Holy Week 2023
Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday
Good Friday Tenebrae Service
April 7, 2023 • Pastor Greg Stenzel • Isaiah 52:13—53:12, John 19
The Old Testament sacrificial system demonstrated both God’s holiness and His mercy. God is holy. So when there was sin, there had to be punishment. Blood had to be shed. But God is merciful. So it wasn’t the sinner’s blood but the blood of a substitutionary sacrifice. Only someone who is perfectly sinless can save a sinner. A mother cannot pay for her daughter’s sin, for that mother is not “without defect or blemish.” That mother has sin of her own. Salvation requires a perfect Savior. Christ Jesus is the only person who didn’t deserve to die. Yet, today Jesus dies on the cross. “He was pierced for our transgressions,” Scripture says. Note the singular “he” and the plural “our.” If Jesus were just a perfect man, his sacrifice would only have been enough to pay for the sins of one sinful man. But Jesus is more than a perfect man. He is the perfect Son of God. That is divine blood pooling at the foot of the cross. That makes his death valuable enough to pay for the entire world's sins. Jesus looked at a world full of sinners. He saw that we needed mercy. He fulfilled our greatest need by becoming the perfect sacrifice.
Maundy Thursday Divine Service
April 6, 2023 • Pastor Greg Stenzel • John 13:1–15, John 13:34, Exodus 24:1–11, 1 Corinthians 11:23–28
BLESSED COMMUNION We often think of communion as a synonym for the Lord’s Supper. “I took communion” means “I received the Lord’s Supper.” Yet, the Latin word communion means “community” or “association” or “sharing.” (In the creed, we speak of “the communion of saints.”) When people come together and share their lives with one another, the result is a blessing—a blessed communion. And when God comes to us and shares himself with us, the result is eternal life. But is that possible? How can a holy God associate with people who sin every day? In a miraculous meal, God lets us share in his flesh and blood, the blood that was shed to atone for our sin. We celebrate this feast for the forgiveness of sins and restored unity with our Father—a blessed communion with God. But there’s more! As we share this meal together, the Lord who loved us unites us in love for one another—a blessed communion with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Community is often celebrated with food. When people love one another, they enjoy gathering around the dinner table. On this Holy Thursday, Jesus invites us to his table. He serves us Supper. He serves us himself. And in doing so, Jesus creates a blessed communion.
Palm Sunday Divine Service
April 2, 2023 • Pastor Greg Stenzel • Zechariah 9:9–10, Philippians 2:5–11, Matthew 21:1–11
A GREATER TYPE OF KING Pick any head of state: the president, a prime minister, or a king. Hopefully, they care about the people over whom they have authority. But even if they care, they live and operate above the people. The British royals live in a palace, not a three-bedroom ranch. The President does not fly coach. He sits in a recliner on Air Force One. There’s nothing wrong with this. Those offices are worthy of high respect. The point is these rulers live and operate above us. If a thief is breaking into your home, call 911 and see if your governor shows up. Your governor doesn’t even know your name! But cut him some slack. He is only human. Jesus is not. Jesus is the King of kings, God, and man in one person. He knows you intimately. More! He is willing to do absolutely anything necessary to serve and protect you. We see that this Holy Week. It begins with Jesus riding a donkey colt into Jerusalem—as the prophet foretold. As this week nears its end, Jesus is given a crown of thorns. He carries a cross out of Jerusalem and is nailed to it. Placed on his cross was this sign: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The sign was partially correct. Jesus is a king, just not of the Jews. He’s our King, infinitely mightier than any ruler in history while also being infinitely humbler. King Jesus has come to save us. Those other heads of state can serve as blessings. But this is the greater type of king that we need most.