04142017 - Good Friday - “Deliver us from evil, For thine is the Kingdom” – “Jesus Christ went to the Cross to deliver us from evil into the Kingdom!”

April 14, 2017
“Deliver us from evil, For thine is the Kingdom” – “Jesus Christ went to the Cross to deliver us from evil into the Kingdom!”

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Last night we could imagine the joyful banter of the disciples gathered around a table celebrating the Passover with Jesus Christ.  Jesus then instituted the life giving Holy Meal of His Body and Blood.  Later the disciples fell asleep when asked to watch and pray with Jesus.  And finally, Jesus was betrayed with a kiss.  Since then, Jesus has endured not only the torture of the Jews and their leaders, the humiliation, beatings and scourging of the Romans, but only hours later, felt the stabbing pain as echoing in His ears the hammer purposely drove the nails that hold Him to a Cross, with a Crown of Thorns on His head. 

Jesus endured all of this with a sole purpose in mind.  And the Seventh Petition of the Lord’s Prayer recounts the reason when we pray “Deliver us from evil”.  For Jesus in His willingness to endure the Cross of Calvary does “Deliver us from evil” out of His great love for us and all of mankind.  God clearly offers us the greatest gift that could ever be given.  “Jesus Christ went to the Cross to deliver us from evil into the Kingdom!”  And in delivering us from evil, pays for and by His death removes the curse of sin from each and every one of us that began in the Garden of Eden with our first parents, Adam and Eve, who ate the forbidden fruit.

For Jesus does “Deliver us from evil” and we lay claim to that with our praying the prayer Jesus taught.  Yet, the story does not end with three nails, for it is only by Jesus willingness to “Deliver us from evil” that gives us the greatest gift.  It is a gift which comes in the beginning of the Conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer.  Jesus not only does “Deliver us from evil”, by offering us a ‘blessed end’ to our lives, Jesus Christ offers us a greater gift with our praying, “For thine is the Kingdom”.  For it is God’s Kingdom and God, Father, Holy Spirit and especially God’s Son, Jesus Christ as He taught this prayer not only is owner of the Kingdom, but offers the Kingdom unto us out of His great love for us.  For it is very clear and certain that “Jesus Christ went to the Cross to deliver us from evil into the Kingdom!”

Tonight we will leave here having heard the disciples are scattered and in hiding, fearful for their lives.  The last thing we hear will be the clear and emphatic sound of the tomb being closed symbolized by the slamming of the door, the extinguishing of the Christ Candle and the darkness that surrounds us!  But we depart with the knowledge that “Jesus Christ went to the Cross to deliver us from evil into the Kingdom!”  And with a firmness in the faith that not only did Jesus die on the Cross for our sins and the sin of all mankind, but when we pray the Lord’s Prayer we do so knowing a promise is made to us from Jesus Christ Himself.  For Jesus Christ promise to us is in order that by the spilling of His innocent Blood, Jesus Christ as we pray as He taught us, Jesus Christ will “Deliver us from evil” and lovingly forgive us and offer us entrance into eternity with Him when we pray “For thine is the Kingdom”.  AMEN.

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04032015 Good Friday - "Father, into Your Hands I commend my Spirit!" - Jesus Christ Perfect Trust!!

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April 3, 2015

Jesus Christ Perfect Trust!

Merciful Savior, Jesus Christ, You clearly trust Your Father.  Enable each of us to gain our trust in You.  For Your gift of grace displayed for us that we celebrate today was not without cost.  But because of Your Love for us, You were willing to die in order to set us free.  Thank You for this gift of grace and display of Your love for us.  AMEN.

When my family would go on vacation during the summer to Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks we would always camp.  In most campgrounds the sites that were not far from the ocean and the sandy beaches were surrounded by the low scrub bushes and tree’s that had weathered the hurricanes.  Needless to say the short trees had low branches and us kids always could be found climbing and having fun when we had time before dinner.  One time my Father, Chuck, whom a lot of you have met said to me when I was up on the branch about 5 feet off of the ground.  “Darian, turn around and fall backwards”.  At first, when he said it I refused, because I was afraid of falling and getting hurt.  But finally, I relented and learned a lesson that Jesus teaches us tonight.

We conclude our series tonight of the Words from the Cross of Jesus, with the most touching statement of Jesus trust of His Father.  Jesus said, “Father, into Your Hands I commend My Spirit!”  Encapsulated in these eight words is Jesus Christ Perfect Trust!

