The Sunday of Confession (Ps) July 1st

Psalm 123:1-4

¹ To you I lift up my eyes,

O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

² Behold, as the eyes of servants

look to the hand of their master,

as the eyes of a maidservant

to the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes look to the Lord our God,

till he has mercy upon us.

³ Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us,

for we have had more than enough of contempt.

⁴ Our soul has had more than enough

of the scorn of those who are at ease,

of the contempt of the proud.

American Idol and now more and more musical competition shows bring us to vote for people who we adore.  Movie stars and Television stars look for people choice awards.  Political figures are looking for followers to turn to them and their ideals for the country.  These people all long to be our Masters.  They all long to have us lift our eyes to them.

The Psalmist reminds us there is only one who truly deserves our Love and praise.  The LORD God is the one who is the Master of the Universe.  He is the one who has set everything in its proper place.  So if we ask the question who should we serve Man or God, the answer is God.  If we wonder who should we bow down before, pay homage, or give our vote to, it is God Almighty.  He is the one who provides us for all  our needs of body and soul.

But we still need to ask for God Almighty the LORD of Heaven and Earth to have mercy on us.  Because we neither deserve nor can we earn these blessings.  But God freely offers us blessings through his Son Jesus Christ.  It is only through his sacrifice do we find victory or the "trophy" of Life.

But the Psalmist still adds verse 4.  Our soul continues to struggle with threats of false teaching in the world.  Our soul is scorned and scoffed at by unbelievers and "christians" in name only.  God has taught us his truth, but he also makes it very difficult at times to stand up and speak that truth in the world.  So we should continue to pray for those who stand up and hold to Confessions of the True faith.

The Sunday of Confession (NTA)

Acts 19:11-20

¹¹ And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. ¹³ Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” ¹⁴ Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. ¹⁵ But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” ¹⁶ And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. ¹⁷ And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. ¹⁸ Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. ¹⁹ And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. ²⁰ So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

God has truly done many extraordinary miracles through his Apostles. One could only image how this captivated people like Simon the Magician to desire this gift. But these Sons of Sceva go off on their own and are way to confident. These Sons of Sceva have probably cast out demons before, but now they boldly attempt to use the power of Paul.

These Jewish exorcists try to adjourn demons by the person Jesus whom Paul preaches. But here is the great confession. It is not the confession of truth from the Sons of Sceva, but from evil spirits. The Evil spirits recall knowledge of Jesus and knowledge of Paul. I am not 100% that would indicate that they would listen to Paul or Jesus. But I know that St Paul or Jesus Christ would be able to command them to leave. But these Evil Spirits will not listen to the Sons of Sceva.

Likewise, for all the people in the world who attempt to deal with their problems through meditation or by worshiping false gods and false religions this is there fate, the demons will over power them and leave them naked. Similarly, all those people who like to have nice things said about them or being told how great of a person they are will easily find themselves overpowered by mere words of demons.

But those who put their hope and trust in Jesus Christ will find the evil spirits words false. It is Jesus Christ and a true confession in his name that is necessary to cast out the demons in this world. It is the power and authority given to Jesus Christ, which has victory over the devil and his angels. We continue to fight them as they spread false teachings throughout the Christian church. But we stand firm on the Word of God, and its proclamation of the one true way of Salvation through Jesus Christ.

The Sunday of Confession (GA)

Matthew 26:69-75

⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” ⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” ⁷¹ And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁷² And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” ⁷³ After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” ⁷⁴ Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

St Peter truly the pride of the Disciples. St Peter has been a leader for all of the Disciples to follow. He is the one who everyone would have bet would be the last one to deny the Lord (well maybe until Jesus predicted it). St Peter is the one who stands up on the Day of Pentecost and preaches so boldly. But all it took was a little servant girl to come up to St Peter and he denies His Lord.

