Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, gather us by the Word under Your gracious wings. Amen.
Text: Matthew 23:34-39
“Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'”
Devotion
We have been so deeply corrupted by sin. Enmity toward God, wickedness from the kingdom of darkness that entered the world by the devil’s greed, has a terrible power and can develop a really horrible strength and power in the heart. And this happens especially with those who have felt God’s call, but hardened themselves against it. With them the devil has seven times the power, both with individual people and with peoples. We see this in unbelieving Jewish people, and we see it in fallen Christians. The Savior is in their midst, but they are embittered and crucify Him.
Didn’t the Lord know this before He came to us on earth? Yes, it is even spoken by the prophets. But His love is greater than all powers and principalities of hell. He wanted to come and offer all people His saving grace. Jesus loves, even more than the devil hates. Great is Satan’s wickedness, but greater is the Lord’s love. The fire of life in Him is a thousand times stronger than all the fire of hell. Mankind is so dear and precious to Him that He wanted to come to the world, to become Man, and to die for us, though He knew how many would reject His love.
That this heavenly power of grace does not conquer all human hearts is a dark and deep mystery that we cannot unravel here. But someday it too will find its glorious solution. O that Jerusalem would be gathered under the gracious wings of our Lord Jesus! Jerusalem, Jerusalem, there is no remedy for you! All who reject Him reject themselves, for there is no salvation in any other (Act 4:12). But all who believe in Him shall find that He is great and rich. They shall have part in His Spirit and taste His love, yes, have even better joy in sharing His suffering than any of the highest joys of the children of the world. “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1Jo 4:4). He shall destroy in you everything that comes from the kingdom of darkness. – So then our Gospel today powerfully testifies about the power of sin and the devil in the world, and yet even more about God’s incredible love and mercy in Christ.
Closing Prayer
We thank You, Lord Jesus, that You came to us and saved us from our deep fall, that You entered into our troubles and that You draw us after You through sorrow and death, to glory. Eternal thanks and praise for Your mercy, that conquers all the evil in us! Enlighten us more and more to believe in You, to know Your ways, to love and serve You, that we may gladly suffer with You and never grow weary in love and testimony of You under the opposition and hatred of the world. O precious Lord Jesus, You were so troubled over Your people’s blindness and misfortune. Let us never grieve Your Spirit any more. You see how troubled we are also. But, O how much of the world’s trouble is still in us, and how little of the pains of Your holy love! Our soul weeps over our wretchedness and cries to You, merciful Savior. We have You, and we long for You. We rejoice in You, our Joy and Salvation, and we are still so sorrowful, because we cannot rightly believe in You, love You, embrace the foot of Your throne, and give ourselves as a complete offering to You. And what a sad state Christianity is in, the people who bear Your name! O Lord, have mercy on us. Have mercy on the brethren, have mercy on our people, have mercy on the whole world! Amen.
Hymn
How then can we thank the Father
For He gave His Son to us?
Many will not even bother
To regard such love as this;
And their wicked lust for sin
Cover they with comfort vain,
Thinking they have God’s true favor,
But they learn not of the Savior.
For the soul there’s no condemning
When in Jesus one believes;
For His grace is never-ending,
Grace will evermore increase;
For the judgment was proclaimed
When to us our Jesus came,
Now from sin we’re ever turning
And escape hell’s fiercest burning.
If you would continue sinning
And your sinful flesh obey,
Jesus’ comfort you’re not winning,
Even for eternity.
Dearest heart, you can’t do both:
Either in your pray’rs and faith
Flee from wicked sin’s temptation
Lest you suffer condemnation.
Brorson: Hvordan takke vi vor Herre L 151:1-3 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Werde munter (ELH 354); alternate hymn: By Adam’s fall ELH 430:4-6