04132017 - Maundy Thursday - “Lead us not into temptation” – “God does not tempt us, but points us to His Sacrifice!”

April 13, 2017
“Lead us not into temptation” – “God does not tempt us, but points us to His Sacrifice!”

Audio

Tonight we stand at the precipice of the Great Triduum.  Where for the disciples in the next 72 hours the range of emotions will be in the valley and then on top of the mountain.  However, though we are far removed from the time, the implications of these three days are clear and profound.  For tonight we celebrate Jesus institution of the Lord’s Supper.  We will witness the stripping of the altar and the beginning of what is for some the darkest time in the church year.  Hence why it is appropriate that in our journey through the Lord’s Prayer, we consider tonight the petition, “Lead us not into temptation”.  Each day we are tempted, for some it is a temptation to doubt God others it is a temptation to turn from God and still others to not even believe there is a God.

Tonight we consider the 6^th Petition which deals with temptation and points us in a direction that is at times hard for us to consider or understand.  But what we need to remember clearly is that “God does not tempt us, but points us to His Sacrifice!”  God does not tempt us in any way, shape or form.  God doesn’t tempt us to turn away from Him.  God does not tempt us in our lives to sin.  Even Peter, whom denied Jesus three times after Jesus betryal, was forgiven and so we are as well.  Some in our society and world would disagree, but the fact remains and this is grace more than anything else, our God, is a loving God.  For God daily points us to the sacrifice of His Son, and our Savior, Jesus Christ on the Cross.

When we pray, “Lead us not into temptation” it is with firm conviction that God will not lead us in a direction that He is unwilling to walk with us.  God will journey with us into the pit and depths of our despair and doubt, with the understanding that His love for us is not to tempt us to doubt Him.  For God’s purpose is consistently to “point to His Sacrifice” of His Son Jesus and Jesus Christ willingness to go where no one else could go.  Dare I say Jesus had a desire to fulfill the plan of salvation for all of mankind and go to the Cross of Calvary!

Tonight, on this Maundy Thursday, Jesus will be tempted, whether to call down a legion of angels to come to His rescue, change the His destination, rather than the Cross, but Jesus clearly responds.  Jesus response is not to yield to the temptation to sidestep His responsibility, dare I say His calling.  This is why Jesus when He taught the disciples, “Lead us not into temptation” not only understood what His disciples would face, but what each and every one of us would face as well.  And Jesus Christ strengthened His disciples and He strengthens each and every one of us to overcome our temptation.  But, even if we do not overcome temptation nor think we have overcome it, Jesus still overcame sin and temptation and Jesus willingly goes to the Cross of Calvary in order to sacrifice Himself for all of mankind.

For it is clear, as we tonight receive His precious Body and Blood from God’s Altar, we begin to understand that Jesus did not yield to the greatest temptation.  He not only leads by example, but willingly gives us the food of eternal life that strengthens we who gather here this evening to boldly believe that “God does not tempt us, but points us to His Sacrifice”.  And we who gather here tonight around the altar of the Lord, to receive His precious Body and Blood, ‘given and shed for us for the forgiveness of sins’, are empowered to boldly believe in Jesus Christ Sacrifice for us and for all of mankind and pray firmly, with great feeling and faithfully pray “Lead us not into temptation”.  AMEN.

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04022015 Maundy Thursday - Knot - Jesus Christ is our connection!

Sermon Audio

April 2, 2015

Jesus Christ is our connection!

Truly humble Lord, You stooped at the feet of the disciples and washed them.  Your demonstration was not about what they could do, but a clear demonstration of Your willingness to seek, serve and save all of mankind.  When we hold our Salvation Bracelet, may we be reminded of Your willingness to insure we are never separated from You, when we hold the last knot of the bracelet.  For Your sacrifice was for all of mankind, including each of us gathered here this Maundy Thursday evening.  AMEN.

As a parent, one of the hardest things for me to undo that Sarah has done is a knot.  Whether in her shoes, her hair or especially her head phones she uses with her Leap Pad or even her Kindle.  Like most kids she has a clear talent to make the knot tight and not easy to separate apart.

Tonight, on this Holy of Nights that we celebrate Jesus Christ institution of the Lord’s Supper, we contemplate the second of two knots on our Salvation Bracelet.  The first knot, was a reminder that we are planned by God and He has a purpose for each of our lives.  And that purpose is for His Glory to be fulfilled by and through our lives.  The second knot in one sense completes the set and the thought.  We through our understanding of the Salvation Bracelet have no separation from God.  Consider Jesus words promised to each of us His children, “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”  Concisely in this passage Jesus Christ promises that we will not be separated from Him.  In essence Christ is our connection!