Many people have written about the fall of St Peter from Grace. St Peter would later be restored as his Lord asks him three times "do you love me?" But all we have is this simple text before us, and what does it say about Jesus? Many people may proclaim even today that Jesus Christ was a very good teacher. Some may even talk about how well Jesus knew his disciples, because he was able to make this prediction. Some may even go so far as to talk about how well Jesus reads people because he is able to know what they are thinking. But there is a much simpler answer: Jesus is God.

And this simple truth is not only what St Peter has previously confessed, but once again he is confronted with this truth. When St Peter hears that rooster crow, he is faced with the Word of God. The Word of God convicts him. The words which Jesus spoke not very long ago, now cut him to the heart. The Word of God brings St Peter to his knees (so to speak) as he weeps because he knows that he has betrayed innocent blood.

St Peter has denied his Lord. St Peter has told or recount to others false teachings. St Peter his convicted by the truth. St Peter repents of his Sins. St Peter is restored. St Peter proclaims the truth of the Gospel to all the world. St Peter when the rooster crows is called back to the truth faith in Jesus Christ by the Word of God. Likewise, we still recount all these things today and confess the Word of God in its truth.

The Sunday of Confession (OTA)

Genesis 19:1-22

19 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth ² and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” ³ But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

⁴ But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. ⁵ And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” ⁶ Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, ⁷ and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. ⁸ Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” ⁹ But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. ¹⁰ But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. ¹¹ And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.

¹² Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. ¹³ For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” ¹⁴ So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

¹⁵ As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” ¹⁶ But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. ¹⁷ And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” ¹⁸ And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. ¹⁹ Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. ²⁰ Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” ²¹ He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. ²² Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

Apparently you never know when Angels might be stopping by the town for a visit, so everyone should be prepared. There is a song by Collin Raye, "What if Jesus Came Back Like That." In the song the artist recalls modern scenarios in which children are born today with the question what if Jesus came back like that? He concludes the song with original way the Christ child's birth was recorded. The problem is Jesus has already told us he will come back in the same way he ascended.

But maybe that same song would be better, what if an Angel came like that. What if the homeless man on the street was an Angel? What if the visitor to the bar that night was an Angel? What if the Arabian or Mexican you discriminated against was an Angel? It is impossible for us to recount the Angels we might have entertained.

They come to find out if the stories they have heard are true. Them come to find out if what we say about ourselves is true. They come to investigate the outcry against us. How will these Angels find our town? How would these Angels find your Church? How would these Angels find your home?

Someone once told me, not to pray that all people are righteous, but that we have proper number of righteous so that we are not destroyed like Sodom lest we suffer the same fate. Sodom was destroyed and Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of Salt. It was not the Angels who condemned them, but their actions and lack of faith.

The Angels come to rescue and save. Lot and his family were saved because of their faith and act of protection. God sends his holy Angels to help us. God sends forth his word to guide us. But God sent his Son to redeem us from our sins and save us from everlasting destruction. He comes to seek and save all of us, even though our family, Church, and towns maybe found wanting. Christ died for us even while we were still sinners.

The Sunday of Confession (G)

Matthew 8:14-22

¹⁴ And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. ¹⁶ That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

¹⁸ Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. ¹⁹ And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” ²⁰ And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” ²¹ Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” ²² And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

There are many who tell us they are willing to follow us, but often times they are really only willing to go so far. There are many people today who call themselves "spiritual" but not "religious", because they are only willing to go so far. There are many people who are willing to say they are Christian, but not confess a creed or ally themselves to any confession of faith. There are many who might even say they are Lutheran but barely know what that means.

Jesus Christ throughout his ministry has crowds following him. Most of the time he can barely move around because people press in around him. Some people are looking for healing, other people just want to get a good look at him. But here a few people desire to actually follow him.

Jesus has a different comment given directly to each of them. Jesus wants to make sure they are not in it for the stature or place in the world. Jesus also wants to make sure they are not in it as a way to run away from something, or another wild idea of youth. Jesus has in mind people who will truly give up everything and follow him.

