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THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT March 16, 2025 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto Brothers & sisters, peace, grace, and mercy be to you through God our Father, and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Our Opening Hymn is: “Blessed Jesus, at Your Word” Lutheran Service Book, 904 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhbTXFHv5Uc 1 Blessed Jesus, at Your Word We are gathered all to hear You. Let our hearts and souls be stirred Now to seek and love and fear You, By Your teachings, sweet and holy, Drawn from earth to love You solely. 2 All our knowledge, sense, and sight Lie in deepest darkness shrouded Till Your Spirit breaks our night With the beams of truth unclouded. You alone to God can win us; You must work all good within us. 3 Gracious Saviour, good and kind, Light of Light, from God proceeding, Open now our heart and mind; Help us by Your Spirit’s pleading. Hear the cry Your Church now raises; Hear and bless our prayers and praises. 4 Father, Son, and Spirit, Lord, Praise to You and adoration! Grant that we may trust Your Word, Confident of our salvation, While we here below must wander, Till we sing Your praises yonder. The Invocation Confession and Absolution – Page 184 The Introit – Psalm 74:1-3; antiphon Psalm 69:9 9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. 1O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? 2 Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt. 3 Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary! Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. 9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. The Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy) – Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Our Collect Prayer: O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Our Bible Readings: Old Testament – Jeremiah 26:8-15 Psalm 4 Epistle – Philippians 3:17 – 4:1 Gospel – Luke 13:31-35 Our Hymn of the Day is: “Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart” Lutheran Service Book, 708 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zg_nDRFMjg 1 Lord, Thee I love with all my heart; I pray Thee, never from me depart, With tender mercy cheer me. Earth has no pleasure I would share, Yea, heaven itself were void and bare If Thou, Lord, were not near me. And should my heart for sorrow break, My trust in Thee can nothing shake. Thou art the portion I have sought; Thy precious blood my soul has bought. Lord Jesus Christ, My God and Lord, my God and Lord, Forsake me not! I trust Thy Word. 2 Yea, Lord, was Thy rich bounty gave My body, soul, and all I have In this poor life of labour. Lord, grant that I in every place May glorify Thy lavish grace And help and serve my neighbour. Let no false doctrine me beguile; And Satan not my soul defile. Give strength and patience unto me To bear my cross and follow Thee. Lord Jesus Christ, My God and Lord, my God and Lord, In death Thy comfort still afford. 3 Lord, let at last Thine angels come, To Abram's bosom bear me home, That I may die un-fearing; And in its narrow chamber keep My body safe in peaceful sleep Until Thy reappearing. And then from death awaken me, That these mine eyes with joy may see, O Son of God, Thy glorious face, My Saviour and my fount of grace. Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend, And I will praise Thee without end. The Sermon – Brothers and sisters, peace, grace, and mercy be to you through God our Father, and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Near the end of Chapter nine of the Gospel of Luke, we hear these words, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” This is a beautiful way of telling us that once the time for Jesus' crucifixion drew near, there was nothing that could stop Him from going to Jerusalem in order to die on the cross for us. Everything in Luke’s Gospel between these words and the entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday happens as Jesus travels to the holy city. Jerusalem, where in the Old Testament the slaughter of lambs foreshadowed the sacrifice to end all sacrifices – the sinless Lamb of God on the cross. This last mission trip of Jesus before the cross was essentially a farewell journey. Christ stopped in various towns and villages so He could teach and heal. Nevertheless, at the end of each day, Jesus was a little closer to Jerusalem, and the cross. Today's Gospel text tells us a delegation of Pharisees interrupted Jesus' journey. The Pharisees were the religious lawyers of their time. Strangely, they seem to be concerned about Jesus' safety. They tell Christ that Herod is out to kill Him. By the way, this Herod was the son of the Herod who ordered the death of the baby boys in Bethlehem trying in vain to kill Jesus as a child. Yet Herod was not out to kill Jesus now. In fact, later on, Pontius Pilate sent Jesus to Herod and Luke 23:8 tells us that when the ruler saw Jesus, he was glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and was hoping to see some sign done by him. Herod was looking for Christ, not to kill Him, but to see Jesus perform miracles. He wanted Jesus to perform a magic act. So, the Pharisees lied about Herod, and it’s almost as though Jesus called their bluff. These enemies of Christ our Lord had exhausted every means to get Jesus to desist from His ministry; they had hoped to intimidate Him. Christ isn’t intimidated at all. He said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.'" It’s almost as if Jesus was saying, ‘Herod knows where to find me. Tell him to bring it on.’ The words of Christ also show us that He understood the true nature of His death. He will press on to Jerusalem and God’s will for Him there. Christ will fulfill the Father’s plan of salvation that comes through the cross. Yet, even if these Pharisees bring a warning had genuine concern for Christ’s ‘safety,’ they were still acting in opposition to the Will of God who had preordained that Jesus would be crucified to make the necessary atoning act for the sins of the world. Salvation depended on it. The Bible teaches that Jesus perfectly fulfilled the offices of prophet, priest, and king. Today's Gospel focuses on the office of prophet, and it is not an easy job description, because the role has two parts: teaching and healing, and rejection. Jesus spoke of both. He spoke of casting out demons and curing. Then He spoke of His death in Jerusalem. The mention of the holy city brought on profound words of sadness – a lament by Christ. Jesus says, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' " Jerusalem was the religious center of the world. It was the place where the one and only true God had placed His name. The altar and temple were there. It should have been the safest place for prophets on earth. Nevertheless, the sin of its inhabitants was such, that it was the place that killed them. It was the one place on this planet where no true prophet was safe. Today's Old Testament reading gives a painful and true example of this violence against the prophets, the human messengers of God, in the ministry of Jeremiah. Notice that the people weren’t interested in the truth of Jeremiah's words either. They condemned this prophet because they didn't like the message he brought from God. In fact, the people refused to believe Jeremiah's message was from God. This wasn’t because the prophet’s words of warning to return to the true God weren’t true, but because the listeners were hateful, they didn’t want to hear the reprimand. God still sends His servants today. He trains them in His Word and sends them out, just as Jesus said in the last chapter of Luke. Luke 24:45-47 tells us: “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.’” These are the instructions Jesus gives to His servants, "Proclaim repentance and the forgiveness of sins in the name of Christ." God’s Word is both Law and Gospel. The Law shows us our sins. It drives us to the Gospel. The Law show us how God would like us to live, though we cannot. The Gospel shows us our only Saviour. If a church denies God’s Law, if it promotes abortion, the killing of unborn children, or un-Biblical marriage, it is not a Church of God. If a Church does not preach and teach salvation by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, it is not a true Christian Church. Our Lord said, ‘Love God, love one another.’ Some say that message of love and forgiveness is a difficult one, because they’d rather just hear about the hard edge of the law, and apply it to people they think aren’t perfect. The scribes and Pharisees, the very people Jesus constantly warned against, loved to use the law not as a means of leading people to the Gospel, but as an axe. Yes, the Bible tells us that as human beings we sin all the time … that we deserve a life followed by death and eternity in hell. But that’s exactly why Jesus came into this world. That’s exactly why Christ in our Gospel passage has His face set towards Jerusalem. No one was going to stop Him from going to that cross because He was, and is, on the greatest rescue mission in history, one that includes all people. One that includes you and me. That journey Jesus took is about our salvation, and nothing less. You see, God has a very unique talent. He is able to take the worst we can do, and through Jesus, convert it into something wonderful. The people of Jerusalem had a horrible tradition of killing prophets, but God used that sinful habit to work something glorious. The people of Jerusalem followed their tradition of prophet killing and arranged to nail Jesus to a cross. Christ died on the cross, yet God accomplished the greatest event in history through that horrible death. Because by means of that death, He satisfied God the Father’s rightful and just wrath against our sin. God transformed a murderous