Let me unpack “Jesus Christ is our connection!”  If you think about rings and even about the Salvation Bracelet that tells the Story of Salvation, a ring and the bracelet form a circle.  Just as God’s Love has no beginning nor end, we through God’s love of each of us are forever connected to Jesus Christ.  For Jesus Christ in His sacrifice is connected to each of us through our baptism into His life, death and resurrection.  We are forever not just connected, but intertwined into the fabric of salvation history.  The knot we have tonight binds not only the Salvation Bracelet together, but connects each of us in such a specific way for all of us to be brought closer to Jesus Christ.

For the Salvation Bracelet not only tells the story of salvation, but specifically what Jesus Christ came to earth to accomplish on Calvary for all of mankind of His death on the Cross.  And these knots tied for these bracelets are special.  They have the ability to make the bracelet fit for both men and women with small or large wrists.  So to the offer Jesus Christ makes is a one size fits all in our connection with Him.  Jesus Christ is our connection not only with the sacrament we share this evening that He instituted, but also with and for all of mankind for all of time.  Jesus Christ is our connection offered to each of us of life and salvation by His death on the Cross of Calvary.  For the amount nor the depravity of the sin matters for what Jesus Christ offers each of us.  Jesus Christ is our connection and His offer covers all of our sin.

Jesus Christ is our connection and offers us the greatest gifts of grace without cost, without equal and all tied up by the last knot of our salvation bracelet.  For Jesus Christ is freely offering us the greatest gift and show of His love for all of mankind.  This last knot of the salvation bracelet not only ties the bracelet together, but connects and shows the length Jesus Christ is willing to go to offer us salvation.  And this final knot isn’t just tying up a loose end, but it is a poignant reminder of Jesus offer of salvation that brings the conclusion of salvation history.  For Jesus Christ is our connection that binds us and connects us with the events of all of salvation history which point to and find ultimate resolution on the Cross of Calvary for all of mankind.  Including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel tonight that believe we are bound with this last knot of the salvation bracelet that believe “Jesus Christ is our connection!”  AMEN.

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Speak Your Mind

04172014 Maundy Thursday

Sermon Audio

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.

For those of you who remember back at Christmas Eve the early service.  The church moved something.  It wasn’t the Advent wreath that helped us count down the weeks til Christmas.  It wasn’t the Crucifix that is very seldom used.  It wasn’t the offering plates or vases for flowers or the missal stand on the altar.  What moved was the Christ Candle.  For part of the year from Ascension Sunday until Christmas Eve, the Christ Candle is at the Right Hand of the Altar.  This is the symbol of our remembering what we confess in the Apostle’s Creed that “Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father.”  On Christmas Eve the Christ Candle moves to the floor of the church proper to signify Christ coming down from heaven, just as this is also the beginning of making the sign of the Cross with one’s hand going from the head to the chest signifying Jesus coming from heaven to earth.

These collective actions, of moving the Christ Candle and making the sign of the Cross connect perfectly with Holy Baptism.  This is why in Holy Baptism after the individual is baptized, whether, infant, child or adult they are given a small Baptismal Candle.  The candle is lit from the Christ Candle or even from the Altar and signifies and is a remembrance of our connection to Jesus Christ and our baptism into His life, death and resurrection.

The Baptismal and Christ Candle represent three things for us this evening, a celebration, a remembrance and the hope that is found in our celebrating the Baptismal rite.  It is a celebration, because in the waters of Holy Baptism with this Candle we celebrate God’s being the light of the World and His entrance into the life of the individual and the eternal impact God makes upon their life.  God reaches down from heaven and offers in Holy Baptism, life and salvation through the Water connected with the Word of God.  In this Holy Sacrament ordained and instituted by God we find our connection not only to God but the link that God offers for all of mankind freely and without requirement on our part.

Not only is this a celebration, it is a remembrance of Jesus Christ being baptized in the Jordan River.  We remember this connection and make it to, for and with ourselves.  When I was in Israel, one of the ladies I went to Israel with gave me after our return one of the most precious gifts, it was an ornate bottle that contained water from the Jordan River as a reminder for me of our trip and to be used during my future ministry to connect the baptism of the person with Jesus Christ baptism in the Jordan.  That remembrance still to this day connects me clearly with God’s gifts offered for all of mankind through Water and Word.