This means giving up our emotions which drive us in many different directions. This means giving up our family and friends who might lead us into false teaching. This means leaving behind all preconceived notions or doctrines. People need to place their trust in God. We need to be willing to listen to God, in everything he says. We do not allow for Logic or Reason to pollute the word of God.

But we confess the Word of God and repeat back to Jesus what he has already told us. Jesus Christ has already told us the truth. He has revealed it to us through his teaching. He has also revealed to us his power to heal each of us. He has revealed, his power of redemption to all who believe.

The Sunday of Confession (OT)

Jeremiah 15:15-21

¹⁵ O Lord, you know;

remember me and visit me,

^tand take vengeance for me on my persecutors.

In your forbearance take me not away;

know that for your sake I bear reproach.

¹⁶ Your words were found, and I ate them,

and your words became to me a joy

and the delight of my heart,

for I am called by your name,

O Lord, God of hosts.

¹⁷ I did not sit in the company of revelers,

nor did I rejoice;

I sat alone, because your hand was upon me,

for you had filled me with indignation.

¹⁸ Why is my pain unceasing,

my wound incurable,

refusing to be healed?

Will you be to me like a deceitful brook,

like waters that fail?

¹⁹ Therefore thus says the Lord:

“If you return, I will restore you,

and you shall stand before me.

If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,

you shall be as my mouth.

They shall turn to you,

but you shall not turn to them.

²⁰ And I will make you to this people

a fortified wall of bronze;

they will fight against you,

but they shall not prevail over you,

for I am with you

to save you and deliver you,

declares the Lord.

²¹ I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,

and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”

"If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth." Jeremiah recounts the word of God to the People of Israel. Often times what comes out of the mouth of the people of God is worthless not precious. The People of God can be very harsh and at times very wicked. This is no different today than it was in the days of Jeremiah the Prophet.

Jeremiah was persecuted greatly for speaking the truth to a wicked world. He calls for the LORD to take vengeance upon his enemies. He wanted for his own pain to end. But the Lord has told him about the redemption of the people of Israel. The Lord will have Jeremiah speak the truth but the people will fight back. The people will fight against the Word of God, but they will not prevail.

God speaks of the wicked hand in which the people will be led into exile. The Temple will be destroyed and all will seem lost. But only through this will God redeem his people Israel. God will allow his very Temple to be razed to the ground. All will appear lost and those who speak falsehoods will rise to claim glory for themselves. But God will redeem his people. God will establish his everlasting covenant.

God sacrificed his own Son Jesus Christ. He allowed the chief priests and pharisees to mock him upon the cross. He watched as he died. But he raised Jesus Christ on the third day. He redeemed the people of God through his sacrifice. He delivered the true people of God out of the hand of their enemy. And all the words he proclaimed to Jeremiah came true.

The Sunday of Confession (CL)

Galatians 1:1-10

1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— ² and all the brothers who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵ to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

⁶ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— ⁷ not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

¹⁰ For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

There are many people in the world who are not called but yet preach. They do not preach the Word of God, but their own word. They preach their own philosophies. These people do not preach the only true Gospel, but they preach many and various ways to heaven.

St Paul points out that he was called not by men or the reason of men, but he was made an Apostle through Jesus Christ the one true Way to everlasting life. He recounts to the Galatians his frustrations that they have deserted God and His Gospel. "If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one we preach to you, let him be accursed."

There should be no greater example for people today, than these words of St Paul, to understand why Christians can not say all religions are equal. Likewise, there should be no Christian to say that all denominations are equal. St Paul tells us there is one true Gospel which is proclaimed and if anyone does not preach that Gospel let him be accursed.

St Paul recognizes that there are many people who trouble Christians and distort the Truth of Jesus Christ. These people must be pointed out as false teachers. Many people, even we will learn St Peter, fall into false teaching but just as St Peter can be restored to the truth so can all who fall into false teaching.

