Simply Lutheran by Brother James

J.S. Bach wrote a chorale entitled, Komm, süsser Tod, "Come, Sweet Death."  Through the mercies of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Lazarus' death was received by faith as a sweet release from the ills of this world and carried him into the joys of heaven; however, for the rich man, death became just the opposite. While on this earth, all Christians, who have hope in the mercies of God, continually pray the three-fold Kyrie that we express in our liturgy, "Lord, have mercy upon us; Christ, have mercy upon us; Lord, have mercy upon us."

In this episode, the hearer should come to a reckoning of what sort of man Jesus is who would gladly suffer and die such a horrendous death in order to make atonement for all sinners. When the New Testament Scriptures use the word idou for the word to see, it should be translated "Behold" which tells the reader or hearer not just to look at but to examine, study whatever you are looking at with your eyes. May you come to the proper understanding of Christ's passion so that you may have a blessed Easter, Resurrection morning! 

In this weekly devotion, during the 2020 Lenten season, I encourage the hearer to realize that what is received in the Lord's Supper is not merely bread and wine but the very body and blood of Jesus, who was born of the virgin Mary, and the same body and blood of Jesus, who was crucified on Calvary's cross. This is His natural and substantial flesh and blood that Jesus first communed with the bread and the wine and now gives to you to eat and drink for the forgiveness of your sins and for the strengthening of your faith.

In this devotion, the hearer should meditate upon God's Law as the standard for self-examination prior to partaking of the visible Gospel of the Lord's Supper. Only then can one truly desire to have the forgiveness of sins and the righteousness that our Lord freely gives in His real and essential Body and Blood along with the bread and the wine.

In this episode, taken from the Synodical Conference Gospel for Reminiscere Sunday, the hearer will understand the necessity to see Jesus crucified for the full atonement for the sins of the world. Looking to Jesus, for this Lent season, means to repent and believe the Gospel of Christ crucified for you.

In this episode the hearer will understand how to fight temptations by adhering to the inerrant, infallible written Word of God.

In this episode, for Invocavit Sunday, the hearer will understand how to fight against temptations; especially those that are presented by false doctrine and half-truths. And just as Jesus didn't choose to go into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil so we, too, should not seek to be tempted but learn of Jesus how to refute such temptations with the written word of God knowing that Scripture will interpret Scripture.

In this episode, the hearer will understand, by the examples of of our Lord Jesus Christ, how to fight temptations by using the written Word of God and by letting Scripture interpret Scripture.

In this episode, we note that giving up something for Lent is not as important as repenting and springing forth in a newness of life to love your God and love your neighbor.

In this sermon, the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, you may see the utmost importance of faith, as a gift from God, which gives you access to the promises and mercy of God through His Son, Christ Jesus.