“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way …” the Bible says. All of us are, by nature, like lost and wandering sheep who have turned away from our true Shepherd and Maker. We have each turned aside to go our own way.

What an accurate description of mankind! Instead of following the LORD God and living in accord with His perfect will and design for us, we follow our own will and desire, go our own way and direction, and rebel against God and His Word. Instead of loving God and living for Him, we love ourselves and do as we please. Instead of listening to God’s commandments and obeying them, we shut our ears, justify our sins and seek to establish our own compromising values in the place of His absolute truth.

Lost, wandering and scattered sheep, each one going in a different direction, is a picture of our world, with people wandering here and there and looking for life, happiness and fulfillment in everything but the LORD God who created them.

But the Bible also tells us: “… And the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” God took all our sins and all our guilt and punished them in the innocent sufferings and death of His own beloved Son, Jesus Christ! Our sins and iniquities were placed upon Jesus and He was punished in our stead.

That is why darkness covered the earth as Jesus hung there on the cross. And that is why Jesus cried out, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which is to say, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46).

Though Jesus died an agonizing and horrible death on the cross because of our turning away from God and sinning against Him, the beauty in this is that all of our sins and all of our guilt have been punished in Christ Jesus. “It is finished,” Jesus cried (John 19:30). The debt of our sins is paid in full! And Jesus rose in triumph on the third day!

Therefore, through repentance and faith in Jesus, our Messiah and Savior, we can have forgiveness and life everlasting! Instead of being judged and condemned for our own sins, God judged and condemned His own holy and innocent Son and He offers and gives to us, through faith in Christ, pardon and peace with Him. What could be more beautiful to the lost and condemned sinner!

Because Jesus suffered our just punishment, paid in full for our sins and the sins of the whole world and then rose again in victory, the gates of heaven have been opened to us. Through faith in Jesus, we can have the assurance that on the day we die, we shall go to be with Him in paradise (cf. Luke 23:43)!

Dearest Jesus, we have, like lost sheep, turned and gone our own way. We have sinned against You. Thank You for bearing on the cross the just punishment for our sins and iniquities. Grant to us forgiveness and life with You in Your eternal kingdom through faith in Your name. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-23

Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus this Sunday. And, indeed, the bodily resurrection of Jesus is the key doctrine of the Christian faith upon which all else stands or falls.

Jesus Himself foretold His own death and resurrection numerous times, saying, “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify Him. And the third day, He shall rise again” (Matt. 20:18-19). He also said, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19).

Therefore, if Jesus did not rise bodily from the dead on the third day, He can be considered nothing but a liar, and Christianity would be a hoax! What hope could any have of everlasting life if Jesus Himself did not rise from the dead on the third day? And if Jesus did not rise from the dead, as some — even within the outward pale of the Christian church — have said, Christianity is an empty and worthless religion — it’s a lie!

It is as St. Paul writes to the church in Corinth, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Cor. 15:17-19).

But, in spite of the skepticism of some, there is solid evidence for the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Not only was the resurrection of the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament Scriptures; it is also attested to by the New Testament apostles and evangelists with claims of seeing, touching and talking to the risen Christ Jesus. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James, Jude, and the writer of Hebrews all attest to the resurrection of Jesus.

Not only did Jesus appear alive to Mary Magdalene and the other women; He appeared to Peter, to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, to the eleven on numerous occasions, to James, to the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus, and to more than 500 believers at one time. At the time when Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, most of these eyewitnesses were still alive and could be questioned by any who had doubts — Paul invited them to do so.

Now, nearly two thousand years removed, some have said that Jesus did not actually die but swooned on the cross and later revived in the tomb — a foolish hypothesis since the Roman soldiers were very experienced with death and especially with death by crucifixion since they regularly crucified both criminals and rebels. Crucifixion victims had to lift themselves up to breathe. Hanging motionlessly meant breathing also stopped and life ended. The spear thrust into Jesus’ side left no doubt. Jesus indeed died on the cross (John 19:32-34)!

And, even if it were somehow possible for one to be crucified and not yet be dead after hanging motionless, ceasing to breathe and having a spear thrust into his side, would lying in a tomb, wrapped in burial cloths and receiving no medical attention enable one to survive scourging, crucifixion, and a spear wound to the chest? Certainly not!