Jesus Christ has still died for these sins. He has died so that we do not have to tie a millstone around our neck and be thrown into the sea. It is not about what we do, but the Gospel which St Paul preaches is about what Christ has done for us. He even reminds them right off the bat, "who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from [evil]." Jesus Christ was crucified for the forgiveness of our sins. It is not about us accepting it, but the Holy Spirit revealing this grace to each of us through the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Proper 7 (Ps) June 24th

Psalm 2:1-12

¹ Why do the nations conspire

and the peoples plot in vain?

² The kings of the earth take their stand

and the rulers gather together

against the Lord

and against his Anointed One.

³ “Let us break their chains,” they say,

“and throw off their fetters.”

⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;

the Lord scoffs at them.

⁵ Then he rebukes them in his anger

and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

⁶ “I have installed my King

on Zion, my holy hill.”

⁷ I will proclaim the decree of the Lord:

He said to me, “You are my Son;

today I have become your Father.

⁸ Ask of me,

and I will make the nations your inheritance,

the ends of the earth your possession.

⁹ You will rule them with an iron scepter;

you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise;

be warned, you rulers of the earth.

¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear

and rejoice with trembling.

¹² Kiss the Son, lest he be angry

and you be destroyed in your way,

for his wrath can flare up in a moment.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Someone once said, "If you want to make God Laugh, all you have to do is tell him your plans."  The world plots in vain against God and his anointed one.  They plot and make plans and this makes the LORD himself laugh.  The Kings of the Earth stand with strength in their own arms.  But (pardon the phrase) God has more strength in his pinkie finger than all the kings of the earth.

God is all His strength and might has raised up Kings of the Earth.  Throughout the History of the Nation of Israel God has raised up nation after nation to charge against them.  He has used these nations to judge other nations.  He has even judged those nations by strengthening his own people to stand and fight.  But still all these Kings plot after their own power and their own strength.

None of the Kings then nor the Rulers today think of the Power God has to Kill and make alive.  God has shown his power even as Tyrants and Dictators have flourished to tear down and torture the wicked of this world.  Wars have been fought to put a balance to these cruel powers yet more arise and sometimes even the Victors of those Great Wars can become the Wicked to replace those who were previously defeated.

But in all these things God still works his hand to save and redeem his people.  No, matter whether you live oppressed by a dictator or in the appearance of freedom, The Anointed one of God still does is work.  Jesus Christ is still the Son of God.  Jesus Christ's word still is proclaimed to nations.  The Holy Spirit still continues to call, gather, and enlighten people to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and become part of His Church.

The Lord continues to laugh at all of us, even as we continue to make plans for our own lives.  But even though he laughs at our plans, this does not stop his plans from going forth.  He is still continuing to subject all His enemies under the feet of Jesus Christ our Savior.  Who has died so that we might live.

Proper 7 (NTA)

Romans 13:1-7

13 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. ⁴ For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities." This is a very simple phrase and abandoned often times for various reasons.  But I want to ask the question of freedom.  Most people in the world today, I think, wish for people to be free.  This desire comes to be free from those who would oppress us.  The desire to be free from ruthless dictators who cruelly mistreat their people.  Freedom is something that most Western people think they have and are not willing to give up.

The question of Freedom though really stems from this passage.  If I am truly free, then I must not answer to any authority or submit myself.  Think of a Slave verse a free person.  A slave is subject to a master.  A free person is subject only to himself, he is free.  The idea of Free Will verses a bound Will.  Free Will by definition has no limits, you can do anything.  (I always like flight or invisibility, but more basic is clothing and food.)  A Bound Will is subject to the world around it, such as gravity, photons, science, and what you can purchase or grow.

The question of Freedom comes from this text because all of us are to submit to authorities.  Whether we are supposed to submit to Gravity, what we can purchase or grow, or even submitting to the authority of the Government.  There are all kinds of authorities that are placed over us.  These authorities have their place because of God.  Granted St Paul is strictly speaking of Governments or Kings who bear a sword to punish those who do evil.

