Sermon April 11-12, 2026 – 2nd Sunday of Easter

Title: The Lord’s peace is revealed by faith!
Text: Acts 5:29-32, John 20:19-31

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26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

In 325 A.D. at the Council of Nicaea, which was an important church meeting in the 4th century. It is also the place where the Nicene Creed gets its name.

There were 318 delegates in attendance. Of that number, fewer than 12 had not lost an eye or a hand or didn’t limp on a leg lamed by torture for their Christian faith.

Vance Havner

Such is the way of faith for those who follow Christ.

In our first reading:

41 [the Disciples] left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name [of Jesus]. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that [Jesus is the Christ].

Martin Luther writes:

If we consider the greatness and the glory of the life we shall have when we have risen from the dead, it would not be difficult at all for us to bear the concerns of this world. If I believe the Word, I shall on the Last Day, after the sentence has been pronounced, not only gladly have suffered ordinary temptations, insults, and imprisonment, but I shall also say: "O, that I did not throw myself under the feet of all the godless for the sake of the great glory which I now see revealed and which has come to me through the merit of Christ!"

Martin Luther


In our lesson, in the Book of Acts, things are not going well for the apostles.

This is a bit further in our timeline than where we are in our gospel reading for today where the disciples are locked in the upper room for fear of the Jews … but as you see not much is different.

Jesus has been killed and raised from the dead, but fear and uncertainty abound.

Thomas won’t believe, unless he has proof and for this it better be tangible … fingers in the nail holes and hand in the side.

But in our reading from Acts chapter 5 it is the Apostles who are receiving the wrath of the Jews from the Sanhedrin – the council of the Pharisees and Sadducees – for preaching the name of Jesus and performing miraculous signs wonders and healings in his name.

It fills the high Priest and those with him with jealousy so much so that they had the apostles arrested and put in jail … unfortunately a fairly common place for those proclaiming Christ than and even now.

But during the night the angle of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out of the jail, told them to stand in the Temple courts and to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and his life, death, and glorious resurrection for the sins of the world!

So, they went and did all that the Lord commanded them.
Giving Praise, proclaiming the good news, and rejoicing in the Lord!

What a surprise as they send for the apostles and they are not there – even though the doors are still locked and the guards posted. They report their finding that the disciples are back preaching about Jesus.

So, they go and get them again and bring them to the High Priest and the whole Council saying in a sense

“We told you to stop teaching in this name … this name of Jesus.”
But Peter says:

“We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Today is not much different:

In a shocking ruling delivered in Helsinki last week, the Supreme Court of Finland convicted Päivi Räsänen, a 66-year-old longtime Christian Democratic parliamentarian, and her Lutheran bishop, Juhana Pohjola, of hate speech for “making and keeping available to the public a text that insults a group.” The court ordered that the text, a 2004 pamphlet explaining and defending traditional Biblical teaching about homosexuality, must be “removed from public access and destroyed.”

Not a good sign … but why so much hatred against Christians?

Gamaliel may be a good source for our understanding. Being a teacher of the Law and held in honor by the people … even being the Apostle Paul’s teacher. He stood up saying:

“Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”

The truth that we are sinners in need of a savior causes many to rise up in opposition just as it did in the time of Jesus as the Pharisees met.

33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

People rise up in our day too and want to do away with this Good News that is the gospel. God’s word brings one of two responses repentance or anger.

Repentance hears the word and turns away from sin and back to God while anger hears repentance call and says:

“How dare you judge me! Who are you to judge me? What an unloving thing to do!”

But in reality, it is the thought of:

What if it’s true?
What if eternity apart from Christ is damnation?
What if it is just the lies of the devil that I’m hearing?
“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” NIV

If Christ is God in the flesh than apart from him, we are dead in trespass and sin or buy God’s Holy Spirit’s work we repent, turn back to him, and are saved.

This turning also though turns us away from the sin we are broken by - and we desire the things of God; his word, his gifts his forgiveness.

Do you desire to be in his house?
Do you know God’s desire for you?

St. Peter in his first epistle reminds us.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

God will guard his children, though the work of the devil seems overwhelming and I pray that those who came at Easter service last weekend will desire to be in God’s house each week to receive his gifts.