Some have said — indeed, right from the beginning (Matt. 28:11ff.) — that Jesus’ disciples came and stole the body and moved it to another tomb where it probably still lies to this day. This too makes no sense at all and doesn’t explain His resurrection appearances.

It’s entirely unlikely that followers of Jesus who fled when Jesus was arrested and then hid behind locked doors would risk death at the hands of the Roman soldiers who guarded the tomb in order to steal a dead body just to bury it somewhere else and then claim Jesus was alive.

And, while people may risk all and suffer death for something they mistakenly believe to be true, would all of Jesus’ apostles willingly face death and persecution for something they knew was a lie? Again, it’s not likely! Not only did Jesus’ disciples suffer persecution and agonizing deaths, but they also gave up the comforts and pleasures of this life. They had nothing to gain by preaching the resurrection of Jesus if indeed He did not rise.

And what of those who spread the stories of Jesus’ body being stolen away? They could easily have put a stop to the spread of Christianity if they simply produced the body of Jesus. But did they? No! There is no record of any attempt or claim to produce the body of Jesus. Why? Because the tomb was empty and even the enemies of Christianity could not refute the resurrection of Jesus!

So, what does the resurrection of Jesus mean for us today? Well, it proves that Jesus is who He claimed to be, God the Son and the Messiah and Savior of the world! It proves that His teaching is true. His resurrection proves that He did indeed take the punishment for the sins of the world that we might have pardon and peace through faith in Him. His resurrection proves that those who fall asleep in Him — those who die trusting in Him for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting — will be raised up on the Last Day to the eternal joys of heaven just as He promised!

And, of course, it also proves that He will return to judge the living and the dead as He has said and that those who have not relied upon Him for forgiveness and life will be condemned to everlasting punishment in the eternal fires of hell.

The only real hoax in regard to Jesus’ resurrection is the argument that he did not rise. It’s a hoax advanced to destroy the faith of those who trust in Jesus for forgiveness and life everlasting. It’s a hoax advanced by those who do not wish to accept the testimony of eyewitnesses who both saw Jesus crucified and then alive again on the third day and the subsequent 40 days. It’s a hoax advanced by those who do not wish to one day be accountable to the crucified, risen and glorified Jesus.

The resurrection of Jesus is a historical event that affects every human being in this world. Those who consider it and place their hope in Jesus and His resurrection shall receive, as Jesus says, the forgiveness of sins He won for all by His sufferings and death upon the cross, and life everlasting because He rose from the dead and is “the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25). But those who neglect or spurn it face a most miserable eternity with no hope, no blessing, and no joy!

Dear Lord Jesus, grant that I hear and believe the testimony of those who are eyewitnesses of Your death on the cross for the sins of the world and of Your glorious resurrection on the third day, and grant that I place my faith and trust in You for pardon, peace and life eternal. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the 21st Century King James Version (KJ21), Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.]

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you; He is just, and having salvation, lowly, and riding on a donkey, and on a colt the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9 (Read Matthew 21:1-9)

These words of the prophet Zechariah were fulfilled when Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey colt and “the crowds that went before, and those that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest” (Matt. 21:9).

And we too, each Sunday and especially on this day, offer up the same praises to Jesus, our Savior and King. We did so in the words of our first hymn when we sang: “All glory, laud, and honor to Thee, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David’s royal Son, who in the Lord’s name comest, the King and Blessed One.”

In the Sanctus, sung during our Communion liturgy, we sing with the angels, the archangels, and with all the company of heaven: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory; Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.”

These words are taken from the praise of the followers of Jesus on that first Palm Sunday, as well as from the vision of the Lord God in His holy temple recorded in Isaiah 6:1-3: “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he did fly. And one cried unto another and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Isaiah recognized His unworthiness to stand in the presence of the Lord. He said, “Woe is me! for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (v. 5). It was not until one of the seraphs took a coal from the altar and touched Isaiah’s lips that he could stand before the LORD God and be a messenger and spokesman for the LORD (v. 6-7).

We might wonder why Jesus’ followers sang such words of praise, echoing the word of Psalm 118:25-26: “Save now, I beseech You, O LORD. O LORD, I beseech You, send now prosperity. Blessed be He that comes in the name of the LORD; we have blessed You out of the house of the LORD.”