But does that Authority relate to a Parent who punishes his child or disciplines his child?  Does it not relate to a school teacher or principal who has to keep a child after school or even give them a grade (bad or good)? The child has to submit to these authorities.  Adults have to submit to employers and police officers.  This things all limit our freedoms.

There are many people in authority over us.  We are supposed to submit to those authorities, because they have been given us by God.  But we still need to submit ourselves to God.  God is still our Lord and Master.  We are His Children for him to discipline.  We are His Children who he searches out to Save or Redeem.  We are Slaves of our Lord Jesus Christ who has claimed us and bought us with a price.

Proper 7 (GA)

Matthew 27:1-26

27 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. ² They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

³ When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. ⁴ “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

⁵ So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

⁶ The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” ⁷ So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. ⁸ That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. ⁹ Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, ¹⁰ and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

¹¹ Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.

¹² When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. ¹³ Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” ¹⁴ But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

¹⁵ Now it was the governor’s custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. ¹⁶ At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸ For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

¹⁹ While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”

²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

²¹ “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

²² “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

²³ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

²⁵ All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”

²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Judas tells the chief priests, "I have betrayed innocent blood."  But should he have not said, "I have laid a hand on the Lord's anointed and I am guilty."  But that is not what Judas says.  Judas just says he has betrayed innocent blood.  Because it is the innocent lamb of God who goes uncomplaining forth.

Side note: the addition of this text is one of the interesting things concerning the Four Year Lectionary.  The climax of all for Gospels is the Passion narrative.  Other lectionaries will read the Passion Narrative during Holy Week only, but here as alternative lessons the hearer or reader can use the Passion Narrative on other Days.

I say this as a transition to seeing people plot against our Lord.  There is no greater plot against the Lord and his anointed than those people who deliver Jesus over to be crucified.  The chief priests and elders contracted Judas to betray Jesus Christ.  They convince the Governor, Pilate, to have him killed or murdered.  Pilate tries to keep the peace, but becomes a part of the plot against the Lord's anointed.

These people with all their anger and hatred lead the crowds to cry out, "Crucify him!"  The look to their plan and plot unfold before their eyes.  But it is only those people who know the whole story that remember Jesus predicting his death and resurrection three times.

St Peter and St John told us that these people plot in vain.  These people plot against the Lord and His anointed one.  They seem to not be plotting in vain.  But really this is not their great and wise plan, it is God's plan.  God's plan was to have the betrayer hand him over to be crucified.  God's plan was to have Pilate use his authority to have Christ flogged and crucify.  They plotted to kill Jesus Christ, but God planned to sacrifice Jesus Christ.

Thus, we remember the passion narrative again.  We remember that they did plot and found success for a while (about three days) until Jesus Christ spoiled all their plans with his own.  God planned for His Son to die for the sins of the world and to provide them with Salvation.  Humans plot in vain.  God plans and it happens.

Proper 7 (OTA)

1 Samuel 26:1-25

26 The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?”

² So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search there for David. ³ Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the desert. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, ⁴ he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.

⁵ Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.

⁶ David then asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?”

“I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.

⁷ So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

⁸ Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won’t strike him twice.”

⁹ But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? ¹⁰ As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. ¹¹ But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

¹² So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.

¹³ Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. ¹⁴ He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”

Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

¹⁵ David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. ¹⁶ What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”

¹⁷ Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”

David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” ¹⁸ And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? ¹⁹ Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, men have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have now driven me from my share in the Lord’s inheritance and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ ²⁰ Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

²¹ Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have erred greatly.”

²² “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. ²³ The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. ²⁴ As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”

²⁵ Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David; you will do great things and surely triumph.”

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

I will boil all these words down into a simple message.  David has said, "Who can lay a hand on the Lord's anointed and be guiltless?"  This is not only time David utters a phrase like this.  David recognizes that God has placed Saul on the throne.  Thus, God is the one who will choose to remove him from office not the hand  of David.  David though also anointed to become King by Samuel does not raise a hand against the current King.