For not only do we celebrate the Gift given and remember Who the giver is, but as we gather tonight the meal we partake in is a reminder of the hope God gives each of us.  Tonight as we celebrate the institution of the Lord’s Supper it is a meal of hope.  The hope is incomplete, because we still need Good Friday in order to have Easter Sunday.  But in the Holy Supper we share tonight from the altar of our Lord, God is offering us the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation that is the hope for all mankind.  It is a hope that connects not only we who gather here around this altar, but with all believers of all time and place, including those who now rest in their Lord and Savior’s arms. 

The Lord’s Supper is a meal that God connects to each of us today.  This is why when we have this meal, we light the two candles on the Altar as a reminder of the specialness and sacredness of the meal.  This is why we also light the Christ Candle for our reminder of Christ being in our hearts and His Holy Baptism and our connection to it and the Holy Supper He instituted.  And why we give a small candle at Holy Baptism for it to be used yearly at our baptismal anniversary as a celebration of God’s gift of forgiveness in baptism, a remembrance that it is God’s gift for us and it points to the hope we share in the promises of God through Water and Word.  For God offers Holy Baptism and this meal of the Lord’s Supper for all of mankind, for the forgiveness of sins because of His great love for each of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this Maundy Thursday.  AMEN.

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Seder and the Passover: A History

Passover and the Seder for 2014

This was something I received in my email and wanted to share for a better understanding of the meal Jesus was celebrating on Maundy Thursday!

First Seder Monday, April 14 2014 Second Seder Tuesday, April 15, 2014 Passover is Observed From Sundown on April 14 to Sundown on April 22 2014

To My Dear Christian Friends: It is my pleasure to share with you the Jewish traditions of Pessach.  As I am getting ready, cleaning the house (and the soul) and shopping for Passover goods, going through my Passover recipies,and trying to decide which of them I will use this year, you all come to mind.  Your love and support of Israel and the Jewish people is "Divine Providence" and we thank G-D and each and every one of you for standing with Israel during such times as these. Passover and the Holiday of Matzah are two of the names given to the holiday.  G-d refers to the holidays as the Holiday of Matzah and the Jewish nation call it Passover. The matzah represents the Jews listening to G-d's commandment to leave Egypt immediately.  They were in such a rush that the dough of the bread did not have a chance to rise and instead baked as matzah while still being carried on their backs.  The name Passover represents G-d jumping over the Jewish homes as he killed the Egyptian firstborns. G-d looks at the Jewish nation positively, recalling their rush to heed his command, and calls it the Holiday of Matzah.  The Jew looks at G-d positively and recalls how He spared their homes, calling it the festival of Passover.