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:8-9

It is God who wills and works in you and in me. May he continue to work to bring joy, peace, and salvation to all of those he gives faith to in his time and in his way.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

 

Sermon April 5, 2026 – Easter Sunday

Title: He is not here and you too will rise!
Text: Matt. 28:1-10

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5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen

The tomb is empty
The stone rolled away!
Death conquered!

Christ is raised from the dead!

Through Jesus, we have access to the Tree of life and eternity!

2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.

God’s word here gives a very wonderful description of what happened very early on that first day of the week, Sunday morning, as an angel of the Lord rolls away the stone … not as an aid to the resurrection but as a sign to the empty tomb and the reality that Jesus had risen from the dead!

This angel rolled the stone away and used it for his own seat and such was in his appearance as lightening and as white as snow.

Can you imagine the look on the guard’s faces that were placed there to make sure that the disciples didn’t come to steal the body of the Lord.

At the sight of this angel, they trembled and became as dead men out of fear.

The evidence that Jesus had been crucified, dead and buried and was now risen from the dead - was no longer in doubt - and there was no more concern for those who were placed to guard the tomb.

As the women … those faithful who came to contend with the Lord’s body the angle says:

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

For this is now a place where He, Jesus, had been, laid in death, and He is not there;

No longer in the tomb … no longer dead … but risen and alive!

Death … which is a part of life that we all have had some experience with … connects us too with the death of Christ.

Even as little children we know death as a sign of fallen humanity.
We see death in nature and with the loss of family pets.

We know the reality of death in our lives with the loss of beloved relatives, siblings, or parents and high-profile people in the world and that reality becomes clearer as we get older.

This was not God’s plan.
The Tempter, the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
and our first parents Adam and Eve, made sure of that!

Our own families become the evidence of this as we see those who sustained us through life leave us, showing the reality of sin in their life and ours too, as they fall victim to the wages of sin, and these wages bring death, a death that is assured just as our crucified Lord, who breathed His last, was dead as He gave up the Spirit, commending his Spirit into the Father’s hands.

I have seen this reality with fellow believers and members of Christ’s body the church as well as they too breathed their last and gave up their spirit in this life over the years of ministry.

So many dear church members, and friends, all morning the loss of loved ones called away from the joys of this life and the ones that they loved.

How quickly it is that even one day can change our whole lives.

Those first disciples, those first followers of Jesus felt loss too.

The one in whom they had placed their hope as their Messiah and Lord had been taken from them … and this loss brought grief and confusion.

Was he too just a man?
Did he deceive all those who had placed their trust in him?
Did their hope too … die with him?
And what about our own hope?

As a pastor I get to preach at funerals and it is always a joy to remind those who are grieving and suffering loss that in Christ, death is not the end for we who cling to the blessed hope of Christ’s resurrection.

The Tree of Christ’s cross made sure of that!
But, it is a time of parting … for a while.

St Paul gives us the joyful hope in his epistle to the Romans in chapter 8 where he says:

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:38-39

7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Earlier I said,

“How quickly it is that even one day can change our whole lives.”

St Luke tells us in a parallel account:

24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. Luke 24: 1-3

… one day can change our whole lives …

“Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen!” Luke 24:5b

The fall into sin brought death, but Christ’s death brings life for all born in the death of sin and separated from God.

By his resurrection we too have hope in our resurrection promised in Christ.

Though we die, yet shall we live!

You too, who trust in Christ, have this promised eternity waiting for you!

The blessed Good News that Jesus died for your sins - is the wonderful Gospel message you can trust.

He has forgiven your sin and has called you to faith by the Gospel and through the power of the Holy Spirit, and has given you faith to believe in Jesus Christ’s saving work.

9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Because:

Christ is raised … so you too will rise!

The good news of Easter is our present reality and hope until Christ Jesus returns in glory to gather us to himself!

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit

Amen

Sermon April 3, 2026 - Good Friday

Title: Living among the Bible's trees - Tree of the Cross!
Text: Deuteronomy 21:22–23; Galatians 3:1–14

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13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

The curse of being hanged on a tree is something we all know or have heard about in our history.