"Who can lay a hand on the Lord's anointed?" would be a simple question.  Anyone seems to be able to easily walk into their camp at night and strike him dead.  Saul lies there sound asleep with all his soldiers around.  The guards on duty must have all fallen asleep as well.  David and Abishai slip in and out of camp unnoticed, thanks to the Lord.

But then there is this addition that is added: "and be guiltless."  So anyone can strike down or lay a hand on the Lord's anointed but they will not be guiltless.  These attacks will have their price to pay later.  Thus, those who plot against the Lord's anointed whether that be Saul, David, Cyrus, or Jesus do so in vain.  Because God will not hold them guiltless for their activity.  God will hold them accountable for their actions.

God holds all people accountable for their actions, whether it be rebellion, assassination, disobedience, or murder.  These are all crimes and sins.  They are not to be carried out against the Lord's anointed.  God has placed them their for a purpose.

But remember there were those did lay their hand upon the Lord's anointed.  They seized Jesus in a garden.  They took him before the Authorities and they lead him out and crucified him.  They murdered, no killed, the Lord's anointed.  They put their hands upon him in place of your hands.  You place your hands upon the Lord's anointed to kill him every time you sin against God.  You strike another blow against him.  Because he has paid the price for your guilt.  He pays the penalty for your wickedness.

"Who can lay a hand on the Lord's anointed and be guiltless?"  Well I guess the answer is all of us.  Because we lay a hand on the Lord's anointed, He has made us guiltless.  He has washed us clean in the blood which He spilled for us.

Proper 7 (G)

Matthew 22:15-33

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. ¹⁶ They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. ¹⁷ Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

¹⁸ But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? ¹⁹ Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, ²⁰ and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”

²¹ “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

²² When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

²³ That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. ²⁴ “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him. ²⁵ Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. ²⁶ The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. ²⁷ Finally, the woman died. ²⁸ Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”

²⁹ Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. ³⁰ At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. ³¹ But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, ³² ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

³³ When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

The Pharisees come with the intent to trap Jesus.  They plan to catch the Lord in a trap.  It is a trap that most humans would easily fall into.  We would be tricked to either deny the Almighty or deny the authority of the Government he ordained.  Who do you pay your taxes to the Church or the Government?

This reminds me of the cartoon above published by ReverendFun.com.  This simple joke can tell us a lot about how easily we can get trapped.  For most of you your taxes are taken out of your paycheck before you even get them.  But what about your offering to the church.  Should that be taken out in advance as well?  There are some religious bodies that do this.  If you have a party of more than 8 at a restaurant most places will add gratuity on to your bill.

The trap is laid before us all.  How much do you give to your church verses how much do you give to your government?  Jesus the Almighty God and His Anointed One can not be trapped.  He tells the Pharisees, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."  Many people may argue over what is God's today.  But most people will argue over what is theirs and not God's nor the Governments.

But as slaves to our Lord Jesus Christ all we have belongs to him.  Someone once told me when I was a child, I could not truly possess anything of my own.  It all belong to my parents until I was 18.  Thus, as Children of God everything you have belongs to Him.  Likewise, you are people under authority of your Government and as ones under authority, everything you have should belong to them, yes?  (I am not certain that I can answer that question faithfully.)

But of this I am certain that Jesus Christ died for me and you.  He claimed me to be a child of God.  He made me to live under him and serve and obey him.  I know that I have not done this at all times.  I know that I have not paid God all that is His.  But Christ has still died for me and he has paid the debt I owe.  He has done the same for you also.

Proper 7 (OT)

Isaiah 45:1-7

45 “This is what the Lord says to his anointed,

to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of

to subdue nations before him

and to strip kings of their armor,

to open doors before him

so that gates will not be shut:

² I will go before you

and will level the mountains;

I will break down gates of bronze

and cut through bars of iron.

³ I will give you the treasures of darkness,

riches stored in secret places,

so that you may know that I am the Lord,

the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

⁴ For the sake of Jacob my servant,

of Israel my chosen,

I summon you by name

and bestow on you a title of honor,

though you do not acknowledge me.