And why do we sing such praises to Jesus on Palm Sunday and in our Communion services when we know that He entered into Jerusalem that He might go to the cross and suffer and die — that He might be betrayed, forsaken, denied, condemned, and then be nailed to the cross, forsaken and condemned by God the Father, and die in bitter pain and agony of both body and soul? How can we rejoice when we see Him ride into Jerusalem, hailed as the Son of David and the Son of God, as Zechariah prophesied, when we know that He was entering Jerusalem to die?

In fact, we sing such words in our hymns: “Ride on, ride on, in majesty! Hark! all the tribes hosanna cry. O Savior meek, pursue Thy road, with palms and scattered garments strowed … Ride on, ride on, in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die. Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain, then take, O Christ, Thy power and reign.”

Though the world may rejoice at Jesus’ crucifixion because it rejects Jesus’ doctrine — His call to turn from our sinful ways to Him for mercy and forgiveness, and for the needed help and strength to amend our lives and live for Him — we too, the daughters of Zion and daughters of Jerusalem, Christ’s church, true believers of all time, can shout for joy and rejoice at Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem because He went there to atone for the sins of the world by His innocent sufferings and death on the cross. He went to atone for our sins and win for us forgiveness and life eternal!

Jesus entered Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover with His disciples but also to institute a new sacrament by the shedding of His blood — a sacrament in which He gives to His disciples to partake of His sacrifice, of His body given into death for our sins and of His blood shed upon the cross for the sins of the entire world. He is our Passover Lamb, “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:19); and when we trust in Him, His blood is upon us and shields and protects us from the coming judgment of God upon this sinful world (cf. Exo. 12:1ff.; 1 Cor. 5:7; 1 Pet. 1:18-19).

We rejoice and shout His praises because our King is coming; “He is just, and having salvation, lowly, and riding on a donkey, and on a colt the foal of a donkey.”

“Christ Jesus … being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:5-8).

Jesus humbled Himself and went to the cross to redeem us and to win for us salvation. And Jesus still comes to us today, “lowly” and “having salvation.” He comes to us through the preaching of the Gospel and through the administration of the Sacraments — humble means — and He offers to us and gives to us the salvation He procured for us on the cross.

God’s law condemns us and reveals to us our failures to keep God’s commandments; it reveals to us the just punishment demanded on account of our disobedience and sin. But, Christ Jesus, through the preaching of the cross, comes to us and offers and promises to us God’s pardon and forgiveness through faith in His name. In our Baptism and in the Lord’s Supper, He gives and assures to us the new covenant promises of forgiveness for all sins and eternal life when we look to Him in faith.

That is why St. Paul could write in Rom. 1:16-17: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

The Gospel preached to us assures us that “He has made us accepted in the Beloved, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:6-7).

Why do we “rejoice greatly” and “shout” for joy at Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem? “Behold, your King comes to you; He is just, and having salvation, lowly, and riding on a donkey, and on a colt the foal of a donkey.”

O gracious and merciful Savior, we praise Your name for willingly entering Jerusalem that You might go to the cross, die for our sins and make full atonement for the sins of the entire world. And we thank You for coming to us humbly through Your Word and Sacraments that You might convey unto us mercy and forgiveness and the eternal joys of heaven which You won for us on the cross. Grant us Your Holy Spirit and faith to believe. Amen.

[Quoted Scripture is slightly updated from the King James Version of the Bible.]

The next day John saw Jesus coming unto him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me cometh a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ And I knew Him not; but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore have I come baptizing with water.” And John bore record, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and It abode upon Him. And I knew Him not. But He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, ‘Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, the same is He that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.’ And I saw and bore record that this is the Son of God.” John 1:29-34

What was the testimony of John the Baptist? He testified that Jesus is that Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

How did John know? God, who told John to baptize with water and thus prepare God’s people for the coming of their Messiah and Savior, also told John that the one upon whom he saw the Spirit of God descend and remain was the promised Messiah and Savior, the very Son of God! He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. He would be God’s sacrificial Lamb and, by His innocent sufferings and death on the cross, make atonement for the sins of the whole world (cf. 1 Pet. 1:18-21; 1 John 2:1-2).