Jesus Christ hanging from the Cross of Calvary shows we who gather here tonight on Good Friday Jesus Christ Perfect Trust of His Father in Heaven.  Jesus willingness to go to the Cross of Calvary was a clear demonstration not only of His love for all of mankind, but especially Jesus Christ Perfect Trust that He displayed for all to see.  From the soldiers that had only hours before scourged Him, to the women who wailed and journeyed with Him from the heart of Jerusalem to Golgotha to His own mother who looked on in helplessness at her Son, Whom she had nursed and cuddled.  Jesus Christ as He hung there in this statement “Father, into Your Hands I commend My Spirit” demonstrates a truth so profound.  Jesus Christ Perfect Trust in His Father in heaven.

When I stood on the branch of the scrub trees and turned and fell backwards, my Father caught me in his protective and loving arms.  My earthly Father demonstrated His love for me by catching me and not letting me get hurt.  In a more perfect demonstration, God our Heavenly Father is entrusted by His Son Jesus Christ with His Spirit.  And in loving fashion, the relationship between Father and Son clearly demonstrates for we who gather here tonight, not only their connection, but the love and Jesus Christ Perfect Trust of His Father in heaven.

For when Jesus Christ uttered the Words, “Father, into Your Hands I commend My Spirit” Jesus Christ demonstrates the trust we should have for our Father in Heaven as well.  Not only when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, but in our daily lives we should commend ourselves to His Holy Hands and Holy Care.  For God our Father will not let us fall.  And no clearer demonstration of this comes than Jesus Christ Perfect Trust in His Father from the Cross with the words, “Father, into Your Hands I commend My Spirit”.  May we trust as Jesus Trust and feel the love God had for His Son Jesus Christ as we look to the Cross on Calvary, where Jesus demonstrated His love for all of mankind, including each of us who see and believe in Jesus Christ Perfect Trust.  AMEN.

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Powerful reminder of Good Friday

On this Ash Wednesday as we have a Cross made on our foreheads, this video is a poignant reminder of what is coming on Good Friday!!!

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04182014 Good Friday

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May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  AMEN.

Last night we stripped the altar bare.  This symbolized Jesus Christ nakedness on the Cross and the shame, humiliation and public ridicule he endured for all of mankind.  Just as the saying goes, ‘naked we came into the world and naked we go out’, it is more appropriate for consideration on this Good Friday.  Last night, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper for forgiveness of sins.  Tonight we mourn, Jesus death.  Last night, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, tonight, Jesus disciples watch in disbelief their leader, teacher and friend being nailed to a Cross in Crucifixion.  Last night, Jesus said to His disciples, stay awake, watch and pray and yet, He found them weak in body and asleep.  Last night, Jesus prayed, ‘if this cup could be taken away’, but Jesus ended His private time saying ‘God’s will be done’.  Tonight is the low point on our Lenten Journey, for tonight is the night that we proclaim, Jesus Christ as dead.

As has been the case in the last six weeks since Lent began we have had a number of funerals.  Each has cut close to many families in our church clan, but all have had one thing in common other than death.  At every funeral we have used the pall to make all of who have entered the church triumphant equal.  The pall is used in the funeral as a covering for the casket.  It is symbolic of the intimate connection we have with our relationship with Jesus Christ through our Baptism.  Though death is symbolized by most in our culture and society with dark colors, even wearing black as a sign of mourning, the pall is a stark contrast symbolizing life.  It is the polar opposite for a distinct reason.  The pall in symbolizing life also is to be the great equalizer of all mankind in the eyes of God and man.  No matter the money we have here on this earth, the cars we drive, the house we live in, the land we own or farm, the amount of money in our banking account, we are all equal before God as symbolized by the pall being draped over the casket.

We are equal simply because of our baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection.  When the Water and Word washes us clean and makes us children of God, we no longer are understood to be sinners.  We are now redeemed children of our heavenly Father.  Yes we still sin, but God has redeemed us.  The symbol of the pall is to remind us we are equal in God’s eyes.  Yes we are dead, just as Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary that we mourn tonight.  But with our spreading the pall over the casket we point not to mourning, not to loss, not to sadness, not to death, we point instead to the light of the World into Whose life we have been baptized into and that gives us life.  We point to Jesus Christ Who chose death on Calvary to Glorify His Father in heaven.  We point to the Cross not in defeat, but in triumph.  We point to the Cross of Christ and our being covered by the pall as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice for all of mankind.

