Emmanuel Lutheran Church

Matthew 26:1-35

26 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, ² “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

³ Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, ⁴ and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. ⁵ But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”

⁶ And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, ⁷ a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. ⁸ But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? ⁹ For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”

¹⁰ But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. ¹¹ For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. ¹² For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. ¹³ Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

¹⁴ Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶ So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

¹⁷ Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

¹⁸ And He 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.” ’ ”

¹⁹ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

²⁰ When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. ²¹ Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”

²² And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”

²³ He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. ²⁴ The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

²⁵ Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?”

He said to him, “You have said it.”

²⁶ And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

²⁷ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ²⁹ But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

³⁰ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

³¹ Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:

³² But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

³³ Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”

³⁴ Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

³⁵ Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

And so said all the disciples.

The woman who anointed Jesus’ head with this costly perfume valued Jesus very highly. John 12:5 informs us this perfume was worth three hundred denarii. If a denarius is a day’s wage, then this perfume was worth nearly a year’s wages. Yet this woman pours it on Jesus’ head out of love and devotion to Him. She believed His Word that He would die, so she wanted to anoint him for his burial.

Judas, on the other hand, despises Jesus. Again, it is John who tells us that it was Judas who pointed out that this perfume could have been sold and the money given to help the poor. He indicts not only the woman but Jesus, who accepted the woman’s costly worship. Jesus corrects Judas and those who agreed with Him. She did a good work for Him in preparing Him for burial. Judas then goes to the chief priests and agrees to hand Jesus over to them in exchange for thirty pieces of silver, the price paid as a penalty if one’s ox accidentally killed a slave in Exodus 21:32. Judas tried to serve two masters, God and money, and it happened just as Jesus had said in Matthew 6:24. Judas hated Christ and His teaching—that is, he despised and thought little of Jesus—while he was loyal to His true master: money. By letting greed rule in his heart, he cast out his faith in Christ. Then he willfully betrayed him.

The amounts of money aren’t important. What seems like a little to one may seem like a lot to another. What is important is how the woman and Judas thought of money. The woman used money to worship Christ while she had the opportunity. Money was her servant. Judas set his heart on riches, no matter the amount, thinking that more money equals more security.

St. Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 7:30-31 that we are to use this world as not misusing it. Setting our hearts on money is one way we misuse of what God gives. This is the path of Judas. Using what God has given for the worship of Christ and for the sake of others, however, is a good work of the heart that finds its security in Christ and His promises.

Let us pray: Keep us from misusing the good things of this world, O Lord, so that we may set our hearts on You, trusting in Your promises and helping others as we are able. Amen.

Luke 23:26-56

²⁶ Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.

²⁷ And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. ²⁸ But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹ For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’ ³⁰ Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ ³¹ For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”

³² There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. ³³ And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. ³⁴ Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

And they divided His garments and cast lots. ³⁵ And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”

³⁶ The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, ³⁷ and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”

³⁸ And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

³⁹ Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

⁴⁰ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

⁴³ And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

⁴⁴ Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. ⁴⁵ Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

⁴⁷ So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”

⁴⁸ And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. ⁴⁹ But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

⁵⁰ Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. ⁵¹ He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God. ⁵² This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. ⁵⁴ That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.

⁵⁵ And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. ⁵⁶ Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

The cross of Christ predominates today’s lesson. Roman soldiers enlist Simon of Cyrene to take up Jesus’ cross and follow after Him. When they came to the place called Calvary the soldiers crucified Him upon the cross. From the cross Jesus intercedes for those who crucify Him. He absolves the penitent criminal, opening paradise to him that very day. He dies, and is taken down from the cross, wrapped in linen, and buried.