Whether it is a result or circumstance of war or simply an unjust act of rage, lives have fallen victim to death by hanging from the tree of the gallows or the tree on vengeance and revenge.

As our special Lenten sermon series nears its climax, we consider the eighth of the Bible’s trees among which we live, none other than the tree of the cross.

Considering the Tree of the Cross, we realize that, although we fail to keep God’s Law and deserve the cross’s shame, Jesus became accursed for us and so redeems us.

I. We fail to keep God’s Law and deserve the cross’s shame.

In our reading tonight, we heard the Lord through Moses in his final “sermon” command the people of Israel to bury on the same day criminals who were hung on a tree.

This hanging was after the criminal had already been executed by stoning or some other method. Hanging on a tree after execution publicly displayed the criminal’s shame and deterred others from committing the same crime.

Such criminals were cursed by God, and being displayed on a tree showed the shame of God’s judgment and rejection.

Yet there was to be a limit:

God said that leaving them hanging overnight would defile the land he was giving the Israelites.

The people of Israel were not the first or only ones so to use trees or their wood. The Book of Genesis reports that earlier Pharaoh’s onetime chief baker, who was imprisoned with Joseph, was hung from a tree. Gen 40:19, 22

The Book of Esther much later reports that the Persian king hung two of his rebellious eunuchs. Esth. 2:23

And the Bible reports at least two additional cases where the people of Israel under Joshua did obey this particular commandment to bury those so hung on the same day. Josh 8:29; 10:26–27

Of course, the Israelites could hardly boast that they obeyed that particular commandment or any of God’s commandments all the time.

Today, St. Paul, by divine inspiration writing to the Galatians about salvation by faith, quote from elsewhere in Deuteronomy that everyone who does not abide by and do all the things written in the Book of the Law is cursed.

So, St. Paul says, no one is justified (or “righteous”) before God by keeping the Law, and that includes you and me.

In thoughts, words, and deeds, we fail to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and we fail to love our neighbors as ourselves.

We each know our own failures better than others know them, and God knows them best of all!

Such failures flow from the sinful nature and for such failures we deserve to be cut off from God’s presence for all eternity.

We all deserve to be hung accursed from the accursed tree!
Do we think of such an outcome as shameful?
Are we ashamed of our sin?
Do people today even feel shame anymore?
What do we consider to be insulting?

Are we more concerned about embarrassment or a loss of respect or reputation from something posted on line than we are of the guilt of our sins?

II. Jesus became accursed for us and so redeems us.

Also, as we heard tonight, sinless and righteous Jesus Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by

becoming a curse for us,
being hanged on the tree of the cross.

For some seven centuries before Jesus, the Assyrians, Persians, Jews, and Romans crucified people, whipping them, using crosses of different shapes, and even impaling them in a most cruel way.

For us and for our salvation, Jesus Christ humbly endured the shame of crucifixion, the greatest possible insult—stripped, beaten, and left hanging naked to the world—so that you and I might be sinless and righteous, not by the Law, but by faith in him.

Jesus Christ took to the cross our sins and the ancient curse that afflicts us, as we sang this evening in the Office Hymn:

1

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
'Tis the Christ, by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, 'tis He, 'tis He!
'Tis the long-expected Prophet,
David's Son, yet David's Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
'Tis the true and faithful Word.

St. Paul but also St. Peter repeatedly preached and wrote about Jesus’ hanging on the tree of the cross for us (Acts 5:30; 10:39; 13:29;1 Pet 2:24).

After them, at least one Early Church writer also understood the ram caught by its horns in the thicket when Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac as a prophetic image pointing to Jesus’ hanging on the tree (Gen 22:13).

Such is God’s use of hanging on a tree for us!

One author says well:

It is no accident that human sin which began at the foot of a tree, the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”), found its resolution on another tree, the cross of Calvary.

There is a poetic justice in the use of trees in [salvation history]. ...

Satan’s victory over the woman and the man! beneath the branches of that primal tree led to his own defeat beneath the crossed beams of another tree.

Our Altar book states:

“the serpent who overcame by the tree of the garden” was overcome “by the tree of the cross”

LSB Altar Book, 151, 190, 231

2

Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning,
Was there ever grief like His?
Friends through fear His cause disowning,
Foes insulting His distress;
Many hands were raised to wound Him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.

