemy of God and all humanity from the beginning. Satan’s purpose is to destroy our life with God. The Lord says this of the devil that he “was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him… “

So, we see, Luther teaches that the salt is the Word of forgiveness which Jesus Christ gives to us. It is the Word of absolution which takes away the sin of the World. Those believing in this absolution are living the salty life.

Jesus’ absolution is the only thing that sustains the earth …

In regard to the cross, the requested signs, stumbling blocks and folly, the theologian Paul Kretzmann says this, The preaching of the Cross was therefore in emphatic contrast to both positions. It offered no sign, but merely referred to the greatest miracle that was ever seen in the world, the death and resurrection of Christ, John 2:18–19; it brought no reasonable arguments, but simply preached Christ crucified, announced the salvation of mankind through the merits of Him who died for all.