In Our Forefathers' Footsteps At the Seder, every person should see himself as if he were going out of Egypt.  Beginning with our Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we recount the Jewish people's descent into Egypt and recall their suffering and persecution.  We are with them as G-d sends the Ten Plagues to punish Pharaoh and his nation, and follow along as they leave Egypt and cross the Sea of Reeds.  We witness the miraculous hand of G-d as the waters part to allow the Israelites to pass, then return to inundate the Egyptian legions.  One of the most imortant Mitzvah (good deed) of  the Seder night, is telling the story to the children, to pass on the story of Passover to the next generation.  Our tradition is to sing all the verses of the "Hagadah", which keeps every one involved and excited.  I always wondered as a child, why are we celebrating the sufferance of the Jewish people, and was taught from a young age, that we should never forget the hardship of our ancestors, but always celebrate the Grace of Hashem for sparing the Jewish People!! Amen! that is why the Seder nights are a celebration while telling the story of Exodus.    Kadesh - the Benediction The Seder service begins with the recitation of Kiddush, proclaiming the holiness of the holiday.  This is done over a cup of wine, the first of the four cups we will drink (while reclining) at the Seder. The Four Cups of Wine Why four cups?  The Torah uses four expressions of freedom or deliverance in connectionwith our liberation from Egypt (see Exodus 6:6-7).  Also, the Children of Israel had four great merits even while in exile:  1) They did not change their Hebrew names; 2) they continued to speak their own language, Hebrew; 3) they remained highly moral; 4) they remained loyal to one another.  Wine is used because it is a symbol of joy and happiness.   Why We Recline When drinking the four cups and eating the Matzah we lean on our left side to accentuate the fact that we are free people.  In ancient times only free people had the luxury of reclining while eating.   Urchatz - Purification We wash our hands in the usual, ritually-prescribed manner before a meal, but without the customary blessing. The next step in the Seder, Karpas, requires dipping food into water, which in turn mandates, according to Jewish law, that either the food be eaten with a utensil or that one's hands be purified by washing.  On the Seder eve we choose the less common observance to arouse the child's curiosity. Karpas - the "Appetizer" A small piece of onion or boiled potato is dipped into salt water and eaten (after reciting the blessing over vegetables.)  Dipping the Karpas in salt water is an act of pleasure and freedom, which further arouses the child's curiosity.  The Hebrew word "Karpas", when read backwards, alludes to the backbreaking labor performed by the 600,000 Jews in Egypt.  (Samech has the numerical equivalent of 60 (60 times 10,000), while the last three Hebrew letters spell "perech", hard work.)  The salt water represents the tears of our ancestors in Egypt. Yachatz - Breaking the Matzah The middle Matzah on the Seder plate is broken in two.  The  larger part is put aside for later use as the Afikoman.  This unusual action not only attracts the child's attention once again, but also recalls G-d's splitting of the Sea of Reeds to allow the Children of Israel to cross on dry land.  The smaller part of the middle Matzah is returned to the Seder plate.  This broken middle Matzah symbolizes humility and will be eaten later as the "bread of poverty."   Maggid - the Haggadah  At this point, the poor are invited to join the Seder.  The Seder tray is moved aside, a second cup of wine is poured, and the child, who by now is bursting with curiosity, asks thetime-honored question:  "Mah nish-tah-na hah-laila-ha-zeh me-kol hah leilot?  Why is this night different from all other nights?"  Why only Matzah?  Why the dipping?  Why the bitter herbs?  Why are we relaxing and leaning on cushions as if we were kings?The child's questioning triggers one of the most significant mitzvot of Passover, which is the highlight of the Seder ceremony: the Haggadah, telling the story of the Exodus from Egypt.  The answer includes a brief review of history, a description of the suffering imposed upon the Israelites, a listing of the plagues visited on the Egyptians, and an enumeration of the miracles performed by the Al-mighty for the redemption of His people.  Rochtzah - Washing Before the Meal After concluding the first part of the Haggadah by drinking (while reclining) the second cup of wine, the hands are washed again, this time with the customary blessings, as is usually done before eating bread.   Motzie Matzah We eat the matzah.  Taking hold of the three Matzot (with the broken one in between the two whole ones), recite the customary blessing before bread.  Then, letting the bottom Matzah drop back onto the plate, and holding the top whole Matzah with the broken middle one, recite the special blessing "al achilat Matzah."  Then break at least one ounce from each Matzah and eat the two pieces together, while reclining.   Maror - the Bitter Herbs Take at least one ounce of the bitter herbs.  Dip it in the charoset, which in our home is a mixture of dates, walnuts cooked in sweet wine, different communities have different traditional types of Charoset, Ashkenazi Jews (from Eastern Europe) use apples.  After eating the Charoset we shake the latter off and make the blessing "al achilat Maror."  Eat without reclining.   Korech - the Sandwich In keeping the custom instituted by Hillel, the great Talmudic Rabbi, a sandwich of Matzah and Maror is eaten.  Break off two pieces of the bottom Matzah, which together should be at least one ounce.  Again, take at least one ounce of bitter herbs and dip them in the charoset.  Place this between the two pieces of Matzah, say "kein asah Hillel..." and eat the sandwich while reclining.  Shulcham Orech - the Feast The holiday meal is now served.  We begin the meal with ahardboiled egg dipped into salt water.  A Rabbi was once asked why Jews eat eggs on Passover.  "Because eggs symbolize the Jew,"  the Rabbi answered.  "The more an egg is burned or boiled, the harder it gets."  Note:  The chicken neck is not eaten at the Seder.   Tzafun - Out of Hiding After the meal, the half Matzah which had been "hidden," set aside for the Afikoman (dessert), is taken out and eaten.  It symbolizes the Paschal lamb, which was eaten at the end of the meal.  Everyone should eat at least 1-1/2 ounces of Matzah, reclining, before midnight.  After eating the Afikoman, we do not eat or drink anything except for the two remaining cups of wine.   Barech - Blessings After the Meal A third cup of wine is filled and Grace is recited.  After Grace we recite the blessing over wine and drink the third cup while reclining.   Now we fill the cup of Elijah and our own cups with wine.  We open the door and recite the passage which symbolizes an invitation to the Prophet Elijah, the harbinger of the coming of Moshiach, our righteous Messiah.   Hallel - Songs of Praise At this point, having recognized the Al-mighty, and His unique guidance of the Jewish people, we go still further and sing His praises as L-rd of the entire universe.  After reciting the Hallel, we again recite the blessing over wine, and drink the fourth cup, reclining.   Nirtzah - Acceptance Having carried out the Seder service properly, we are sure that it has been well received by the Al-mighty.  We then all sing together joyously:        "Leshanah haba'ah beh Yerushalayim"   "Next year in Jerusalem." AMEN!!!