⁵ I am the Lord, and there is no other;

apart from me there is no God.

I will strengthen you,

though you have not acknowledged me,

⁶ so that from the rising of the sun

to the place of its setting

men may know there is none besides me.

I am the Lord, and there is no other.

⁷ I form the light and create darkness,

I bring prosperity and create disaster;

I, the Lord, do all these things.

The Lord's anointed is Cyrus the ruler of the Persian Empire.  He will return the people of Israel to their proper place.  He will send forth a decree to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.  He will make the road easy for the people to return.  He will not be stopped by anyone.  He will summon the people of God by Name and gather them to the land of their fathers.

There is only one Lord and one God.  Listen Israel the Lord your God the Lord is One.  There is none that can compare to the Lord.  Wait!  I thought we just compared Cyrus to the Lord Jesus Christ?  Isn't Jesus the Lord's Anointed who delivers his people from bondage and re-builds the temple in three days?  Didn't Jesus say he is the only way to Heaven, or the promised land?

How can we compare God to Isaac or Joseph or Moses or others in the Old Testament?  It is pretty simple.  There is nothing saying that Jesus is like Isaac in every way, or Moses, or Joseph.  But that these people show characteristic that are similar to the Christ.  Cyrus had the people rebuild the temple.  Jesus rebuilt the Temple.  Cyrus sent the people back to the promised land.  Jesus delivers us from bondage to the eternal promise land.  Likewise, Moses delivered the people from the Land of Slavery.  Similarly, Joseph even lead his family from a famine to a place of plenty in Egypt.

There is truly no God like the LORD.  There is no Lord to compare to Jesus Christ.  The LORD declares himself to be like none other.  He is the one who created light and darkness.  It is the only one and true God who created all things and is created by none.  He is the one who has anointed his servants.  He is the one who has given all people life.  Jesus Christ is the One who has given us new life through his sacrifice.  There is many sacrifices which are made for others, but there is no other sacrifice that provides life for all mankind.

Proper 7 (CL)

Acts 4:23-37

²³ On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵ You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“ ‘Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

²⁶ The kings of the earth take their stand

and the rulers gather together

against the Lord

and against his Anointed One.’

²⁷ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. ²⁹ Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

³² All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. ³³ With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. ³⁴ There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales ³⁵ and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), ³⁷ sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

St Peter and St John come back to recount to the disciples the events which took place.  I am sure they tell the disciples that the Chief priests commanded them not to preach the name of Jesus.  Therefore, St Peter and St John quote from the words of the Holy Spirit.  The people plot in vain against the Lord and his Anointed One, or his Christ.

All the people of the world continue to plot in vain against Jesus Christ.  There are even people who are within the "visible church" that plot against the Lord.  These people gather together to teach and plot lies and falsehoods throughout the world.  They teach things like Evolution, Abortion, Decisions Theology, Salvation by Works, prayer to saints, and even idol worship.  All these may not amount to very much in your eyes, but they undercut the work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  But probably one of the greatest lies that are still perpetuated was the deception of the chief priests themselves, namely the Resurrection of the Dead.

The chief priests paid money to the soldiers, who were guarding the tomb of Jesus.  They were paid to lie to the people, telling them that the disciples stole his body in the night.  But Jesus Christ's body was not stolen.  It was raised from death to life.  Jesus Christ the Anointed One of the Lord is alive today, even though people plot against him.  All there boldness does them no good, God still spreads the truth.

We should maintain this same truth at all times.  We need to make sure that we gather together and bear witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We testify and bear witness to what we know.  Jesus Christ has died for our sins.  Jesus Christ made us children of God.  The Holy Spirit reveals this truth to us through the words of others.  The Holy Spirit places these same words in our mouths, so that we can bear witness with the Apostles.  The words of Scripture allow us to testify along with Apostles, hopefully holding all things in common with their teaching.