The temple of Jesus’ body was likewise mocked and destroyed but ultimately raised back up.

Jesus did not hang on the tree of the cross overnight that first Good Friday but was taken down before the Sabbath.

And later God revealed the majesty and glory of the crucified Christ by raising him from the dead and exalting him to his right hand.

So, now Jesus Christ works through his Holy Spirit in all those who believe, through such means as the reading and preaching of his Word, Holy Baptism, Absolution, and …

Especially in the Sacrament of the Altar, where we eat the fruit and receive the blessings of the tree of the cross.

Thus, the cross in effect becomes for us a tree of life!

For now, considering the tree of the cross, we realize that, although we fail to keep God’s Law and deserve the cross’s shame, Jesus became accursed for us and so redeems us.

3

Ye who think of sin but lightly
Nor suppose the evil great
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed,
See who bears the awful load;
'Tis the Word, the Lord's anointed,
Son of Man and Son of God.

Long before thousands of people in our country were killed through the detestable crimes of mobs—taking the law into their own hands and hanging people on trees—our Lord Jesus Christ was hung from a tree, under the Law, for the sake of us all.

Jesus became accursed for us on the tree of the cross so that you are redeemed!

4

Here we have a firm foundation,
Here the refuge of the lost;
Christ, the Rock of our salvation,
His the name of which we boast:
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on Him their hope have built.

By God’s mercy and grace, this is his promise now and for eternity.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit

Amen

Lent series, "Living among the Bible's trees" - modified

Sermon April 2, 2026 - Maundy Thursday

Title: Living among the Bible's trees – Fig trees!
Text: Luke 13:1–9; Mark 11:12–25

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6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

In our part of the world today, figs are well down the list of popular fruits.

In fact, if it weren’t for Fig Newtons, many of us would probably never have thought of them at all.

But in Bible times, in Palestine and the Near East, figs were no novelty for an occasional cookie or jam; they were food on the table the way apples or oranges might be for us today.

Fig trees are among the first plants ever cultivated by humans, long before wheat or barley or beans.

In fact, evidence of their domestication in the Jordan River Valley may be the first discovered example of agriculture.

Fig trees grow well in poor soil. They can withstand drought. And they’re large; they can grow to a height of more than thirty feet and provide welcome shade in hot climates.

It was fig trees and their fruit—or lack thereof—that we heard about in today’s readings.

On this Maundy Thursday night, as we think especially of the fruit of the grape vine, we prepare to receive that blessed gift by continuing our special Lenten sermon series, “Living among the Bible’s Trees.” Today we consider fig trees.

Considering the Fig Trees, We Realize That, Although We Do Not Always Bear the Fruits of Faith as We Should - God brings forth from us Fruits in keeping with repentance.

I. We do not always bear the fruits of faith as we should.

In the readings, we heard both St. Luke’s unique report of Jesus’ parable that used a fig tree, and also St. Mark’s of Jesus’ later experience with a fig tree.

In the First Reading, the parable using the fig tree illustrates the time for repentance that tragedies should prompt.

In the Second Reading, Jesus dramatically enacts a living parable or takes prophetic action related to the judgment that comes when the time for repentance is over.

In that case, the repentance and judgment seem to relate specifically to God’s people’s being full of activity but nevertheless unfruitful.

People sometimes have a hard time with Jesus’ experience with the fig tree on the road from Bethany to Jerusalem. Some say the miracle is unworthy of the Lord, or that an innocent tree was unjustly the target of his wrath.

Yet, Jesus is the Creator in human flesh, with the right to do with his creation as he knows best, and that particular tree, as it was by the road, may not have been anyone in particular’s tree.

What’s more, with the leaves, there should have been early figs, indicators of the later figs to come; apparently, a tree without figs early on also will not have figs later.

The Old Testament is also full of references to figs in related figures of speech. For example, through Hosea, the Lord says:

10 Like grapes in the wilderness,
I found Israel.
Like the first fruit on the fig tree
in its first season,
I saw your fathers.
But they came to Baal-peor
and consecrated themselves to the thing of shame,
and became detestable like the thing they loved.

