You are currently browsing the daily archive for April 6th, 2009.
Not the city, of course, but the state of pop country music. The masses may love it, but the songwriting and performances are canned and predictable. Some country music award show is on the TV right now and causing me to rant. Poor theology and geometry and all. I really should follow the advice of John Prine and “Blow up your TV throw away your paper, Go to the country, build you a home, Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches, Try an find Jesus on your own.” It sounds good, except for the last line, of course. If it was up to me I’d never start looking and certainly never find Him. Anyway, you will never hear John Prine… Chris Knight, Bleu Edmundson, James McMurtry, Slaid Cleaves, The Gourds, The Gougers, Drive-By Truckers, or anyone worthwhile on popular country radio. I am so thankful for XM… now to blow up the TV.
Today our Lord enters into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. As we wave our palms, we are again made mindful that His love knows no bounds. Consider the extent of our Lord’s love: His incarnation in the womb of Mary; His simple birth; His dirty cradle; His common upbringing; His ordinary adolescence; and the unseemly company He kept during His earthly ministry. He did not come to claim His rightful throne on a war steed with a fierce army, but on an ordinary donkey with His most loyal followers being cowardly and weak. “Hosanna, the King of Israel?” Jesus Christ, the God-man, humbled Himself in such ways and in every way only to be crowned with thorns and enthroned on a bloody cross. The love of our Lord Jesus Christ allowed Him to be bound and nailed naked to a cross, a shameful and humiliating death, so that He might secure salvation for all who call on His name. He gave up everything so that sinners, rebels against God, might possess all things, even forgiveness for our sins, eternal life, and salvation from death and hell. His love certainly knows no bounds.
Even today our Lord entered into this place through His word joined to ordinary water at His holy font of Baptism. He entered with us, in time and through the Divine Service by His Word. Just as He deigned to enter into Jerusalem on a donkey, He deigned to come in our midst through the sacramental gift of Holy Baptism. More specifically, our Lord Jesus Christ humbled Himself for the sake of young Will this morning so that He might receive the washing away of His sins, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and faith. There was a day that the same Lord Jesus Christ deigned to do the same for you. In this humble and loving gift of Baptism, Jesus Christ bound the power of His death and resurrection to you, just as He bound Himself to Will. Whether on a donkey or in water, our Lord Jesus Christ humbles Himself so that sinners might have salvation. This is the extent of God’s love for you, for Will, and for all who receive His gifts. His love knows no bounds.
Today our Lord will even enter into this place through His word joined to bread and wine at this altar. He will enter with us, in time and through the Divine Service. Just as He deigned to enter into Jerusalem on a donkey, He deigns to come in our midst through the sacramental gift of Holy Communion. Our Lord Jesus Christ will humble Himself and feed us His holy body and blood for our forgiveness and redemption. He will ride into our midst through bread and wine. “Holy, holy, holy, Lord. God of pow’r and might: Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna in he highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.” Whether on a donkey or in Holy Communion, our Lord Jesus Christ humbles Himself so that sinners might have salvation.
The love of our Lord Jesus Christ knows no bounds. He enters the womb. He sleeps in the cradle. He lives in Nazareth. He suffers rejection. He rides a donkey. He suffers on a cross. He washes in Holy Baptism. He feeds in Holy Communion. He does all of this for you and for me. It is shocking that God does this for us, people who indulge themselves at every chance; people who rebel against God’s Word and God Himself; people who are bored with His gifts; people who long after fame and fortune; people who live unreflective and unrepentant lives; people who attack and destroy others without thinking twice. Yet in His puzzling, boundless love, Jesus Christ humbled Himself for sinners who exalt themselves. He binds Himself to us through Word and Water, Word and Bread and Wine, to deliver us from our bondage to sin and death. This is how our Lord rides, all so we may be forgiven and exalted for eternity. “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Indeed. +INJ+