act of hatred into an act of love. God transformed a spiteful act by lying human beings into the means that earned salvation for the entire world. Jesus still wants to gather you into His embrace just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. He offers the ultimate gift of love He earned for you at Calvary. He offers adoption into His family as His brother or sister. He offers salvation from the horrible punishment we’ve earned with our transgressions. He doesn’t flog or nail us to a cross for our sins, but allows Himself to be crucified for what we’ve done wrong. He offers eternal life in His presence through His body and blood. Prophets die in Jerusalem, Jesus was no exception, except that he was God’s greatest prophet, priest and our king. He was God’s only Son, and in fact God in the flesh. Jesus died in Jerusalem. He died for us. And he died not in resentment, anger, or revenge, but with sacrificial love. Christ did something no prophet before Him had. He not only died, but rose again. He showed Himself alive to hundreds of witnesses. He gave living, sure proof that we can trust His promises. Trust that even though we sin daily, He’s there with His forgiveness. He’s there to assure us the day will come when He’ll raise us from the dead, because He rose from the dead and we believe it. He’s there to assure in truth that we’ll live in eternal bliss with Him. God the Father sentenced Jesus to death so that He would be the bearer of creation’s bondage to sin. He then raised Christ from the dead to set His beloved creation free, and enthroned Jesus at His right hand so that believers’ recreated flesh may reign with Him in Heaven forever. Still, there will be times in this world when we want to join Jesus in His lament. Because it’s easy to be discouraged with the pains, sorrows, and horrors of this life. It’s easy to be disheartened with the apathy and disobedience we see to Jesus’ message of love and forgiveness. Tragically, the lack of repentance of sin continues today, keeping people out of God’s kingdom. There are times we want to cry out, "Don't you people understand the priceless nature of God's gifts? Don't you understand that God wants to gather us together under the protection He’s given in Christ?" When we have these feelings, God reminds us that no one can make a Christian. The Holy Spirit does that. Instead, God asks His Church to remain faithful to His Word He asks us to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins. To administer the Sacraments pf Baptism and the Lord’s Supper according to Christ's command, and teach all the things that Jesus taught us. Love God, love one another. Jesus warned that the world will hate us for this. Yet Christ promised that He will sustain His Church in this world and the next. As Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." The disciples of Christ, in all times, will face persecution. Yet there is no power on earth or in hell that can hinder the mission of the Church. There is nothing that can separate us as believers from the love of God. And so, may the peace of God which does pass all human understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen. The Prayers of the Church The Service of the Sacrament (The Lord’s Supper) – Page 194 The Benediction – The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen. Our Closing Hymn is: “My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker” Lutheran Service Book, 820 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7br1D4gtkZs 1 My soul, now bless your Maker! Let all within me bless His name Who makes you full partaker Of mercies more than you dare claim. Forget Him not whose meekness Still bears with all your sin, Who heals your every weakness, Renews your life within; Whose grace and care are endless And saved you through the past; Who leaves no sufferer friendless But rights the wronged at last. 2 He offers all His treasure Of justice, truth, and righteousness, His love beyond all measure, His yearning pity over distress, Nor treats us as we merit But sets His anger by. The poor and contrite spirit Finds His compassion nigh; And high as heaven above us, As dawn from close of day, So far, since He has loved us, He puts our sins away. 3 For as a tender father Has pity on His children here, God in His arms will gather All who are His in childlike fear. He knows how frail our powers, Who but from dust are made. We flourish like the flowers, And even so we fade; The wind but through them passes, And all their bloom is over. We wither like the grasses; Our place knows us no more. 4 His grace remains forever, And children's children yet shall prove That God forsakes them never Who in true fear shall seek His love. In heaven is fixed His dwelling, His rule is over all; O hosts with might excelling, With praise before Him fall. Praise Him forever reigning, All you who hear His Word-- Our life and all sustaining. My soul, O praise the Lord!