Hos 9:10

And yet, as he says through Jeremiah,

13 When I would gather them, declares the Lord,
there are no grapes on the vine,
nor figs on the fig tree;
even the leaves are withered,
and what I gave them has passed away from them.”

Jer 8:13

Are we like the unfruitful people God addressed through Hosea and Jeremiah and like the Jews of Jesus’ day, claiming to be religious but without any fruits of faith?

Certainly, we are like them according to our sinful nature, but God calls and enables us to bear fruit.

Do we bear fruit as we should?

If not, apart from repentance, we deserve the same kind of judgment they deserved.

Like the fig tree on the road looked the next time the disciples saw it, God’s righteous wrath could totally dry us up to our very roots because we do not listen to him as we should.

16 Ephraim is stricken;
their root is dried up;
they shall bear no fruit.
Even though they give birth,
I will put their beloved children to death.
17 My God will reject them
because they have not listened to him;
they shall be wanderers among the nations.

Hos 9:16–17

We face temporal consequences, including death, and eternal torment in hell if we do not first turn away from our sin, trust God to forgive our sin, and want to do better than to keep on sinning.

And so, we each must ask ourselves this question as we prepare to come to the Lord’s Table tonight:

“Do I repent of my sins, truly intend to amend my sinful ways, and desire to receive Christ’s forgiveness?”

II. God brings forth from us fruits in keeping with repentance.

God delivered his people from slavery in Egypt, which pointed forward to his delivering his people both from exile in Babylon and, most important for us, from our slavery to sin and its eternal punishment.

After his three-year ministry, Jesus took upon himself the punishment that we deserve and experienced that punishment on the cross for us, in our place.

God forgives our sin, whatever our sin might be.
God forgives it all by grace through faith for Jesus’ sake.

21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”

22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.

Through the means of congregations today, God calls pastors to serve him by serving his people, as God once directly called the prophet Amos, who had been a dresser of sycamore fig trees (Amos 7:14).

Such workers in the vineyard dig around the trees and put on manure, as it were, and wait another year before cutting down any unfruitful trees.

That is to say, such workers in the vineyard read and proclaim God’s Word to all those gathered in his cleansed house of prayer.

And, as appropriate, such workers in the vineyard apply that Word to individuals in Holy Baptism, in Absolution, and in the Sacrament of the Altar that we celebrate tonight.

For on this night, the night when he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread and wine, and when he had given thanks, he broke the bread, he passed the cup, and gave to them, gave to us, his very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

In each of these means, God brings forth from us fruit in keeping with repentance according to our various callings in life.

As such “good figs,” the Lord plants us by giving us a heart to know that he is the Lord, and so we are his people and he is our God. Jer 24:6–7

The Second Reading might have us think of the figurative figs of forgiving our brothers and sisters in Christ, even as our Father in heaven forgives our sins:

25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Figurative figs are also service to God and one another through our volunteering to our congregation.

Whether or not the literal fig trees should blossom, however else we might be afflicted, yet we rejoice in the Lord and take joy in the God of our salvation. Hab 3:17–18

As we are “Living among the Bible’s Trees,” God calls and enables us to repent of our sin and freely forgives us of our sin for the sake of his Son, Jesus Christ. Considering the fig trees, we realize that, although we do not always bear the fruits of faith as we should, God brings forth from us fruits in keeping with repentance.

By God’s grace, we are prepared and watching for it! Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit

Amen

Lent series, "Living among the Bible's trees" - modified

Sermon March 29, 2026 - Palm / Passion Sunday

Title: God’s love in death and glory!
Text: Matt 27:11-66

Facebook live: God’s love in death and glory!

13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday and the Sunday of the Passion but also the greater reality of God’s love and death in this life and in the life to come.

The majesty of our procession today as we entered into worship, and the picture of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem contrasted with the reality of his trial, crucifixion and death is contrasted with our own sin, guilty verdict, and death in this life that we all know and share.

Today we will examine the human and divine work of the Lord’s passion and the reality of this pivotal story as we walk into Holy Week towards the death and resurrection of our Lord, the God/man himself, Jesus Christ.

Matthew brings to mind the human dimension of the Gospel story with the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. But also, the divine work of God.