The cross of Christ predominates to the Christian Faith. By suffering and dying upon the cross, Christ made full satisfaction for the sins of the world and acquired forgiveness of sins for all mankind. Since the forgiveness He acquired must be applied to individuals, He intercedes for those who crucify Him, praying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” They acted in ignorance, “For had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor 2:8). By praying, “Father, forgive them,” Jesus asks that the Father would bring those responsible for His death to repentance, so that they might receive the forgiveness He earned for them and they, too, might be with Him in paradise. The Father answers  this prayer on Pentecost when Peter preaches to the Jews who crucified Jesus. Many ask what they should do, and Peter responds, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37-28). The Father continues to answer Jesus’ prayer as often as we repent and believe the gospel, since we, too, were responsible for Jesus’ death. “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities” (Is 53:5).

The cross of Christ predominates the life of the Christian as well. Receiving the forgiveness of sins by faith and the promise of being received into paradise when we die, we take up our cross and follow after Jesus. We put to death the sinful flesh in us each day, reject temptations, and live as Christ lived,—in self-sacrificing love for others.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, grant us repentance each day so that we enjoy the blessings Jesus earned on the cross for us and willingly take up our cross and follow after Him. Amen.

John 6:41-51

⁴¹ The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” ⁴² And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

⁴³ Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. ⁴⁴ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. ⁴⁶ Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. ⁵⁰ This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” We cannot, using our human reason, intellect, or will power, believe in Jesus or come to Him. The flesh cannot comprehend the gospel or believe it. Faith must be worked in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. St. Paul states this same thing in Ephesians 2:8 when he writes that faith is “not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

How does God draw men to Christ? Jesus explains, “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me” (v. 45). God the Father teaches us through His Word. Christ Jesus, who is “from God” and “has seen God” (v. 46) reveals God’s will to us through His teaching. Through Christ’s doctrine—which is just another word for teaching—God the Father wants to draw people to Christ in faith, so that by believing in Him they may have everlasting life.

Many neglect hearing God’s Word altogether. Others hear God’s Word but judge it according to their worldly notions. The Jews in today’s reading murmured against Jesus’ claim to be the Bread which came down from heaven which gives everlasting life to those who eat His flesh. In their minds, they knew Jesus’ parents so He clearly wasn’t “from God.” Nor did they understand that to eat the bread of life is not like eating the manna in the wilderness (v. 58). It is to feast on Christ’s Word by faith. Man, after all, does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. On the night in which Jesus was betrayed He will give His very body and blood to His disciples to eat and drink for their forgiveness, salvation, and newness of life, but here He teaches us how the Father draws men to Him through Christ’s Word.

Since the preached Word is how God the Father snatches the elect out of the jaws of Satan, we should hear it as often as we have opportunity and meditate on it throughout the day. That is how we eat of Bread which came down from heaven.

Let us pray: Keep us steadfast in Your Word, O Lord, and daily draw us to Christ in faith. Grant that we hear it gladly and daily read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest it. Amen.

Luke 20:27-38

²⁷ Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, ²⁸ saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. ²⁹ Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. ³⁰ And the second took her as wife, and he died childless. ³¹ Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. ³² Last of all the woman died also. ³³ Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.”

³⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. ³⁵ But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; ³⁶ nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. ³⁷ But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ ³⁸ For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.”

It is nearly irresistible not to point out that the Sadducees were sad (you see) because they did not believe in the resurrection. It is terribly sad because, as St. Paul says in I Cor 15:13-19, “if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁴ And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty, and your faith is also empty. ¹⁵ Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. ¹⁶ For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁷ And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! ¹⁸ Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” Denial of the resurrection is devastatingly sad because it is the denial of eternal life, a denial which brings absolutely no hope at all.

The Sadducees also did not know that in the resurrection our earthly relationships are not only not needed but will be unknown. In the resurrection there is no more marriage and, most importantly, no more death, because death is the result of sin and there is no sin in heaven.

You and I have a most gracious God who has called us to faith through the preaching of His Word, for “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom 10:17). Christ has risen from the grave to give you the certainty that you also will be raised on the Last Day to be with Him forever. Believe that by the faith that God has given you, and you also will enjoy an eternal existence in the perfect and sinless presence of Christ.

Let us pray: 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.