Hag Pesach Kasher Vehsameach! Happy and Kosher Pesach!

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Sermon 03282013 Maundy Thursday

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!  O Lord, through this Sacrament of Your precious Body and Blood You have left us with a clear remembrance of Your Passion.  For it was in the upper room where You instituted this Holy Meal full of great mystery and redemption for all of mankind, but without the owner of the house offering his house we would not fully understand the great gift You offer.  May this gift of Your Body and Blood made manifest for us tonight/today remind us of Your sacrifice for each of us that we receive in, with and under the Bread and Wine of Your Body and Blood for all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here around the Lord’s Supper tonight.  AMEN.

For our 21^st Century Culture we understand clearly and easily the concept of ‘ownership’.  Whether it is kids and their favorite toys or games, the cars, trucks and tractors we adults drive, the houses we build and live in, the land that we own and farm or the livestock we raise for food and a living, we clearly understand this concept of ownership.  When Jesus disciples were preparing for the Passover feast, the place that was chosen was owned by a ‘certain man’.  Let’s hear again this account for this morning/evenings installment of the series of People and Places of Lent.  Hear the story from Matthew 26 (Matthew 26:17-19)

¹⁷ Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “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 near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’” ¹⁹ The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

If you have ever held or attended a party, whether it was birthday, anniversary or card party, there was a certain amount of preparation that is required of both the food for those attending as well as the preparation of the house.  As the owner of the house this probably made preparation easier, because you knew what you had and what you needed to get from the store.  From our Gospel we have heard that a ‘certain man’, owner of the house where the Lord’s Supper was instituted is not identified, nor is any indication that he has any further preparations to make to get ready for the Passover, the disciples on the other hand have to do a lot of gathering.

Yet, this meal is of extreme importance for the Jews.  The Passover meal remembers the people of Israel living in Egypt living through the night when the Angel of Death came through the land and took the first born son of the family if blood of the lamb was not on the doorpost of the house.  This was prior to their departure from Egypt to return to the land of Promise and was the last of the signs sent by God to Pharaoh to set His people free.

But why would this Passover feast be important for Jesus Christ?  Why would the Upper Room be of importance?  Why does this owner of the house have the most important role for us tonight/today?

You see, on this day over two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ on the journey to fulfill the plan of salvation instituted the meal we know as the Lord’s Supper.  Without this Upper Room to provide the safety, security and solemnity the plan of salvation would have been incomplete.  On this night Jesus not only instituted the Meal that provides us life and salvation today, Jesus Christ also washed the disciples feet, prophesied about His betrayal and death, but heralded in the fullness of God being Glorified through His sacrificial actions.  All of this occurs in the Upper Room of the house ‘owned by a certain man’.

Without the owner of the house having the room prepared, having the place prepared for the foot washing, the breaking of bread and the mutual consolation of the brethren, the fulfillment of the scriptures would be incomplete.  The owner of the house, like the owner of the colt and the other people and places of Lent we have heard about would only be considered bystanders in this journey to the Cross.  But the message and its meaning is clear, without each of these people and places of Lent, our journey would be mired and bogged down, but each of these people and places of Lent are stepping stones to the fulfillment of the plan of salvation.

For the plan of salvation has one goal, Jesus Christ death on Calvary in order to pay for the sins of mankind.  Jesus Christ in His instituting the Lord’s Supper is one step closer and offers mankind the greatest mystery, His Body and Blood for the salvation of all mankind, in, with and under this simple Bread and Wine.  As we receive His sacrifice tonight/today, may we be reminded that without the owner of the house, scripture would not have been fulfilled and mankind would not be offered life and salvation through Jesus Christ.  Nor would all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel understand completely, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins” as the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus Christ for all of mankind, including all of us saints gathered here this Maundy Thursday night.  AMEN.