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer.

So, we see Jesus, not taking the usual course of defense in his case. Pilot seems befuddled. He tries, it seems, every way he can.

13 … “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?”

Jesus answers nothing.

“What do I do with this man?” Pilate must have thought.

How can I keep peace in Jerusalem, satisfy the Jews and their religious customs, and still remain faithful to Rome in this notoriously difficult political environment?

“How can I be both just and righteous?”
Well in reality, Pilate didn’t care.
He wanted peace.
He knows the law and he has a plan.
“I’ll find another, a substitute!”

One who is already guilty, and one who surly the religious leaders and the people will be happy to see him put to death to satisfy their rage.

16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. [ Bar- Son, Abba – father] 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

“Surly this will be simple solution.” – Pilate might have thought.

“For out on envy, they have accused and delivered this Jesus over, and even word from my wife who seems troubled about this, has now come to me. “

She says a dream.
A dream of all things!
What is this world coming to?

21 … “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”

And they said, “Barabbas.”

22 … “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

They all said, “Let him be crucified!”

23 … “Why? What evil has he done?”

But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

Now hear the divine judge

Do you not hear all that the Law testifies against you?
You shall have no other Gods
Don’t misuse my name.
Keep my day holy.
Do not kill
Do not commit adultery
Do not steal
Do not bear false witness
Do not covet things and do not covet people.

 
What do I do with this people I have created?

The divine question is much like the earthly.

“How can I be both just and righteous?”

Well in reality, the problem is in God. We are fallen and there is nothing you or I can do about it.
God wanted peace. He wanted and to restore that which was lost in our fall into sin.
God has the Law and God has a plan to redeem those born under the Law.
“I’ll send another, I’ll send a substitute!
I’ll send my son!”

One who is guiltless, and one who born in the natural way is yet without sin.

He will be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, giving his life as a ransom for the many, so that the righteous requirements of the Law are kept and the just verdict of the wages of sin is met and paid for …

… and my people, through his work, will be saved as my blessed possession for now and into eternity!

In the ride into Jerusalem,

8 … the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

Now the soldiers,

28 … strip [Jesus] and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand.

In the triumphal entry,

9 … the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Now the soldiers,

Kneel before him, and they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

In the triumphal entry,

10 … the whole city was stirred up, saying,

“Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Now the soldiers,

35 … when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.

And the world, and all who are born in sin,

39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself!

If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

Well, Jesus did, come down.
With the help of a rich man, from Arimathea named Joseph, who asked Pilot for the body of Jesus.

59 … he took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.

Joseph was a follower and he was a disciple.

Are you? Are we?

Would we do the same, by letting our faith be known in a time of persecution in the world?
I would like to think so.
Would I stand up? Would you?
To claim Jesus as your own?

Friends, the human and divine come together in the God/man himself Jesus Christ for you and for me.
You can’t have Palm Sunday and Easter, without the Passion and the Cross.

 
God must be both Just and righteous.

He must be put to death in the flesh, and raised in his body for we to die and rise with him.
The Jews asked Pilot for guards to secure the tomb. They fear a hoax that might deceive the people to follow and believe a lie.

65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard[ of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

They thought it was finished!

We too have a guard … the Holy Spirit.

He keeps our focus on Jesus the one who died for you and me and rose for our Justification.
We no longer fear death, as death has been swallowed up in the victory of the Christ’s work!

Triumphant, we stand on the rock of our salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord!

Who triumphantly entered Jerusalem and who triumphantly conquered sin, death and the devil at the cross, and proclaimed victory as he triumphantly rose from the dead for the justification of all who believe!

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Sermon March 25, 2026

Title: Living among the Bible’s trees - Good Trees Bearing Good Fruit, Bad Trees Bearing Bad Fruit
Text: Galatians 5:1, 13–25; Matthew 7:15–20

Facebook live: Good Trees Bearing Good Fruit, Bad Trees Bearing Bad Fruit

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

I’m not a fan of shopping. I have trouble picking out fruit at the grocery store.
I usually run in and out as quickly as I can getting what I need.
I usually don’t know what I’m looking for. I don’t want my bananas green, but also, not too yellow or it won’t last the week.