Tonight we gather and see and feel the pall that covers our hearts, it covers Christ’s nakedness and ours and makes us equal in God’s eyes and is the reminder for all of what Jesus Christ did on Calvary on Good Friday.  With this simple covering of the pall we are reminded of our baptism into Jesus Christ and claim this especially tonight.  For tonight Good Friday we mourn Jesus death, we cover our hearts that are filled with sadness, but we know that Jesus Christ offers forgiveness for all of mankind.  It is the forgiveness of sins through His death that compels us to not look to the Cross in the same way, for unlike the disciples who felt there was no hope, we know that we have to mourn on Good Friday, just as we do when we use the pall.  For in our baptism we put on Christ and do so with our use of the pall.  But just as we use the pall, we look to and believe that Sunday is coming, for all of mankind, but especially for all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this Good Friday night.  AMEN.

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Sermon 03292013 Good Friday

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  AMEN.

Let us pray!  Almighty God, Your Son Jesus Christ graciously suffered and died on the Cross of Calvary for we His family through our baptism into His life and death.  Enable us to see the Cross not as an end, but the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and the sins of all of mankind, for Jesus offered Himself freely and was watched by the Centurion in order for the plan of salvation to be complete.  Enable us to embrace the Cross of Christ as the ultimate payment for our sins and the sins of all mankind, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this Good Friday.  AMEN.

There is an old hymn which asks a poignant question as we gather here this Good Friday evening.  Matter of fact it was the last hymn yesterday and one of the preludes that Marla played earlier.  It asks a simple question, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”  As an African American Spiritual the words as simple as they are clearly ask a question that all of us have to respond with ‘No’, but tonight we will hear about the Centurion in our series of People and Places of Lent that can respond, “Yes, I was there.”

Hear the story of the Centurion from Matthew 27 (Matthew 27:48-54)

⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. ⁴⁹ But the rest of them said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.” ⁵⁰ And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. ⁵¹ And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. ⁵² The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;⁵³ and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. ⁵⁴ Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

It is clear from our vantage point two thousand years after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ that this Centurion and his friends were one moment doubters and the next moment, the Centurion showed mercy to Jesus Christ as He hung on the Cross by trying to quench His thirst.  And the next moment the Centurion spoke the most profound words of the entire Passion narrative.  The Centurion confessed, “Truly this was the Son of God!”  The Centurion had probably heard the stories about Jesus, seen with His own eyes His suffering at the hands of his comrades and possibly even his own blows or spit, but then after witnessing His final gasps for air, provided the most profound witness of confession in all the Passion Narratives.

Was it the Centurions fortune to be on duty that day?  Or was it God’s plan?  With Jesus Christ breathing His last and yielding His Spirit, the events of the last 16 hours were quite dramatic and traumatic and had taken their toll on Jesus.  Not only had Jesus eaten with His disciples in the Upper Room, He had prayed into the late hours of the night, been captured in the Garden, tried by the Jewish High Council, brought before Pilate and Herod, condemned, beaten and scourged to the brink of death and had hung on a cross during the noon day.  And now after all the torture, Jesus Christ was thirsty and this Centurion moved with compassion brought sour wine to quench His thirst.

Once Jesus breathed His last and yielded His Spirit the plan of salvation was now complete.  Jesus Christ had died on the Cross of Golgotha, bearing the sins of the entire World.  The ransom for all of mankind had been paid.  In the eyes of Satan, the victory was his, he was doing a victory dance.  Jesus Christ was dead.

But is the story complete?  For Satan it is, for the Centurion with Jesus life, death and Jesus story as he knew and understood it was complete, for the disciples who witnessed His suffering and death, it appears the story is complete, but for we who sit here tonight/today it isn’t complete.  The story has only begun.  With Jesus Christ being nailed to the Cross, suffering and dying for our sins the story is incomplete.

For from the Old Testament prophets and even Jesus own words, the story is not complete, because the story ends not with death, but with eternal life.  Jesus Christ promised His disciples and we who gather here today eternal life.  And we find eternal life through His death on the Cross for all of mankind.  We also find eternal life when we confess like the Centurion the truth that “Truly this was the Son of God”.  We find eternal life when we look to the Cross of Christ and understand that we are not only baptized into Jesus Christ life, but also His death for us and ultimately the completion of the story of salvation.  But the rest of the story is still three days away.  Tonight/today we with the Centurion confess the truth of Jesus divinity and await the rest of the Gospel story of salvation that will be revealed in three days for all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel to mourn Jesus death on Calvary this Good Friday.  AMEN.