So what did John do when he saw the fulfillment of God’s words (cf. Matt. 3:13-17)? Did he keep it to himself? Did he try to keep his own followers? No, John directed them to Jesus. When he saw Jesus coming toward him, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world!” John also testified of Jesus, “And I saw and bore record that this is the Son of God.”

Has God, through His Word, revealed to you that Jesus is the Son of God in human flesh? That Jesus is the promised Messiah and Savior? That Jesus has paid in full and made atonement for the sins of all by His innocent sufferings and death upon the cross and is risen again? Do you trust in Him for God’s mercy and forgiveness and look to Him for everlasting life?

And, do you keep this to yourself? Do you talk of this truth only within the confines of your church? Or, do you say, as John the Baptist did, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world!”? Are you willing to point people to the crucified and risen Christ Jesus and tell them that He is God’s perfect sacrifice for sin and that through faith in Him there is forgiveness and life?

O gracious Holy Spirit, we thank You for revealing to us that Jesus is the Messiah and our Savior. Embolden us to bear witness of Him to others that they too may see Jesus for who He is and believe. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the 21st Century King James Version (KJ21), Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.]

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the fashion of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death — even the death of the cross. Therefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

The apostle Paul here tells us as Christians that we who trust in Christ Jesus should follow His example and humble ourselves now, trusting that God will also raise us up and exalt us to reign with Christ Jesus after we have suffered a while in this world.

But in these words, the apostle teaches us much about the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus is true God, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and He would not be taking undue honor to Himself to be equal with God. Indeed, He is the eternal Son of God through whom God created the heavens and the earth and gave to man life, both spiritual and physical (cf. Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7; John 1:1-5).

Yet, this same Lord Jesus, true God with the Father and the Spirit, took on our nature and was born a true man, “conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary” (Apostle’s Creed). And not only did Jesus not make full use of His divine attributes — his divine power, knowledge, glory, etc. — and live humbly as a man in this world, “He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death — even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried” (Apostle’s Creed).

And why did He do this? Why did God the Son take on human flesh and blood, live humbly as a man in this world and then suffer and die on the cross? That He might make atonement for our sins and redeem us from sin, death and the power of the devil (cf. Isa. 53:5-6; John 1:29; Heb. 2:14-17; 4:15; 7:26-27; Gal. 3:10,13; 4:4-5; 2 Cor. 5:21).

Luther explains this in his explanation of the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.”

The eternal Son of God humbled Himself and became true man and suffered and died on the cross that you and I might be redeemed and become His own — that through faith in Him and His shed blood, we might be forgiven and restored to fellowship with God our Maker. That we might become a part of Christ’s eternal kingdom and dwell in the presence of God forever (cf. John 3:16-17; Col. 1:19-23; 2 Cor. 5:18-21).

“Therefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father ” (Phil. 2:9-11). Jesus was exalted to the right hand of God the Father, a position of power and glory in which He rules over all and works to build His Church and establish His eternal kingdom (cf. Acts 1:9; Luke 24:51; Eph. 1:15-23; 4:8-16; Ps. 2; 110:1; Col. 2:13-15; 1 Cor. 15:20-28).

And what does God’s Word call upon us to do? To have the same mind as Christ Jesus: to humble ourselves in this world — to sacrifice our lives in this world — that those for whom Christ died and shed His holy and precious blood might hear the Gospel of forgiveness and life in Jesus’ name and repent, looking to Jesus and His cross for pardon and forgiveness. Indeed, that is what Jesus calls us to do as His redeemed, to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature (cf. Mark 16:15-16; Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 1:8).

And, as Jesus humbled Himself and was exalted, so we are assured that we who humble ourselves and trust in Christ will be exalted with Him. The Bible promises us that we will receive a crown of life and reign with Him forever and ever (cf. 2 Tim. 2:11-12; Rev. 2:10; 22:5).

“Let this mind be in you …” Amen.

O Dearest Jesus, we thank and praise You for humbling Yourself, taking on our nature and going to the cross to redeem us and make us Your own. Grant that we have the same mind in us, that we humble ourselves and trust in You and then live our lives for You that others, too, might hear of You and the salvation You won for all. Keep us in the true and saving faith until we are exalted to reign with You in heaven. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the 21st Century King James Version (KJ21). Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.]