As we heard the Lord Jesus say in the Second Reading:

17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

Mt 7:17

So, as we continue our sermon series, “Living among the Bible’s Trees,” we consider good trees bearing good fruit and bad trees bearing bad fruit.

Considering Good Trees Bearing Good Fruit and Bad Trees Bearing Bad Fruit, We Realize That,

Though by nature we are bad trees bearing bad fruit, God changes you and me into good trees bearing good fruit.

I. By nature, we are bad trees bearing bad fruit.

The Lord Jesus’ words ring true later in St. Matthew’s Gospel where he writes:

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

And the passage from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians that we heard draws on both Jesus’ words and other similar teachings about faith and its fruit.

The idea of finding grapes on a vine and not on something like a thornbush, of finding figs on a fig tree and not on something like a thistle plant, may seem for us to be a no-brainer.

But what is important, is for us to recognize is the good or bad nature of the tree – is by its fruit – pointing to the source of the tree is good or bad.

Jesus says to beware of false prophets, and, later in St. Matthew’s Gospel in this context, Jesus calls the Jewish leaders a “brood of vipers” and says they are evil – making a judgment.

They are no different by nature than we are.

Out of the abundance of our hearts, our mouths also speak, and Jesus says:

36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matt 12:36-37

Our words give evidence either to the faith that is in our hearts, or to the lack of faith and our need. Rom 10:9–10

That focus on words is not to mention the thoughts that precede the words, and the deeds that follow.

As the works of the sinful flesh, St. Paul lists for the Galatians and us

“sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these” Gal 5:19–21

He warns the Galatians and you and me as well that

“… those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” v 21

Rather, as Jesus said,

“Every tree that does not bear good fruit - is cut down and thrown into the fire” Mt 7:19

That judgment is not only on some far-off Judgment Day, but, as John the Baptist has said,

“Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees” Mt 3:10

II. God changes us into good trees bearing good fruit.

The Lord Jesus says that

“a healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit” Mt 7:18

Implying,

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad” Mt 12:33

But we can’t make literal trees good or bad, much less ourselves as figurative sense.

John and Jesus call for fruits in keeping with repentance, and both John and Jesus’ disciples - baptized for that purpose. Mt 3:8; Jn 4:2

For the sake of Jesus’ death on the cross, God himself, working through his Word in Baptism, changes us …

… from being bad trees bearing bad fruit to being good trees bearing good fruit, fruit in keeping with repentance.

St. Paul says that we are called to freedom,

36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John 8:36

Christ sets us free by the truth of his Gospel (Jn 8:32)—his Gospel that he, true God in human flesh, died on the cross for the sins of the whole world, including your sins and my sins.

Christ substituted himself there on the cross for us. Unless we reject God’s enabling call to repent,

God frees us from our slavery to sin, death, and the power of the devil.

God forgives our evil sinful nature and all our actual sins of thought, word, and deed.

God makes we who are bad trees good, so that instead of bearing bad fruit, which brings condemnation, we bear good fruit, the fruit of justification and eternal life.

God’s Word read and preached to us all as a group brings about and continues that change, as does God’s Word applied to us in Holy Baptism, in Absolution, and in the Sacrament of the Altar, where bread is the body of Christ given for us, and wine is the blood of Christ shed for us.

The Lord changes us from bad to good in his way as we live this out in our lives.

So, we know that we bear fruit of good works in our lives and our vocations as brothers and sisters, moms and dads, workers, friends, sons and daughters redeemed in Christ!

And St. Paul in the First Reading specifically lists as our common fruit of the Spirit,

“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” Gal 5:22–23

When we fail in any way to bring forth such fruits of repentance, good works, and fruits of the Spirit - we fail to live in the daily repentance, that God requires.

And considering good trees bearing good fruit and bad trees bearing bad fruit, we realize that, though by nature we are bad trees bearing bad fruit, God changes us into good trees bearing good fruit.

God has called us to repentance and forgiven our sins by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

From various sources, we may learn the necessary skills for using our senses and reason to pick literal good trees’ good fruit— oranges, apples, bananas and the like—in our local supermarkets.

