• "You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." —Matthew 5:48
• "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." —Matthew 6:13
• "'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'”—Matthew 27:46
The hard sayings of Jesus force us to reexamine our cherished assumptions and challenge us to rethink our view of His life and the life of the Church of which He is the Head.
1. Jesus teaches us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.
a. We mistakenly assume the impossibility doing what Jesus commands.
b. Be all-embracing, without restriction, in your acts of mercy
2. Jesus teaches us to pray for strength in our spiritual struggles.
a. Jesus is NOT teaching a rapture/escape from temptation, tribulation, testing.
b. May our faith stand firm in the time of trial / temptation.
3. Jesus’ cry of dereliction shows that He would pay any price for us.
a. Jesus felt the full weight / consequence of sin.
b. Jesus’ experience of God-forsakenness is our rescue.
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
The Hard Sayings of Jesus
August 23, 2020 • Pastor Paul Becker
Second Sunday of Easter
April 7, 2024 • Pastor Paul Becker • John 20:21–23
To demonstrate that with God all things are possible, Jesus sends us into the world as He was sent, with divine peace, with the Holy Spirit and with the forgiveness of sins. 1. We are sent into the world with divine peace a. Not a false peace that “heals the wound of My people lightly” b. The Prince of Peace makes us peacemakers in a strife-torn world 2. We are sent into the world with the Holy Spirit, the Comforter a. By saturating in the means of grace, not of ourselves b. By appreciating the fruits and gifts of the Spirit 3. We are sent into the world with the forgiveness of sins a. Daily in the Lord’s Prayer / Luther’s evening prayer b. For our enemies and persecutors, bless those who curse
Palm Sunday
March 24, 2024 • Pastor Paul Becker • Philippians 2:7–8
As Jesus emptied and humbled Himself, becoming like us in every way except sin, He resisted the devil’s pride, breaking the power of death on the cross. 1. Jesus emptied and humbled Himself for us a. He did not cling to His divine privileges b. He manifests the power of humility 2. Jesus became like us in every way except sin a. The joys and sorrows, trials and temptations b. Being subject to suffering and death 3. Jesus resisted the devil’s pride / broke the power of death a. God resists the proud/gives grace to the humble b. He who keeps My Word shall not see death forever