But only by the power of the Holy Spirit, reaching past our senses and reason to our hearts through his Means of Grace, can we ever be figurative good trees, ourselves bearing the good fruits of the Spirit that St. Paul calls us to be.

May God grow us to be the good trees he desires of us!

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit

Amen

Lent series, "Living among the Bible's trees" - modified

Sermon March 21-22, 2026

Title: From death to life in Christ!
Text: John 11:1-45

Facebook live: From death to life in Christ!

43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Death is nothing new. It seems all too common. It invades your life and your family. As a pastor it invades my life too … even if at times it is not a loved one.

I’ve done many funerals. Many for Peace members, some family members, some not connected to a church or here at Peace … but for one who died.

When the call comes it usually sounds like this.

“Hi Pastor Russ; Are you available to do a funeral this Monday at 10 am? It’s for the family of a man who had been sick and now died and they requested a Lutheran pastor.”

I’m usually available.
Jesus got a call too.

11 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”

Lazarus, the one Jesus loved was ill. In fact, he too would die, though Jesus says:

“This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

At funerals the grief is real. Family and friends try to make sense out of a life now gone. It seems surreal. How could so much life in this beloved One now be gone?

It makes no sense. The tears flow.

11 [Jesus] said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.

We hear about where they worked. Their service to others and the things they loved - family and friends, cars or boats, golfing and even doing things for others they didn’t even know.
It amplifies the grief and sorrow.

Lazarus had a loving family too; Martha and Mary and friends but also Jesus … who was a dear friend and part of his extended family.

17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 … and many of [their friends] the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them … Martha heard that Jesus was coming [too, so] she went and met him …

As many of those we know get older, they can’t take care of themselves anymore so they rely on others for their care for them or even make their home at a nearby care facility.

Pictures at funerals can bring back fond memories from Thanksgiving and Christmas past or seeing nieces and nephews, children and grandchildren sitting on a couch and bringing into view young and old times of a wonderful life now past.

Death is real though … and at the funeral home our loved one is not pretending to sleep.

Lazarus wasn’t pretending either.

21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

Visitation before the service brings the stories. Some tears and smiles emerge.

But when the service begins death is real and it is time for all to realize this and for me it is a times to bring peace in a time of sorrow.

For we, who are connected to Christ, this peace comes only from Jesus.

The joys of a wonderful life and loving relationships in a life well lived, pale in comparison to a relationship with the King of Kings. Death is no respecter of persons and comes anyway and at times when it is least expected.

Love is good, and family is good, and friends and coworkers bring joy to our lives in many and various ways but death still comes. It came for Lazarus and it comes for our loved ones and one day for us as well.

24 Martha said to him [about Lazarus], “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

At funerals, as the tears flow for our loved ones who are now departed, I speak of the resurrection and the life and the blessed comfort for we who cling to Jesus and the hope of the faith in Christ that those who have now departed held in him.

Paul writes in our epistle:

8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

We cry and grieve but not without hope because we know that we too who believe in Christ Jesus will also spend eternity in heaven with him and with those we love, who believe and were baptized and marked by Christ as his redeemed children!

Tears are real.

33 When Jesus saw [Martha] weeping, and the [the friends] who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

Jesus wept for Lazarus, but he weeps for all who struggle with sin in their lives - day in and day out – calling us to cast our cares on him and to receive the forgiveness he won for us at the cross.

No matter how good we are we all still need Jesus and his purifying life, death and resurrection.

Without Christ, all that remains are good memories and like Lazarus a body that remains dead too.

38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”

Tombs and cemetery’s abound, whether local or in a place of our past.

Headstones are not rolled away but are there to mark the spot where the body of a life well lived rests.

40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”

Lazarus came out and so too will our loved ones who die in Christ because Jesus is the resurrection and the life. You and I and all who trust in Jesus will also rise.

We have been given this promise.

Lazarus was raised but also eventually died and waits.

He waits for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and savior Jesus Christ and his return in Glory. Titus 2:13

The grave clothes will give way as we rise - as they did for Lazarus.
For St, Paul writes in 1 Cor. 15:53:

53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

Bound in sin Christ calls you … “Come out!”
Because, Death has been swallowed up in victory!

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen